Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-01-06
Richmond Manufactures and Wcsthari
Iron Works,

Richmond Manufactures and Wcstharh
Iron Works.
The manufactures Of Richmond amounted
last year to about twenty millions OF dollars
Of which Tobacco, Flour and Iron constituted
two-thirds or about thirteen millions. The
value Of Tobacco was the largest, Flour next
in amount, and Iron the third. The manultc-
ture of the two former are and must be limited
by the product Of the leaf and grain, when
product is dependant upon the condition OF Tue
! seasons and other casualties. Ore, Limestone
and Coal, deposited in incxhaustiblc quantities
are always ready, and at all seasons.
Whatever the demand for manufactured TO-
bacco NAV be in the future, tho increased pro-
duct of the leaf must be limited very much by
The quantity of suitable virgin soil not yet mp
propriatcd to its cultivation, which, Of course,
will be less from year to year.
The demand for -four will be limited at home
and abroad, to the amount of population, and
of course the consumption cannoI he forced
beyond the increase Of population.
The uses to which Iron arc applied arc null
tiplcd, and the quantities in which it is used
are Increased in & far greater ratio than the
increase Of the population.
The raw materials to supply orr Tobacco
Factories and our Mills are either the product
of Virginia or Of the neishhorins States oil
North Carolina and Tennessee, who receive in
return supplies from our stores and work
shops. The Pig Metal used in our Foundrics
and Machine Shops is brought from points
North of Virginia to the amount Of about
90, 600 tons annually. valued ut about half mil
lion dollars, all Of which hns TO DC paid for
in cash.
Popular Us arc or tobacco and Hour. the
iron manufactures Of every kind, from the
large Government guns down 10 the Old DO
miniou'' 9 d. ,Naiis-anl from the ponderous
machinery of Government Steamships down TO
the delicatc structure OF Il Sewing Machine,
including all the intermediate articles produced
by our foundrirS, machine shops, and rolling
mills, have an equal popularity--a popularity
based upon the intrinsic value Of the articles
that enable our manufacturers successfully 10
meet competition wherever they are carried.
Large quantities of bar, rod and other iron
are imported from Europe. Furnaces. stoves,
&C., &C., are brought from the North. With
every variety OF ore. limestone, coal and
water-power, there is no earthly reason why
james river should not supply every ton Of
pig.mctal, castings, and bar and rod iron, re.
quircd by Richmond, and retain in Virginia
millions Of dollars. developing her resources,
and cnrichirg her citizens.
There is no interest in Virginia really. So
great rs her iron-none so capable ut cNf0n
sion, and none promising richer rewards Tor
the investment of capital, and the application
Of talent and energy. Furnaces 10 produce pig
metal hive been long in existence IN our noun.
tainS, and many Of them have been very sllc-
c~essfullr managed. and have enriched their
owners. There are facilities, convcnlcnceS and
economies for the manufacture Of pig metal in
the ne;chhorhocd Of Richmond. which have
induced several Of the most experienced, caer-
setic and successful iron-makers Of orr noun
tain region, 10 locate themselves hear Iich
mond, under the firm Of Jordan, VIM Il Co.
\ YisIr TO rslGlE WESrmAN lEoS WoHEs,
located on the Canal. five miles west q!
Richmond, has induced the foregoing remarks,
which we propose to follow hr rs concise 4 DO
s%cription of the works az we can give. The
quantity of land owned is ahont 10 acres, and
lies near Bosher's Dam, OIL the north side Of The
Canal, extending 4 convenient distance upon
the level above Lock No. ., and also below the
lock. and having upon ii several q~uarricS Of the
finest granite and several very fine springs.
WATER PowEg.-Thc water is Suppllcl by one
of the most substantial and permanent levels Of
the canal which connects with BoSher's Dam,
ut the head Of the falls. L short distance
above. In the history oil the canal there
has been 4 break but once in this level. In the
event Of 4 break in Roshcr'S Dam, the main
line OF the canal supplies water. and in case al
a break in the canal above the daln the water
will he supplied by the dam. The supply
NAV he regarded almost is uniailing, Is 1t Is
unlimited, having the entire volume o! the
James river, under a head and fall OF :r feet.
About 10 feet Of this fall is obtained by dis
charging the water, after passing the wheel.
into the river rNpEE the canal below the locks.
Three huge iron pipes. each 100 feet long,
made ut the Tredrsar Works. are used III car.
rvinr the water under the canal. At this loca-
ton there is less liability 10 hreaka.cS, low wa
ter and other interruptiny casualties than at
any other on the whole line Of the canal, ard
hence il is most admirably chosen; for il is mat
ter Of great importance to have reliable motive
mower for q blast furnace nf the magnitude 81
the Westham furnace.
WATER WoEHS.-Froin IN inlet above the
upper end Of the lock the water passes into a
fore-bav and thence into a whccl-huuse. All
these arc Of massive masonry, and as solid alIi
tight as granite and cement can be made, and
as durable. The watcr-wlIecl is entirely at
iron, six feet in diameter, with blowing c,ylin-
ders, and all the connecting machinery COM !
plete for 4 capacity uf one hundred and fifty
horsepower; strong, substantial and durable
in character. and simple in arrangement. 1t
was constructed by one OF the most practical
and experienced macl,in:StS in the United
States.
ErRSAcE.--Thc furnace !nr smelling, stands
against 4 very high bluff. resting upon a solid
granite foundation and is constructed If heavy
granite blocks in rock range" o. two feet
courses, strongly bound together hy heavy
wrought iron rods. The stack is 10 feet square.
90 feet high, IL feet diameter at the hosiI, and
10 feet at the trunncl head, lined with lire
brick, and has 4 blast and capacity for making
10, 00O tons pig metal per anunm. Fronting
this St lcturc is an ample casting house.
BLuwlHG MACHINERY AND POWER. The iua.
chinery consists of two blowing cylinders, each
60 inches in diameter and IS in length. These
have q capacity for generating blast sufficient
for two furnaces As large as the one described
above.
IIor BLAST .ArrAEArU>.- The oven iur heat
ing the air used in the blast is located on m arch
sprung from the top Of the stack To a wall IN
terrening between the blntf hill and the stack.
The apparatus consists of five "bed pipes and
for;y.eiglt "arch pipes" The lgnitel gas
arising from the furnace returns through these
pipes INTO the furnace at a vcy high tc:npcr-
nature.
OTHER MAcl.AEHY.--An elevator TO raise
IL Ill l--E