The Jackson standard. [volume] (Jackson C.H., Ohio) 1847-1888, 1873-06-26
From Chester, Illinois.
CHESTER, June Il, 1873:

CHESTER June IA, 1878.
To tie Editor Of tie Standard:
On the ID Of June myself and a few
friends started for Chicago to attend the
Jubilee, which, presume, you and your
readers know all about before this. Per
NIT me right here to say that the news
papers of the different western rtva5 cities,
are now and have been, saying much
more than they are. justifable in for to
me all appeared satisfied, and seemed to
enjoy themselves hugely.
] will not attempt to give you q de
scriptiou of Northern Illinois, for know
cannot do the country and towns,
through which / passed, Justice, but will
say, however, that it seems nature did
its best, and spread the land out so as 10
| please even the most fastidious Of the
soils tillers.
| Chicago, it is unnecessary to describe,
all know it to be one of the great COM
mercial centers of the West, and in line
! buildings, clean streets, good hotels,
street cars and omnibuses, can double
discount St. Louis. Of course there is
considerable rubbish on the streets, but
one does not meet with that unearthly
stencil ever permeating st. Louis.
While in Chicago had the pleasure of
seeing our old friend Ragan James. lie
is ali right and engaged in running en-
gines for two Chicago furnaces, built
under the same roof, and, to say the
least, are magnificent structures While
there | had the pleasure Of meeting the
Superintendent, James F. Torrence, for
merly of Southern Ohio. Mr.. Terrence
/ showed me around, and then invited me
to go with him to see the furnaces he is
now building at Joliet. As it was free
ride and free dinner I, of course, could
not refuse his kind offer, and believing
YOUR furnace readers would be interested
in rough description of these works, |
submit what l gathered These furnaces
are designed to beat the world, and
have reason TO believe they will do it
The first view is that of a walled city
with its towering steeples. Every build
ing is of sand stone neatly cut and me
chancally laid, with iron roofing, unsur
passed anywhere. The stacks, two il
number, are 10 feet high, with 20 feet
boshes, and heaPths feet in diameter
arranged for 8 tweers in each furnace,
engines with 6 feet stroke, &c inch steam
cylinders, blast cylinders I feet in diam
eter. The engines are so arranged that
one or all may be used for one stack. In
addition to these, there are two double
elevator engines for hosting stock, either
capable of doing all the work for botl
stacks. Six steam pumps, ali arranged
to pump for one or all the boilers, which
are twelve in number, 65 feet long, 81
inches in diameter. The boiler stack i.
indeed magnificent to look upon, beins
l5O feet high, I3 feet in diameter at The
base, all igQp. The stock house is 20t
feet long by 100 wide, with four railga!
tracks running the entire length. Cast
ing house l8O by 120 feet, hot bias
stoves, + for each furnace, each having ,
) 10 feet vertical pipes.
These furnaces are expected to mak'
J | 100 tons each per day, and | can't SCI
why they will not DO it, fQF they ar
J built just as they should be, and in fac
are perfect in every particular.
On the same grounds are three rolling
mills capable of making 220 tons of irOl
and steel rails per day, also a steel con
verting mill, used for making what i
known as Bessemer steel for railroad
iron; also machine and forging shops,
foundry aad pattern shop-all under th'
supervision Of Mr.. FoIt6noe who ha
such perfect organization that one woult
! think the works were being run by some
mystic power, and to lay joking aside
and use an '-Old Virgins" term, GAS
whole, just bang any anything l eve
saw er heard Of
Yours truly,
E w. MITCHELL.