The New York herald., 1865-11-13
OUR MACHINE SHOPS.
How These Establishments are
Conducted.
SUMMARY OF THE WORK NOW DOING.
BUSINESS IMPROVING

the macnme shops of this city ahead of anything
of the kind any other city this side Of the Atlantic
and probably second TO none In Europe Tho amount
OF work which these noisy smoky laboratories annually
turn out far regards quantity and quality cannot
be surpassed while the finish which the machinery re-
ceives in our metropolitan iron works by far the most
superb and perfect produced anywhere in the world
The large and small machine shops located within the
city limits independent OF the foundries and forges
give employment TO upwards Of twenty thousand men,
most whom for their labor fair remuneration
nrst class machinists commanding high as five and
six dollars per diem The principal shops situated
on the water 'front.' and stretch along the East and North
rivers at various distances from each other the entire
length Of the city, all Of them occupying favorable posi-
tons for carrying the business Many OF them are
very complete in their arrangements and appointments,
having several separate buildings departments for the
various branches Of the work. every Of which is
feet in itself Every distinct piece Of machinery passes
regularly through all OF the departments from the time
when first taken into tho shop in its rough state as
"pig ron until it again forth exquisite piece
of workmanship. great number of the machine shops
occupy entire blocks and in large portions of
two and three different blocks
The large shops works. they called, are in
many instances owned by stock companies, and are
under the Immediate control and management Of pre-:
sident who is aided in his labors by superintendent,
both men being practical engineers, also the other
officers of the companies Every department is under
the charge Of foremen who direct the men
in their work. and whose business it is to that the
orders Of the superintendent properly carried out
Owing this fact the work executed in this city has
double advantage over that done many other places
for besides being subjected to thorough inspection
through all its stages from its conception to its COM
peton by competent engineers II haalso the skill and
experience Of the best joumeymen machinists in the
country There between twenty and thirty Of the
large works in this city alone that employ respect
lively five and six hundred men all the year round be-
sides innumerable smaller ones that at certain periods
during the year give employment TO one two and three
hundred men respectively.
MATERIAL AND LABOR.
The materials used manufacturing boilers and
machinery are much higher at the present time
than they previous to the late war, and in
instance the price of the articles has more than
doubled Good boiler iron that four years ago ranged
from four TO five cents per pound is now worth nine
cents and the price Of the other articles used in this
business has also advanced in proportion. A
piece Of machinery that formerly cost say
thirty five thousand dollars would now require
seventy.hve thousand dollars to build 1t. The
exOritant prices charged for the very c0mmOnest
necessares Of life still keep the rate Of living very ng
both ends meet. II is with the greatest difficulty that
the poor supply his family with enough to
eat and pay his rent and IL is only by economizing
where economy is already the order OF the day that he
s enabled occasionally TO give his family new suit OF
clohea These high rates that have for so long time
been charged for everything have general thing
been very injurious 10 the working classes They have
undoubtedly suffered from the effects Of taxation
and the prosraton Of business than probably any other
class of the community.
Most Of the iron works obliged time ago TO
tail their expenses on account OF the slack times anu
OF their men. Business Is now improving ana, instead
or continuing 70 down their forces we are glad 70
them almost daily making Large accessions 70 theT
numbers
THE WORK now BEING DONE.
The following liz brief summary OF the work now in
hand nj some Of our principal machine shops
The Novelty Iron Works are now engaged upon one
geared engine for the United States government OF one
This Ia the largest engine of the kind in the world
Also, four beam engines for the government, OF one
hundred and five inch cylinder ana Twelve ieeI sroRe 2.
machinery and boilers OF the vessels THAI have been
in the service Of government during the rebellion,
besides vast amount Of similar work for the merchant
marine. This establishment employs st the present
time about eight hundred men
The Morgan Iron Works ut work upon beam
engine of fty- SIX inch cylinder eleven feet stroke
to be placed upon the Eastern route one engine Oh thr.
tysx inch cylinder and nine feet stroke intended Tor
new Sound steamer; ne-hnndred inch cylinder and
four feet stroke for United States steamer now build
ing at Boston the large pump engine for the new chi
water works. ana nave now ID pfOcenh VI compic-
on the engines for the sloop-of Idaho, which
being constructed under the snperintendence Of Mr.
Dckeson besides having just completed the engines Tor
one Of the vessels OF the American Mail Steamship Com
pany The machinery Of the steamers Fulton ana Araeo
Is now undergoing repairs NJ this establishment prior
the vessels being placed upon the Havre route The
Morgan Iron Works have present between seven and
eight hundred men employed.
The Neptune Iron Works n present building tho
engine for the steamer Pa0 Shun intended for the China
trade Tho dimensions OF the engine eighty inch
cylinder and twelve feet stroke Of piston Also one engine
thirty eight inch cylinder with ten feet stroke The
number Of employed here is comparatively smaR
The Neptune Company intend shortly 70 close business
The Etna Iron Works are in full operation Besides
doing the of the hspen bridge they are a present
engaged upon nve one hundred inch engines, ak sixty.
inch engines and two engines n one hundred and ten
hundred nch engines are cr the esIebratsd ram Dunder
berg and have esch fortyeven inch stroke Of piston
the other two for the United states steamer Aessha
mung, now building at Phadelphn, and are precisely
the those Of the Dundevberg The six sixty
inch cylinder engines also intended for government
vessels also of hree feet stroke One engine Of
one hundred inch cylinder and twelve feet srok
course Of completion for the steamer Rising star rhe
Etna Works have between seven hundred and nty and
eight hundred men now st work 10 the various depsr-
mcnts
belamAiers Iron Works are also very busy. They are
building beam engines for Sound steamer now
being constructed in shis city, the dimensions Of which
engines sixtytwo inch cylinders aud twelve feet
stroke, the boilers OF which viii be thirty feet long
Eight engnes OF forty Elk and half inch cylinders and
nfty two inch stroke, being completed for the iron
clads Kalamazoo and Passacounaway; also the turreis
DOileYS Tor the same ve&erle shkiutr VI tue
steamship Leo have lust been finished aud placed
board and number of steamers undergoing repairs
al the wharf The number OF men employed here nj the
present time IL about hundred and my Az one
time during the the DelRmaer Iron Works gave en-
pIoyment 10 twelve hundred men.
Fletcher, HARRISON 90, sr. a present build
ing two beam engines OF sirtytwo inch cylinders
and twelve feet stroke OF pstons They have Just
pleted set Of nine boilers for new sugar house in vii.
amsburg each which is fifteen feet long and SIX et
in diameter also the machinery for two revente cutters
for Lake Erie. few days ago they finished an over.
head direct acting engine for the new propeller william
G. Redhed, Of the Swft shore line" tn. dimensions
Of the engine tbrysix inch diameter aud thirty
inch stroke.
Murphy, McCurdy Warden engaged upon one
beam engine of forty -four inch cylinder and ten fce
stroke, and engine TO be placed upon the shrews
bury route the dimensions of which are forytwo inch
cylinder and ten feet stroke. The three last named
shops situated upon the west side Of the city
Al the Alaire the Dry Dock the Excelsior and the
other large iron works upon the east side OF the city
business s gradually improving and II IL confidently ex
pected that In the of two or three weeks WORK
" be vsvv bv,sk Ovdcrs comiug day. and