New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-11-15
OXFORD FIJRNACE. ". J..

TIE PEQuEST YALLEY--A LARGE FURNACE RUNNING
ON FULL TME-THE COMPANY HOPEFUL OF
BETTER TINES
iPRoM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT OF THE rRIBUsE.]
OXFORD, N. j., Nov. This is one of the
most Interesting points IN the IRON regions OF New
jersey The town Of 1900 Inhabitants has been built up
entirely by the iron interests I Is IN the center OF war
rem County in OF tho most beautiful sections OF the
Pequest Valley both sides OF which rock veins OF
magnetic ore which Is thought be the best adapted
10 tho manufacture of steel by the Bessener process
furnace was established here In 17i3, and though Few
had been built In different parts OF the country TINS Is
the Oldest which Is now In good working condition.
pig OF Iron is now IN the companys Office bearing the
date Oh 1855. and there cannon balls known to have
been cast In the furnace during the old French and
Indian war. During the Revolutionary War the fur
mace was under the management OF Daniel Rotterdam,
member OF the Federal Constitutional Convention. and
afterward surveyorGe OF the United States An
attempt was made TO cast cannon OF the small raDer IN
use In those days but the soil found too damp and
the works were confined to the casting Of cannon balls
Tor the patriot army The original arch stu sIands ana
Is In good state of preservation but the furnace has
been enlarged bosh and the hight has been in
creased 10 30 feet The mine from which the ore was
first taken has long been discontinued and has caved ill.,
the number OF years which have elapsed since then being
evnced by the oaks and chestnuts which have grown
over the NUNS OF them p or feet in diameter
The furnace and adjacent mines have for several genera
tons the possession Of the Robeson faq'ly and
the homestead standing and IN good repair where
the Secretary of tho Navy was born.
The furnace and adjacent lands are now owned by the
Oxford Iron Company. s. T. Scranton President who
have purchased 5000 acres including iron veins OF mex
hausble wealth. the from which contain from 90 10
70 per iron and are nterspersed with lime and
feldspar TO render their hnx very easy. The Com
paNy have built furnace, which combines every
Improvement vet dc vsed in works of that character II
y
boilers and six heaters each 20 feet Ill Iength ore anu
coal are raised 10 the top OF the furnace by an elevator
moved by hot air blast The engine IL OF 1000 horse
power ana has ywheel Of l25 ieet In diameter IL Is
considered the model engine OF ~ kind INC Ola az l
use each day about 100 tons W ore, which
is taken from three mines short distance in tho
side OF the hllhe Car Wheel. the stOey. and the New
Mines The ore from these - run down 10 the furnaces
platfOrm-cars 10 the iron works, little below Here
manufactured merchant iron bars, spike rods nails
railroad spikes nuts, and bolts. The mandatory con
tans % pudding furnaces, five heating furnaces four
spike furnaces, aud holt furnace. IT has seven en-
Company manufacture 100 to 5OO tons OF puddle
bar month, finish about leo tons OF nail plate and go
tons OF spike rods merchant bar. Last month they
produced &C. og, OF nails aud several thousand Kegs
of spikes They also make their own nan Gegs, using
about 800 cords OF wood annually Tor the
purpose They also make their own brick
Tor furnace repairs and building purposes They employ
ABOUT 700 men In all, and have made no reduction ~
their force though thdy have cut down wage from X
per cent pay little mcney except IN cases
II
made IN orders On the Company Store. .
The Company when fret beginning operations putt
lT5 cottages Tor lhOrers, but many have since been
built by the WOrkmen. most OF whom now have houses
of tner own. There has never been licensed hotel In
the place since ts first settlement, and Inc M0rkmen
are sober. industrious, and Thrifty.
Mr. Scranton, In conversation, while taking me around
the mines and mills spoke hopefully OF the financial at
uaon He SAID that they intended 90 keep through me
Winner. The Company have hardware house IN New
YORK, and intend 10 accumulate stock, n they must;
rather Than stop work Mr. Scranton thought that good
times were near Maud. This trouble was only
,tnG down" lie had never seen tue country more
prOE porous, and thought that few weeks would see
The end o! al the financial difficulties.