The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1869-02-25
FIFTY YEARS AGO.

master, who writes to the Cincinnati Ga
seHe, we take the subioined interesting ex.
tracts:
In my early experience with iron, pie
metal was converted into maleable form
by the forge and triphammer, and ham.
naered IRON was almost. the only kind used
Occasionally small lots ofSwedish and En-
glish rolled iron were offered, but met dull
sales in the Western markets. The Swe-
dish made pretty good wagon tire, but
the English was brittle and inferior.
Our markets were supplied principally
from the Juniata region, and the names OF
Sh eubcrger, Gloninger, Lyon, Shorb and
others-pioneers in the business-stamp-
ed upon bar of iron, was sure guar
antee of its excellent quality. So strong
was the prejudice in favor of Juniata ham
mered iron, that for many years after good
relied iron was made the country people
would not buy it il they could get ham
mered, and still kept inquiring for their
old favorite brands.
! The price of bar iron at Pittsburg,
1911 to 1916, ranged from 10 to II cts.
a pound, and 25 cents extra for plow
mold plates.
1t was brought from Juniata in wag-
ons at cost of three 10 four cents
Some forges were built in Fayette county,
Pennsylvania, in 1912, but the quality
of the iron was not equal TO the Juniata.
F.! Two forges were put up on Paint creek,
/ near Chiliicuthe 30 1918, and made very
/ good iron
The first rolling mill erected in Pitts
! burg was in 1872 by G. Cowan-not to
make bar iron, but to supply his nail
factory with nail rods. Some small round
and square bars were also made, but no
heavy rod. 1t was a small mill. In
1911 another rolling mill was built, lar
ger than the first, to which also was at
tached nail factory. The cut nail is an
American invention. When these nails
I were first introduced into Western Perm
sylvania they were considered curiosity,
and although offered much cheaper than
wrought nails but few persons would buy
them, 1t was not many years, however,
before they came into general use.
They were at first cut by small, porta-
bic machines, and beaded by hand, with
two blows Of the hammer One of our
pioneer merchants in his 18th year
conducted this business IN Cincinnati
in 1914.
The price of nails at this place and
Pittsburg about that period was 4d, 25c,
Cd, 20c; /; Sd, and IOd, 18c, pound;
wrought nails 40 to SOC.
Nail factories at Pittsburg were profit
able. Mr.. Cowan, the first to conduct
one on a large scale, retired with hands
some fortune and so did his successor,
Captain B. The Captain had quit
seafaring life, and came out to Pitts
burg with some capital, which he invests
ed in a rolling mill ard nail factory. He
was a man of great industry, and of the
strictest integrity. Once, during "A finan-
cial crisis, he got into trouble, and had
to suspend payment. This was "A dread
ful blow to his high sense Of honor and
purctDallty, but he met it manfully.
He called on his principal creditor, the
bank, and asked for an extension. What
security Captain u. do you propose to
give US inquired the directors. There,
gentlemen, said the Captain, holding out
his great rough hands (for he was gen
uine worker), there is my security -
There was a hearty laugh, but the secnr-
ity was accepted, and in a few months
every dollar was paid Up, and the Cap
tain was himself again. In after years
this kind Of security was favorably con-
sidered by the banks, and the honest and
industrious mechanic or manufacturer sell
dom wanted for assistance.
| As nail factories and rolling mills in
creased in Pittsburg, the prices of nails
and bar iron declined. / find upon refer~
ence to my books, that nails were sold at
I43 l7c, and 25c, for the keg, in 1917,
ard bar iron lie. 10 1918 bar iron sold
in Cincinnati, at 123c a pound. In
1925, &c for hammered, and JIG for roll
ed iron, were the current prices. During
| 1857 and 1859 nails were sold as low as
3a4c, and iron pc, but these were ruin
Gus prices for the manufacturer.
| In recalling TO memory the iron busi-
! ness in its various forms, as it came with
| in my on knowledge, since 1Sl1-west of
! the mountains-it has been profitable to
/ those who conducted it with prudence
| Many persons failed from bad manage
| ment, or unfavorable locations, but the
majority made money. Some very large
/ fortunes have been made by it. l am no
advocate for high tariffs, but in this busi-
! ness moderate protection has produced
such home competition as to reduce the
prices of iron and nails to about one-third
! their former rates, to the consumer. En-
gland is the largest rcn producing country
! in the world, making about three and
half million tons annually. Our own
country is the next, making over million
tons, and, with our vast mines of coal and
iron ore, there is no reason why we should
not double this prodnct in few years,
and finally get ahead of England.
1t appears that the principal resources
of our wealth and prosperity lie under the
earth, as well as on its surface, and he is
a benefactor to his race who contrives the
best means for their development, either in