Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-08-17

In the way OF manufacturing, all that
Memphis wants is an opportunity 70 dis
play her ability in that respect, and the
following incident will prove the asser
ton. Some time since the Mammoth
Cotton Compress Company, of (which eul
enterprising townsman, 81. A. Montgom.
cry, Esq, is a member and su%perintend
ent, had a bed-plate weighing many tons
cast up North for the Charleston yard
steam cotton compress, The casting
heavy and immense as it was, broke be
meath the pressure necessary for bust
ness purposes. Mr.. Montgomery, believ.
ing that such work could be done here
quite as well as further north, and being
DESTROYS to encourage Memphis enter.
prise, gave the job to those well known
foundrymeu, E. \. Risk & Co., proprie.
tors of the Memphis Architectural Iron
Works, on Court street extended. By
way of preparing for the undertaking, q
mould and cast-iron flask had to be man.
ufactured for the purpose of receiving
the metal when ready to turn loose from
the reservoir, which was filled from the
cupolas where the charges were placed
and the immense mass Of iron reduced
to a molten state Of white heat.
THE PREPARATORY WORK.
A pit was dug and the sand moulding
was successfully accomplished in arts
tic style beneath the direction of James
Patchell. The wooden pattern was
made in the shops of the company by
accomplished workmen, and to this pat
tern the moulders worked up and dis
played their skill in forming and fash
ioning sand to receive the molten metal,
and at the same time resist its immense
heat and pressure, Around all this q
heavy iron flask was placed, this flask
having had to be manufactured, it
weighing nearly 10000 pounds. The
flask mould being ready, the real work
commenced.
MELTING THE IRON.
But few people know anything about
the Tubal Cain business, melting, forg-
ing or moulding iron being a profound
mystery to the great majority of people.
Imagine two upright iron circular fur.
naces, into which is placed coal, then
continuous four hundred pound charges
Of pig iron, with layers Of coal i%nterven.
ing, until beneath the heat THERON begins
to melt and run out below into immense
iron kettles, which have to be moved by
a powerful derrick or crane.
Our reporter, having a taste for me.
chanics, happened accidentally to be
present last Wednesday afternoon,
while all this was going on, while the
reservoir was being filed with metal
from the cupolas.
THE woRK COMMENCED.
Those who have read Dante's and
Millions descriptions Of the internal re.
Giens could have the Impressions then
made fixed upon their memories forever
had'they witnessed the preliminary pro.
cess by which the great casting was sue.
cessfully accomplished. Imagine sixty
stalwart men, almost undressed, black
and begrimmed with sweat and cinders
working away filling up the reservoir
The immense iron kettles are placed be
meath the gates of the cupolas, and g
long iron rod is plunged under the gates
driving back the cinGers; the iron mas
runs out kissing hot, throwing sparks in
every direction, which sparks snap and
crack in mid-air. When filed the crane
was used, and the heavy mass was swung
around and pitched into the reservoir
that stood at the head of the mould. AL
this being accomplished, everything wat
ready for the final act.
LET her col
The reservoir was filled with. a spark.
ling mass of cherry red metal. Below,
the gate lever was in charge Of several
men who, at the word, raised the lever
and in an instant an immense stream Of
hissiHg, sparkling, red-hot molten iron
poured out on the mould into which il
sank rapidly. The iron cast q hellish
glare around the foundry, and many an
anxious face watched every incident
Out poured the metal and soon the
wooden frames caught fire, and from out
the iron vent holes ftful blazes gushed
forth, showing hat the mould was being
filed up rapidly. In half an hour the
mould was full, the metal coming up
through the vents or holes placed in the
mould by the workmen. The work was
accomplished, and now all anxiety ap-
peared to be turned as to whether or not
the casting was perfect.
THE FLASK REMOVED.
On removing the cap of the flask the
red iron was discovered filing up the
mould, all of which indicated the perfect
success of the casting and credit to G..
W Wninrinht H. E-nrnnnn &c Ahn nnlnh-