The Daily state journal. [volume] (Alexandria, Va.) 1868-1874, 1871-06-16

STATE JOURNAL left early and regularly at the
= places of business, residences, by responsible
carriers Will please leave their orders with Jon,
| sToN Il SELDES, Newsdealers, 9ls Main Stree
and at the News Depot of w. A. EDwARDs. 22
East Broad Street.
The Car-Builders Visit the Trederar--Tbcy mr.
shown Through the Establishments Dc
scription of the Work champagne Enter
. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS of General Ransom,
President Adams. Colonel Archer Anderso,
and others.
At O'Clock yesterday afternoon. tho
members of the National Car Bulders' AS
soclatlon and number of other invited
guests, including representatives of all O.
our daily papers, visited the Tredegar Iror
Works by invitation of the members o
that great and growing establishment, and
were shown through all of its various de.
partments. Everywhere they found energy,
skill, intelligent labor, and machinery com
ommg to turn out the parts of engines, cars,
and all manner of machinery. The facility
with which railroad iron was cut and split
as II 1t were merely clay, was remarkable
but 1t was when we got to the building
III which spikes were made that the most
surprising phenomenon was exhibited.
There men naked to the waist with pres
plration pouring eff them as if they we've
glass-blowers, would take from a burning,
furnace flaming bar of iron, then manipu-
latrng it by macnery until elongated to a
length of sixteen feet, they made it crawl.
as it were, into the machine to be cut into
spikes, more rapidly than a clock tcks.-
| Nothing before ever gave us half so vivid an
idea of fiery serpent as these flaming rods.
one following the other in quick succession
and with mathematical precision. The vis-
| itors, who were all familiar with the large
establishments at the North. had no idea
before either Of the size or the extent of the
operations Of the Tredegar, and expressed
themselves highly pleased with the energy
and enterprise which met them on every
hand.
CHAMPAGNE FLOWS FREELY.
The party having gone through the estab-
llshmcnt and been shown BY the polite
headS OF departments everything worthy of
special notice, they were asked into large
room, where iced champagne at once COM
menced popping like the firing on militia
picket, when every man feels in duty bound
to discharge his smooth bore. As soon as
all were i'll good humor, and feeling to-
wards each other like Damon did towards
Pythlas-the ball was opened by a speech
OF thanks from Mr.. Adams. President of
the National 6ar-Buildcrs' Association.
While he did not pretend to be eloquent he
spoke like man whose heart was touched
by the kind reception, and who felt no re-
luctance IN giving expression to what he
thought.
in response to calls General Robert RAN
som, OF North Carolina, made q few brief
and eloquent remarks.
He was followed by Messrs. Van Hou-
ten, of Pennsylvania, and Poison, of Phila-
delphia, the latter, by the way, a native of
Virginia. Both, in warm terms. expressed
themselves delighted with all they had seen
and at the cordial manner in which thew
had been treated since their arrival in |
Richmond.
Col. Archer Anderson. son of Gen.
Joseph r. Anderson, and one of the |
Irede9ar company, in response to toast. |
made a speech, which was particularly
happy and appropriate. In fact, his re-
marks were in keeping with his proverbial
good taste and judgment.
He welcomed his guests to the Tredegar
Works, not only because they were repre-
sentatiyes of the great industrial pursuits of
the country, but for the reason that It en-
abled them to see what himself and those
with whom he is associated are doing in
building up great catholic manufacturing
concern here at Richmond, which is send
ing out its products in every direction
Of this vast country. Since the war
they had industriously pegged away.
each year adding something to their
capacity. They had gone, too. bold /
y into the arena of trade and met in
competition the iron men of the
North and South, i'll every State OF this
Union, extending their operations even to
Texas and California. They had been re-
yarded with success, and this will stimulate
hem M the future to attempt and to accom-
dish even greater results than in the past.
He was glad that the car-builders Of the
country had selected Richmond as place
)f meeting, because itwould enable them to
see for themselves the great advantages
which our city, with her vast water-power.
climate, and cheapness Of fuel
md living, offers to capitalists. Col. An
lerson's remarks were received with great
pplause, and three cheers were given, first
or Richmond, and then for the Tredegar.
John ). Wise, ESQ.,, responded to toast ;
n honor of Richmond in speech which .
leld the delighted attention of his listeners.
md drew from them repeated and enthu-
iastic applause. Noble and exalted in !,
ointment, graceful in rhetoric, powerful in
Ieliyery, it was one Of the best impromptu {
peeches we have ever heard. It was
worthy Of a son of one of Virgnia's great
st orators, and proved that the Divine |
lift of genius had descended from his re-
cred father without loss. We regret our
liter inability to report speech whose !
fleets were as brilliant and electric as . .
and as difficult to fix in !
words. We predict for John S. Wise a !
reat career if he is true to his own high \
leal of American manhood I
The Press Of Richmond was given by I
lr. Adams. Col. Gilman, of the Eaqui- !
e., was called out, and made a most bril- !
ant speech, worthy of the occasion and of :
he toast to which he responded. Z
Following Mr.. Wise, with an audience !
xcited by his thrilling eloqucnce, Col. G. =
chieved the difficult task of stilling the
oise to silence, and securing unbroken at
ention, interrupted only by frequent cheers. h
After felicitous introduction, which e
Tas full of humor, Mr.. Gilman said that 7
IL two days he had witnessed with plea :