The Oxford intelligencer., 1860-08-08
For the Oxford inteliigeneer. Y
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of Kali
road Observation-Disclosures Men not
scarce i'm that Region, etc.

wrote Won last that | have neglected you as
well as Other friends. | left "Old Kentuck'
in about one week from the time | left you
at the Cave, and am now as far as lndianapo-
lis on my way out West. Here stopped
to see an old college-mate, Mr.. Walter A.
Blake. clerk of the Indianapolis Rolling
Mill Company" They roll out railroad bars
at the rate of 40 daily. The manager, Mr..
Jno. Thomas, explained to me the modus OPP
erandi of the whole mill and, thinking 1t
may be of some interest to you, will give
you as good an idea of it as possibly can.
In the first place the iron is all melted, as in
the foundry" and run off into 'plates," or
bars, about five feet in length. Now for the
operation of forming the Trail These
plates are laid one upon the other, until they
have the proper thickness, when they are
held to their place by piece of wire, passed
around each end, in which state it is called
the "Bloom," and is ready for the "bloom
furnace" In putting up this furnace, an in
eidcnt occurred that will keep it ever fresh
in the mind of my friend Blake. The sides
Of the furnace, composed of immense iron
plates, were all fastened in their places, ex-
ccpt one that weighed about $4,000 pounds.
1t was propped up by boards, upon one of
which Blake incidentally treading, brought
the whole side tumblng upon him. ltstpck
| him, knocked him down, he rolled over once,
and the edge Of the plate took off his coat,
shirt, and piece of the flesh from his shout
der. Every one turned pale with fright, and
trembed at the crash, seeing nothing but
certain death for him, and could only account
for his escape as a special providence from
an overriding God But to return from our
depression. Into this furnace the bloom is
placed, where it remains until it attans
welding heat" The door is then opened,
and an immense pair Of tongs, swinging from
a beam above, is thrust into the furnace, and
four men, laying hold, draw out, on an iron
chr, large bar Of redlot iron. This is then
wheeled o the rollers, through which it pass
es three times, frightening it about one half,
and welding it into one solid piece. 1t is
now passed over to the relocating furnace,
from which it is taken, as before, TO the roll
ers, where it is now rolled ont into the prop
er shape and size for the rail. 1t is not nee
essary to be asked to keep out Of the way, as
its fiery countenancc and intense heat speak
60 ,l,,,.t,..s s.,,,o,L;u.. Flo o,v ,,.,rl, In
blacksmith shop, which we always drop
without being asked. The rollers are very
large at one end, and then diminish until
they are the proper size for the rail; and the
dexterity with which the workmen handle
the heated metal as it passes from the roller
and then back again over the top TO be re-
pressed is truly astonishing. Each one
seems to place his hook or tongs in the right
place. and at exactly the right time, so that
everything is as smooth and regular as clock
work The last time it passes through the
roller il is received upon Il long car ard car
ried to a machine that cuts off the ends and
leaves it of the proper length for the rails
1t is now passed to the " Strengthening plate :"
a queer straightener, however that leaves il
with curve If nine inches. This is in or
der that it may be straight when cooled off
the "fangc," or bottom, being the thiuncst,
contracts that much less in cooling of. The
illustration is before you, the last one passed
off is red-hot and has the fall curve; but as
you pass down, each one presents less of the
curve, until You come TO those that are cold,
which are almost perfectly straight. After
cooling of, it is passed through a regular
Strengthening machine, and is then ready to
be tested, and if approved, after standing the
ordeal, it is ready to be shipped for actual
service.
From the mill went up town, to attend
great Douglas ratification meeting It was
early, but they were gathering in little parties
all over the square, and were warmly deba-
ting the various questions Of the day.
passed around among them, and found, once
in a while, they were engaged in fighting
some abolitionist; but in most cases, it was
| a Brockinridqe man, standing on a sound
platform, and defending rights and principles
against "dogmas and two-faccd theories."-
The old ship Is safe enough vet. | found our
friends-and was rather surprised to find
their name Legion-everywhere claiming sla-
very TO be national, and asserting our rights
to protection in the publ, domain whenever
necessity demanded it. There was more
unity here than found in many other places
between the two wings, and a stronger de-
sire to Join forces in fighting tn common
enemy, Abolitiouism.
But viii try, at some future time, to give
You the appearance of the political horizon.
KUROS.
a Hundred Guns for the Old North
state.
/ The telegraph brings us information that
I the good old State Of North Carolina has
- r. A. D-o.l-:.-: l.. -. 1 7 - - 4.