Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1858-06-28
MORNING LEADER.


DIX IDAlNh - sllAs ID AAhAA VI ifoatA ~
uring in the public journals as any one can
possibly be, but ny attention has been called to
an anonymous article in your paper of this
morning, which may call for a reply from me
If your correspondent had manfully put his
signature to his communication, I should have
been better pleased, for attacks in the dark may
sometimes come from persons who are SO en-
tirely unworthy OF notice, that it is only labor
lost to pay any attention to them
On my first visit 10 The iron region Of Lake
Superior about a year since, and on examination
of the Iron ores Of that region conceived the
idea that they being 50 pure, could be reduced
to what is known as Pig Iron" Of commerce
in blast furnace of much smaller dimensions
than those usualiy used. In January last,
erected one Of these small furnaces, and without
aay difficulty produced as fine Pig Iron as |
ever saw-lnd here let me remark, that | have
been engaged from my boyh0od ia erecting
furnaces aud making iron
Some Of my neighbOrs at Marquette having
friends in yoGr city who are somewhat largely
interested in the iron mines nf Lake Superior
without my knowledge 1t appears, conferred
with their Cleveland friends on the subject, for
ON my arrival here abouttwO months since was
applied TO by some of your most prominent bus
mess men 10 erect for them a similar miniature
Blast Furnace to q e one had made at Mar
quette Having few days leisure | consented,
assuring the gentlemen, however, that they
must be responsible for the qualify OF the ma
teral with which / was to make the furnace
The furnace was completed, and as your cit
izens know, failed TO make iron, but not from
any fault of mine. For the truth of this latter
It itement, respectfully refer 10 Messrs- W. ],
Gordon and J. L. Hewitt, the parties much
more interested than was, for never claimed
that had iRreRfed anything new but what |
proposed to demonstrate was, that Lake Supe-
rior iron ore from its great purity eOull be re-
duced to Iron Of the first quality IN blast far-
naces OF infinitely less magnitude than those
usually used IN ether parts OF our country. II
this there Is no question, and | am prepared TO
demonstrate it al any time when | may have
leisure 10 attend TO 1t.
With regard TO the car aIles ~ noticed in the
Marquette Journal can only say the editor Of
that paper speaks entirely Oh his Own EespORsi-
biity, for had he applied to me | would have
given him any facts connected with my endeav-
or to make Raiiroad Car Axles As your anon
ymous correspondent has seen fit to anlmadveFt
somewhat severely upon this attempt Of mine,
| will briefly state the facts precisely as they
have occurred with regard TO the "CaT Axles 1"
During my eojOurn in your town above re-
ferred 10, MIR. Philips, Supdt ai The CleYesnd L
Toledo Railroad Co., asked me if Lake Superb
or iron onld not mske good car axle. / re-
piled / Thoughts IL would lie then asked me if
/ would undertake TO make him, say twenty five
by way of experiment In answer / stated to
him that my H.zchinsry for making them
was not intended for that purpose, that
could make the iron pure and strong enough
but tha. could not give the axle the Necessary
finish. This being satisfactory to Mr.. p, re-
TUNED to Marquette, made the axles, brought
them to Clevelsnd and before delivering them to
him took them 10 Messrs. Ford & Otis, and had
them rs-w0rked for was convinced that my
machinery at Marquette had rot worked them
sufficiently As will be seen by the attached
note from Mr.. Philips on the subject, the axles
have been fully L sled by him and are made to
his entire satisfaction. So much for my fur
mace, so much Tor my axles, and so much for
so much-all OF which can be Of no earthly IN
terest to You Mr.. Editor, or to your fellow citi-
zens-il being a private business transaction of
my own with some Of your most respectable
citizens.
l came 10 your town a few weeks since 4
stranger, was politely received By the gentle
men 10 whom l had letters, and for auaht l
know my transactions with them have met
their approval, at least so they inform nc
but so iar as your anonymous scTibbler Is con-
cerned, do me the favor to inform him that if he
will quietly attend TO his own affairs, | most
assuredy will see that mine shall take care Of
themselves; that if he (whoever he may bel
should, upon Investigation, be found worthy OF
notice, and desires il, l en- present him with
letters Of recommendation from Hon. Erastus
Corning, of Albany, Hon John A. GriswOld and
Mr.. Henry Burden, Of Troy, New York, be-
sides many others too numerous to trouble you
with. -. @
Excuse, Mr. Editor, the length Of this com
muuication; but not being accustomed TO be at
! tackled IN The way was this morning, thought
best to set myself Alright.
Your obedient servant,
S. R. GAY.