Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-01-29

NteAf iAlAtAAA " OliG GdF duu nlAIl.
l69,4OO pounds of ore, 1920 pounds Of
limestone, 92,4O0 pounds of coke, and
l23,2OO pounds of coal, the daily cOnsump-
lion of raw material amounting TO
2,O55,SOO pounds, which mixture results in
the production Of 91,2O0 pounds of pig
iron, or forty tons. The average daily
product is thirty tons, and when the old
furnace is repaired the daily product will
amount to fifty tons. The yield of ore is
% per cent, and the average cost of iron
Sl5.Ol per ton despair Of being able to
give on paper any idea of the magnitude of
the operations at this place. 1t is a scene
OF wonderful activity. The eternal roar,
like the surging waves of a bOisterous
ocean browns the sense of hearing
to a considerable extent, and
when the molten metal is let out
rom the furnace it gushes down the artif-
clal channel like the lava from a volcano.
This metal when it leaves the furnace, has
a temperature of 800 degrees, and the heat
which it throws out warns the atmosphere
for a great distance around. So dazzling is
the whiteness that the Impractical eye is
compelled TO turn from it. 1t blinds like
the sunlight on snow, and the jets that
sometimes shoot up from the kissing mass
glow like detached particles of the sun. 1t
is worth avisit to lockwood to see a ''run."
The coal is abundant at this point, but
az this letter is already too long, we shall
only say hat il lies in great masses from
eight to n hundred feet in thickness. 1t
crops out all along the mountain side, the
vein dipping at an angle of 80 degrees. 1t
IS convenient, easily mined, spumOus in
character, excellent for coking and for
manufacturing purposes. Four thousand
bushels per day is taken from this mine.
Eighty hands ae employed, fifty Of whom
are miners.
At the ore banks as many as two hun
dred have been employed. T~hirty-eight
are required TO run the furnace, making in
all at the coal mine, iron vein and furnace
over 800 meu.
A FINISHING STROKE.
Sunday morning at IL o'clock our party
jumped on the Busy Bee and left for the
river. Twenty-Five persons rode down on
a fla car about the size of two dining Ia
hles. We were so thick we did not know
ourselves. Before leaving Chattanooga our
genial friend, Tom Stickfeld, met us
with radiant face, and informed us thatthe
Captain ola splendid steamer had rendered
the Inequalities of his boat to the whole
party. 1t was impossible 10 wait for the
hOSpitable steamer, but word was left that
We should make it convenient to return on
it. For this reason we took our midnight
ride. \ cold wintry blast swept down
from the steep sides of Walden's Ridge and
penetrated every muscle and fibre of our
shivering frames. But Stickfeld was iubi-
liant with visions Of a p~rincely hospitality.
The anticipatiOns of warm, cosy cots with
an abundance of cover, supplemented with
a "night cap" from Toms jug, kept us in
good humOr. Like Virgil's hero, we re-
peated to ourselves as we bore the inclem-
encies Of that northwest blast,
FOrssn ct haze Olim meminisse juvabit.
Arriving without accident, we o
boarded the steamer, and taking our seats
no, not seats, for they were scarce, but
standing in solid phalanx around a coal
(cOld) stove, we shivered on until our eve
lids began 10 drOOp, either from the effects
Of Toms jug or from WEAKNESS, or both.
ENDURING Of the clerk, we found that thete
were plenty of cots, but no "kiver." twas
"skace." Then it was that Tom broke
down. No more merry laughs, like the
ripplings of a silvery stream, no more Jolly
tales of wayward youth came from Tom.
He sat bolt upright in his chair, with head
inclined neither to the right nor to the left
backward nor forward, but pointed dd
Siderd, and in this attitude enjoyed,
throughout the night, the munificent hos
pitality of the boat. Tom is constitution
ally a great snOrer, but in the enjoyment of
such a splendid entertainment he forgot to
SnOre, and dreamed Of gorgeous steamers
with luxurious spring mattresses and tables
loaded down with launches of v~enisOn,
Outlets of veal, sparkling wines, and such
things. Tom accepted this hospitality
with a dignifed mien. The immensely of
his dignity was awful, reminding one
of JOve, the thunderer, only he
did not thunder. His dignity was
so OyerpOwering that the s~ide-splitting
anecdotes of the Napoleonic Senator could
not abate one jOt or title of it. / do sup
pose that on a strict mathematical cal
culatiUn according TO the rule of three
Tom carried dignity enough in that one
night to do the State for a whole year.
He wanted to show his high appreciation
of the magnificent preparations that had
been made for the party, and he did show
it. for he paid the bill for the whole CON-
pany. As for our Senator he cared for
none of these charges, but taking his civil
rights berth-the floor Of the cabin, which
he SAYS he intends to give up when the
civil rights bill passes, he ~indignified a
chair BY LAYING it down and using his cleo
pioneering saddle bagS(capaciOuS enough for
| two jugs) for a pillow, he stretched his TO-
tund form along the cabin floor, and it was
not much stretch either for it must be re-
| collected that like the Dutchman's wife
when he is knocked down he is knocked
up. In this situation he enjoyed the '.hos-
pitalities' which he unquestiOnably had
some difficulty in finding, as his burly
form Tadiated for hours around the stove
in search of them, like the needle of a steam
Cuage. But he was obliged to confess that
the "hoSpitalities" Lad not lone his "bones
a power Of good" The Governor, that is
John Monarch, took it quite easily, spread
ing himself beside the partition wall with
his silvery locks streaming upon the floor
like ~mUOnbeamS, he readily recognized the
"hOSpitalities'' through the fundamentally
of Toms jug and shawl. Under the per
vading influences Pf the first entering
through every avenue of frame and soul.
and filling the utmost capacities of each,
with cOpious ~benignitieS, and under the
warmth Of the second he stole into a gen
tie slumber AMI dreamed of the n~ectarOus
felicity Of the immOrtals.
The Secretary Of the Bureau had to sleep
on his undevelOped resources.
Our Georgia friend was last seen huSging
a small post that supported the upper deck.
1t was believed that he took il to be a slim
specimen Of animated calico. As for your
correspondent lac was happy in the enjoy
ment OF a clerks berth which the magma
nimity Of the Governor had secured for him
without his knowledge. In justice to the
captain l will say that he was not on board,
and it is doubtful about his having received
notice Of our intention to come back with
him. He is said TO he generous, liberal
and high-mindel, and doubtless will regret
as much as any p the position in which
he placed our Tom.
Our thanks are eminently due to Cap
tains Harris and ShclOw and TO MeSSrs.
Sanks and Roberts Of lockwood. Nor can
we forget 10 mention Mrs, Short, the amia-
BILE landlady who beat herself in her efforts
to accommodate us. Her rich venisOn
steaks and glorious hot rolls, with golden
mountain butter, beautiful to the eye and
delightful TO the palate, will long haunt our
appetite and make us wish for the time
when we can AGAIN visit
ROCKwOOD.
IF the force of statistics be of any value,
ether appears, beyond question, to be the
safest aDgSfhetic. Rv combining Ameri-