Bedford inquirer. [volume] (Bedford, Pa.) 1857-1884, 1869-07-23
For the IseUIRER.
THE BROAD ToP COAL AND IRON
REGION
The KemhIe Coal and Iron Co.'s Fur
naces az IkiddelE burg in blast! Com
piete success OF this pioneer enter
prise.


piete success OF this pioneer enter.
prise.
In this age Of accelerated progress in the
Industrial arts, Iittle time is afforded ia re
viewing the stages Of progress ia their de
velopmeHt They pass ia rapid review, al
the mile posts CLEAN for a moment before tbs
vision Of the railroad passenger. But ever
in the rapid progress OF The present sge
there are stations dotted ale5g 1t, which claiH
q passing notice
Fifteen years ago The eagle eye of capita
looked anxiously on the broad acres of this
Coal Field. Scanning its eighty square miles
ofeoaI measures, and testing the outerOps o.
its coal seams.
The old settlers looked in amaze at this in
flow Of coal hunters and were puzzled to know
what induced these strangers to pay 50 fre
quent and assiduous attention to the topogra
ply Of their rugged and uninviting Region.
Perhaps there lurked in their minds vague
thought that the keepers Of some Of our be
benevolent institutions had been somewhat
derelict IN their duty. The exhibition how,
ever, Of geld pieces, in payment for their
poor and rocky lands, removed this impress
sion, and the homesteads of the Broad Top
pers' passed into the possession Of these
strangers
In 1856 the Broad Top railroad was
opened from Huntingdon to the mines on
Shoup's Ran, and subsequently its base ex-
tended along the Rays.own Juniata from
Saxton to Hopewell and NJ Dallas, reaching
out branches up the three valleys which are
cut deeply across the Coal Field nearly at
right angles to this base.
The latter part of this year inaugurated the
opening Of the Coal Trade from the Region,
aud tested practically the value of BROAD Top
Coal at the various points Of eousump ption
along the Pennsylvania rail road and canal
and in the seaboard cities. It was received
with considerable appreciation by consumers,
and distinguished itself particularly for gen
Grating steam and for use in the various
branches of the manufacture of iron. With
q steadily increasing demand from year to
year, additional mines were opened, improve
ments erected, and miners hamlets dotted
quite thickiy over large portion Of the field.
For ten years the main thought was directed
to the development and shipment of its coal.
This ras the era Of coal. During the lat
ter part Of this period, pioneer minds were
slowly bat surely graspiug the problem SO
prominently set forth in this Region-aH an
erbatastibie supply Of pure mineral fuel IN TIE
Coal Field, fsnked along its western base by
. great valley. along which outcropped the
rich deposits of the fossiliferous and hema tite
iron eres. The Raystown Juuiata with its ae-
comparing rail road, divided the ores from
the fuel aud suggested base Of operations,
along which they could be readily united and
smelted.
But simple as was the act Of the falling ap-
pie, it required the genius Of a Newton to ap-
preciate this illustration Of the law Of gravity.
It required capital to erect furnaces, and
most Of those familiar with the resources Of
Broad Top, had already largely invested in
its coal lands and coal business. Besides,
there were other questions which came up in
the discussion. va go5r Broad Top coke
make good iro5s' ire yoU sure you hare
abundance Of iroH ore?
The coke had not made iron in this Region
aud hence suggested a doubt in the minds Of
capitalists. True, the iron ores had been
thoroughly tested, for they had been and we're
now being suelted at various points in the
Region with charcoal
Bat as the prime7al forest was fast digap-
pearing and the charcoal iron. masters looked
aghast st the widely increasing circle of their
charcoal supply, the continuation Of this mode
of iron making could not be entertained.
And here, for brief time, the matter rested.
Presently the Cambria Iron Co. began ship
ping these ores TO snelt at their works Il
tbey c9uld be successfully ,corked at Johns.
to1ga lrjtb coke, ,rhy not IN Broad Top.
In 1867, l. T Watson, Esq, then Prest.
of The Huntingdon and Broad Top R. R, in-
lroduced this matter to a number Of New
York gentlemen, who visited the Region aud
purchased coal and iron ore lands, soon after
organizing a company under the name Of the
Kemble Coal aud Iron Co, Of whom the Hon.
William Kelly is President L. T. Watson,
Esq, Vice Prest. and R. A. Wight, ESQ,
Sect. and Treas
During the following year they commenced
the erection Of large furnace at Riddlesburg
ahieh has been completed aad is now IN
blast.
The construction Of the furnace, after q
design by F. Rumpf. Esq, of New York
city, was iutrusted to David Wordon, Esq,
the present Superintendent, under whose su-
perior skill and untiriug energy. this noble
furnace has been brought TO a successful
issue. The furnace, Is Il feet wide at bosh,
s feet at tunnel head, and 60 feet high. Its
outside form is truncated pyramid, having
base Of 30 feet square. The masonry is
heavy eoursed, well banded, ashlar work, Of
Mahoning Sandstone The tuyere arches are
turned with hard red brick, and the interior
CT tie furnace has double lining Of q inch
FIRE brick.
The blowing engine IS Of the most modern
and approved plan, possessing sufficient sur
plus power to increase the blast, over the
usual pressure Of q to pounds per square
inch, In any exigency which may arise IN its
working.
i pumping attachment supplies water to
the water lift for hoisting the ores and fuel
and for the various uses incident to a large
farnace.
The hot blast oven is erected after the i'm
proved Player patents, which insures high
heat equally diHused over the cast iron heat
ing pipes, and is not injuriously concentrated
at any one point.
Ample boiler room has been provided aud
the furnace gases utilized in making steam
and heating the bot blast oven.
Indeed the whole improvements and ap-
pliances, regarded in all the elements Of
strength, stability, ample power, skillfuI CON
strection, and embodying the most recent i'm