The Republican journal., 1870-06-02
LETTER FROM BUCkSPORT.
Correspondence of the journal.
Sherman Steel Works---A Day With the Steel
Makers.

| Va
Sherman Steel Works---A Day With the Steel
Makers.
BUCkSPORT, J une |.
| Now that the Sherman Steel Works are in sue
cesstul operation at this place, and quite in
terest has been manifested in the enterprise by the
people of this part of the country, give below IL
correct report the establishment.
| In the first place would say that by many per-
sons up to this time the affair has been looked up
on visionary; but now with undoubted proofs.
open to all who may visit the works the fact is ad-
mitted that goGd steel is made at these works as
is manufactured elsewhere, if not superior
quality. The establishment is located on Sp0tford'>
Point so called, about half a mile above the steam
boat wharf. This point of land forms the north
western boundary OF excellent harbor. The
works are at the extreme point, and will in "a short
time have a wharf on the main river; at present
there is one wharf $40 feet long running into the
harbor. The corporation have grant OF priv
ilegc to extend this wharf POO feet more.
The present wharf will now admit vessels draw
ing fourteen feet The works consist of two
buildings of equal dimensions and of same style of
architecture, constructed of wood-sze of each 100
feet long, so feet WIDE and 16 feet posts. There
II doors in each building; the doors are II feet
wide, and arranged with weights SO as to slide up
and down.
Nentllating cupOlas extend nearly the whole
length of both buildings, with shutters hung so as
to be suspended or closed by means of cords run
ming to the floor below. The building in which the
melting is carried on is situated nearly ON line
with the wharf, and very near to it, There are 10
furnaces now erected. The tops or openings to
them are on a level with the toor-an inclined
passage for Wheelbarrows extend down to the ash
pits, some seven feet below the main floor, for the
purpose of clearing the grateS Of the furnaces
The crncbes and coat are put into the furnaces
from the main floor. When the melting il going
on, no fire is seen below all doors are eemented
up tight, with pipe clay mortar. The blast /.
caused by air being forced up through the crates
| to the coal.
| This building also contains the steam engine. of
10 horse power, which is supplied by three fluc
boilers, each IL feet in length and three feet in
diameter Two of them are over the hueS to the
furnaces, and heated by those forces When the
blast is on there is need of the third which is set
independently, and is only used in the mornings to
start the works. In this room we find the man
moth shears for cutting up old iron into pieces
about two or three inches in length, for filling the
crucibes. Here, too, are the stamperS or erusherS
| which consist of three upright timbcrS with iron
feet. These are lifted up by machinery one after
another and at certain height are allowed to fall
| back to their bed again. crushing up fire brick to
repair the furnaces or broken crucibe, to Incnd
the damaged ones with.
| The black-smith's forge and machine shop are
also located here, for the purpose of making new
tools and repairing Old ones for The establishment
over head is one Of F. 2, Dimpfcl'| patent blower,
which supplies the compressed air to the Furnaces
The most ingenious machine in this room j. the
Special Force Pump made by s. A. Cameron
New York 1t works all within itself by steam
furnished from the boilers, and is very novel in
construction.
Before we leave tins department, let us witness
the process of steel making, giving our attention
only, At this time, to the operations at of the
furnaces. We'll, here are four crucibles. They
are about 90 inches high and eight in damater
fitted with covers. They made of plumbago.
Four fifty pound lots of old iron are now weighed
out to be used. Each of the pots are now halt fill
ed with the scraps of iron; then comes along the
chemical man Tor "piZen man." as he j. termed
and puts into each crucible small paper package
containing the chemical, about the size of a small
English walnut. The pots are now filled M with
the remainder of the iron, and the covers laid OIL
One after another of them are then taken TO the
furnace and lowered into it, by means of long iron
tongs, which clasp nearly around them and are
placed on the coal VIII ich half fills the furnace
The four crucibles nearly ill the furnace leaving
only Il small space between themselves and the
sides of it. Coal is now thrown in until the fur
mace is entirely filled. This operation requires
much care in order to secure uniform heat. The
air is now let on, and the melting process com
mences. We notice a terrible odor of gas in the |
ROOM 1t is issuing from the cracks around the !
furnace cover. Soon il workman comes along with |
Il shovel full of live Goals, holds it near the furnace
and the gas il Sc. on fire, and continues to burn |
during the process. In three hours time the iron
has melted and become steel. The covers Of the fur
naceS now lifted OIL and crucibe afte crucbe is
pulled up and the contents poured into the moulds |
which are arranged in front Of the furnaces in |
what is called the mould pit. In few moments
the moulds are opened, and we are shown four
ngots of cast steel. They are about thirty inches
long and three inches square-on weighing Them
we actually lind that the old iron has gained in
weight by being converted into first class steel, for
the aggregate weight of the four ingots amount to |
more than two hundred lbs.
We will now leave this place and enter the Ham !
mer Works, that in the other building. which
is located at right angle with this one. The chin
ncy which is l06 II feet high and 10 feet square
at the base, is situated in the corner formed by the
ends of the two establishments, it being used for
both. The first object that attracts attention,
on entering this department. is the Steam Hammer,
which is capable of striking thousand pound
blow. 1t appears to be u steam engine hung up by /
the end. The cylinder, which is So inches long
and y inches diameter, stands on the top of a
harp-shaped iron casting, about s feet high. The
piston works downward. On the end of the
piston rod is the hammer; casting about by 10
inches square and IS inches long. The anvil is a |