The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-02-24
New Era in the Manufacture of Iron
in wheeling.

Since the commencement Of the
manufacture Of iron in Wheeling, ii
has been confined exclusively to the
production Of bar and railroad iron,
nails, castings, &C., while our manu-.
tacturers have depended on other locali.
ties for the first article required in the
business, viz: pig metal; and when the
amount twenty-five thousand tons) used
In this city annually is taken into conSid-
Grafton, It will be seen that large amount
of money will be saved in ireightS and
profits II pig metal can be manufactured
here in competition with the localities on
which we lave heretofore depended for
supply, .ara
Induced by this consideration, and the
tact that the quantity Of pig metal requir.
cd has become SO great that our usual
sources Of supply have become inadequate
TO our wants, tho enterprising firm Of
Messrs. Dewey, Vance s Co., Of the Riv-
crside Iron Works In this city, after
careful examination and investigation as
to the cost Of and facilities for getting the
materials used in the manufacture Of pig
metal, compared with other localities, dc.
termined upon building q blast furnace
In which TO produce their own pig metal,
Having satisfied themselves Of the su.
perlor advantages presented here, they
purchased piece Of ground just below
the city, through which the Balti.
more and Ohio Railroad passes,
and on tho bank of the Ohio river,
one halt Of which IS underlaid with
u vein Of limestone 10 feet thick, suitable
for the blast furnace and easily quarried;
the other half Is located between the rail.
road and the river, and Is very eligibly
situated for tho works which have just
been finished and arc now In operation.
The work Of building was commenced in
June last, and the furnace put in blast on
Wednesday, the 7th inst. The railroad at
this point Is above the level on which the
furnace is built, and the Sidings TO the
stock house, latter leaving the railroad q
short distance) arc built ON o double line
Of trestle work from IS to 81 feet high,
and 405 feet long, under which large
quantities Of material may be dumped
and stocked without much hauling.
There Is also a siding from the railroad 10
the iron yard.
The stock house is o substantial build.
ing OF stone and brick, with iron roof, 175
feet long, 90 feet wide and about 81 feet
high. About 81 feet from the ground
floor and on level with the sidings from
the railroad, second floor is built on
heavy beams and posts, strong
enough to bear the loaded cars as they
are passed by rails to any part
Of the house TO be unlOaded. On this
floor are placed two Of Blake's ore and
stone Crushers at convenient distances to
the railroad tracks to receive the ore and
distribute it crushed on the floor beneath
These Crushers are driven by neat little
engine on the same floor, and connected
by belts and counter shaft. The stock
house extends nearly to the bank Of the
river, and from the second floor to the
river, there is an incline railroad, double
track on trestle work, by which stock is
brought from boats and Observation-Disclosures
the stock house. The machinery used
for hauling up the cars from the river,
was made. by Homer Hamilton s. Co.,
of youngstown, Ohio, and Is driven
by belt from an engine on the bank Of
the river, whose regular duty is to opcr.
ate the pumps which supply water from
the river to the works. The pumps are
two In number, 8 inch bore, and 80 inch
stroke, on one bed plate, placed Is feet
above low water, in tight and well Sc
cured house, built in the trestle work of
the incline The piston rods OF the pumps
are 112 feet long, and run on rollers under
and parallel with the railroad to the
engine above, where they are con-
nected by slides, pitman, cranks,
shaft and pinion, to- a gear wheel
on the engine shaft. The valves in the
pumps arc so constructed that should
the pumps and engine becomesubmerged
and stopped, the water can be drawn
through the pumps and discharge pipes
by another pump in the engine house, CON
nected to the discharge pipes for that pur-
pose. The pumps and connections were
built by Messrs. Ward, Margerum & Co !,
youngstown, Ohio, and are thought to be
peculiarly adapted for pumping water
where there is so much difference between
high and low water marks.
The hosting house is also built of stone
and brick with iron roof The platforms
on which the stock Is elevated are eight
feet square, with patent safety attach
ments, worked by pair OF engines built
expressly for this furnace by Messrs. Otis,
Brothers & Co., Yonkers, N. Y. The en-.
tire hosting apparatus was designed and
built by this firm, and reflects great credit
on them as mechanics. The hoist is 10
feet, ard the platforms travel it in half
minute, but can be made to travel faster.
These engines have an automatic stop ar.
rangement and require no attention in
starting or stopping other than what is
given by the filters at the top, and seem
admirably adapted to the purpose. Z q
Tho furnace stack is go feet high and
supported by eight cast iron columns.
The interior diametcrs are 8 feet hearth,
Of Mt Savage fire brick, 10 feet
bosh, and - feet at the top. The
fire brick lining is "a inches thick, made
by J. & A. Manypenny, New Cumber-
land, W. Va. Outside Of it is 6 inch
space filled with loan sand, then lining
- inches thick, then another space OF 8
inches filled with sand, and then the casing
Of plate iron 90 feet diameter on the
columns and 81 feet high, tapered 10 20
feet at the top, and surmounted by an iron
platform 30 feet in diameter, which is
connected 10 the hosting house by an
iron bridge 10 feet wide and about "a feet
long. The top Of the furnace is covered
by circular cast iron hopper made in
scgmentS, and cast iron bell or cone
TO close the opening in the centre. The
gas is conveyed from the furnace top to
the hot blast and boilers in two iron pipes
3 feet in diameter.
The casting house is 1873, feet long, 50
feet wide and 30 feet high, built OF stone
and brick, and covered with corrugated
nnlunn ind iron nnnf hl,ilk III, Mnnnrn NN.,,