Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-05-25
EDITORIAL CORRESPONDENCE.
PntlAprLpHIA, May IL


The entire day has been spent among some OF
the MANUFACTURES with which this city abounds.
II IS estimated that out of population Of 300 900
there are about 800 600 engaged in manufacturing
pursuits. We could but notice how happy, con-
tented, and prosperous the operators in these es-
Adjustments seem to be. They arc quiet and
agreeable in their department, well-cad, intelli-
gent, enjoying life in the largest sense, present
ing marked contrast to the miserable condition
of the labcring men in Europe. We we're ,reli-
ably informed that laboring men have come
from Europe to engage in these works, who were
actually without name, and whose knowledge
of labor was purely mechanical, who were in
the most degraded condition TO which ignorance
can reduce human beings. And yet these men
who would throw open every avenue of trade
in our country, and assist English aristocrats
not only in keeping English laborers in this con-
dition, but would reduce our own laboring men
to the same condition.
Starting out this morning, VIC first visited the
laboratory of Powers & WeightmaR, manufac-
turing chemists This is one of the oldest estab-
lishments Of the kind in this country and is the
most extensive on the continent. The building
ers a space of about $50 by $50 feet and is six
stories high. We were introduced to Mr.. Thos.
II Powers, who kindly showed us around the
concern, exhibiting the packing departments,
where q large number of carpenters are all the
time engaged in preparing boxes in which to
ship the products The immense warehouses
filed with articles already packed for shipping,
whore elevator run by steam-power are used for
letting down from or hosting goods to the upper
stories &c. A large number of the chemicals
used throughout this entire country are the pro-
ducts of this house.
Leaving Mr., Powers we proceeded to the es-
tablishment of Mr.. VIM. Sellers Il Co., manu-
facturers of machine tools, shafting and mill
gearing This is also the fruits of patient perse-
vering labor, having been started in 1913. First
OF humble pretensions, 1t now covers nearly three
squares, and presents busy appearance employ,
ing several hundred hands The space covered
by the works is six and half acres, right in the
heart of the city. The heavy character of the
work done in the building require substantial
foundations and solid walls, the floor being
formed with continuous iron plates. Stability in
the buildings is necessary to secure the true work
required in the manufacture of lathes, shaftngs,
&c. The boundaries of the concern are supplied
with the largest cranes for lifting heavy weights.
We were shown one or two which were capable
of raising weight of fifty tons, and which sweep
around the area of the building where heavy
weights are to be moved. We passed through
me department where the sand for moulding
purposes is dried, mixed and prepared for the
workmen, into the department where the eff
fard Injector which this firm first discovered,
is made. This is q discovery which is coming
into general use and is for supplying steam boil
ers with water. We then saw the machine for
cutting bolts, the machinery for planning metals,
where the metal to be planed moves back and
forth under a stationary tool, the table upon
which it is placed being moved by the incest Of
machinery imaginable We went on and on and
on, beholding the wonders of mans inventive
genius, as Swallowed forth by the example before
US In the manufacturing of the articles in this
line, they have introduced improvements and
have reduced the art nearer to perfection than
any firm in the world, and are really public
benefactors. They, by the exercise Of their own
genius and by their own industry, have achieved
princely fortune. Their manufactured articles
were largely exhibited at the Paris Exposition,
where they received Grand Gold Medal, as
a testimonial of their skill Their productions
called forth the highest enconiums from the En-
glsh press. Among the tools exhibited by them
is planer which is capable of planning work
eight feet wide and high and eighteen feet in
length They have their gauges made before
any machine is made, SO that every subsequent
machine shall be precisely like the first one
The Messrs Sellers very kindly showed us
around the vast works, placing us under many
The celebrated Baldwin Locomotive Works
next claimed our attention, where we were in
troduced TO Mr.. Baird one of thc propretors.
The works cover over three blocks, and employ
serentesH hundred hands-enough to insure
population Us large as Knoxville, and larger.
They turn out about twenty-six locomotive en-
gnes every month"; which are disposed of at an
average of $4,000 each, making the gross
monthly earnings say 1912 600 Only think if
some such concern could be started in Qpr State,
even on q small scale where We have all
the necessary materials, what an impulse would
it be TO business of every kind Seventeen hum
dred hands with their families, say five in each
family, and we have population Of g. 500; and
then the butcher to sell them meat; the baker
TO supply them with bread; the shoemaker to
shoe them; the tailor TO clothe them the barber
TO shave them and the teacher 10 instruct their
children Only think of this, and it will be seen
that this establishment contributes very largely
TO the population, wealth and prosperity of this
city. The Baldwin Works constructed the first
locomotive built in this country, in 1890 and
the business has steadily increased ever since
In the shop where the forgings necessary for To-
comotives are made, there are more than hun
bred fires, with several steam hammers. One of
these hammers weighs three tons, the others arc
smaller. Here we saw the bolt hammer with
the immense shears capable Of cutting four-inch
square iron with as much ease as cutting piece
! of paper. Then here is the bending machine,
the furnaces tor melting scrap iron, and the
! 30-hOrse power engine for driving the machine
~. Next comes the shop whore the boilers are
made, in which every conceivable means are
! foundery are made the drivingwheels, cylinders
and all castings belonging TO locomotive, and
this room seems 10 be crowded with laborers.
Here are the cupolos, capable Of melting ten tons
| of iron to the hour, and the immense cranes, Of
twenty-siX tons capacity, for lifting and placing
| heavy weights. The castings being complete,
they are sent TO the different machine shops 10
| be polished and finished off for use Notwfth-
| standing the large space covered by the works,
and the army Of operatives employed, every
thing progresses with the regularity of clock
work, which is owing 10 the fact that the owners
| are practical men, and have made their business
a study. Fully understanding their business,
they are enabled To arrange matters that there
I,,~t1i l. al. ~ frxo IL.