The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-20

done the county already aud II Il could be put down
IN aeures the aggregate OF loss caused by TINS aga-
ton would 10 rightiui sum- The same old story,
which have heard from Lowell 10 Cohoes anu from
Cohoes TO Ptsburgthat intense desire 10 be let alone
ne interests work out their salvation-was again
and again repeated to me while gong through the
mammoth steel works of Pittsburg, and could not
help but listen respectfully to the Arguments OF men
VINO certainly, by their enterprise aud industry, eve
ample evidence that upon their work mainly depends
the prosperity oil the country. The very machinery
which such men have placed IN their mil aud lac
tories reflects tho broad grasp with which their minds
take In the volume OF tho country's needs and ro-
quiremenia To repeat. however. the language Of u
Boston manufactures, "Wth 50 much skill al ITS COM
la' VIII words struck
me as particularly appropriate when steel
manufacturer complained TO mo Of tho tariff agitation
and almost IN the same breath fixed my attention
upon that complicated machinery which enabled Two
lads. by tho mere turning OF valve, to MI tons upon
thought there WINS necessity Tor him TO be over
sensitive a. 10 what Congress did or dio not enact.
TIE STEEL Rors FOR THE EAST RIVER nEiDGE
While MAKING the tour OF the steel works was In
vcd 10 visit he mill where tho crucbic cast steer Is
made Tor tho Brooklyn Bridge. The rods manulac-
turcd OF this steel here made TO length OF sevcno
eight hundred feet and thickness OF seven thrty-sec-
onds Of an inch. They stand strain OF 10000
pounds TO tho square inch, put into scvcnty-hvc
pound coils and shipped Tho Eagle Works, IN Brook
Ign, where they drawn INTO wire. Inc irm
who nave this contract have already do
lvered 1900 tons OF these rods, ana as yet
nothing has boon rejected by tho experts en-
gagged in testing them. wire rod mill had 70 be
which arc turned out every twenty -ioIr hours.
In fact, the capacity OF tho new mill IS mrce enough
10 supply all tho wiro rod required Tor tho whole
country. even should tho mania to erect suspension
bridges spread among any number OF city fathers.
Four hundred men are employed on this work here
for the East River Bridge. ana tho contractor will
have his part of the work done by the LIST day OF Au
gust He prldes himself upon the fact that ROD ike
this was never before made in ihis country, matter
OF no surprise after bavins noticed the wonderful
progress the steel industry during tho past lev
years. Whom inquired why tho rods wore made
into ttsDurg tho manufacturer Crayey g.
marked that the Brooklyn firm having charge OF this
were accustomed 10 that work, having previously
been engaged In the manufacture Of wire for crinone
From crnoline TO bridge he did not consider very
wiae step, whatever might be the opinion Of jocose
mi nd on that particular subject might continue to
SHOW how cont etely Pttsburg mon0p0hzes, aided by
her unequacd fuel the steel manufacture OF the coun-
try; but enough has been adduced 10 demonstrate
that she stands really unrivaled in this regard, and
Fittsburgers to-day are at loss whether TO call their
city the Birmingham or the Sheffield Of America Con-
sidcring that the stecl industry IS one oil recent
growth and promises TO become tho most important,
and helps, in tact, along the IRON manufacture, am
rather inclined TO believe that tho modern Sheffield
will IN very few years distance the parent city.
The excellent movements OF the American made
watches would rot have the race over the Swiss
article OF by days but for tho steel springs mado
hero 10 fttsburg, and the same mill that has con-
verified the into steel for the Brooklyn Bridge has
also madc the steel OF which another Pittsburg firm
again has manu- lactured the springs Tor the
tho Gilbert Elevated road
THE GLASS FACTORIES.
1t 49, however, not only owing to the manufacture
OF steel that this bic city become
so prc-emnont a centre OF modern industry Think
OF place with seventy glass factories, and the work
there performed alone would cntite TO claim front
rank in American manufactures Glass. 1t is trac IS
made IN great Quantities at several pinccs IN New
Jersey, but nowhere is much capital centred ID IT,
nowhere are many men employed IN glassmakine, us
here IN this city OF I'ittsourr She therefore rois
he entire glass market Of the United states and dur
ing the last two has irumDhantlv succeeded in
limiting the mportaon. especially OF French window
glass, which used TO 90 large Quantities
up to 1876. Not only have the Plttsburg manuac-
turers brought prices down 10 point where the i'm
but they nave also greatly improved the quality
OF tho article. 1t was especially during the
wnIn has
The Importers flooded this market with what
IS called cylinder glass, and Pittsburg manufacturers
then put their shoulders TO the wheel TO such an OK
ent that IN tho course OF very few years not only
was tho price reduced twenty-five per cent but in
nearly all the Western cities the old prejudice
overcome, ana American window glass was finally
put into buildings instead OF the French article. The
pest experts here nov pronounce the work OF some OF
window glass factories equal to the best
orcign product Ever since the superior work OF
hose glass mon came to be more and more apprc-
GATED the foreign importations have materially de-
,iined. l am abiding particularly now 10 window
glass; which Is separate aivision OF the glass busi
twenty-five iactorcs. the remaining atty being en-
gagged in tho manufacture oil either bottle glass;
able ware or lamp chimncys-thc latter special In
fustry greatly enhanced In voumo by the discovery Of
petroleum during the latter years These twenty
two factories for the sole manufacture OF window
lass than 200 pots In Pttsburg md It's i'm
Mediate vicinity aud produce annually no less than
500 600 hity-'cct boxes OF glass, ana fully 5000 per-
sons employed here IN this single branch OF the glass
Industry. There is one peculiar feature of the glass
business which shows how this country gradually and
steadily goes forward IN everything that tends 10
make II independent OF foreign countries. AS vet |
most OF the glass manufacturers compelled use
he soda ash OF English maze, on when there Is a
luty OF one.quarier cent per pound II Is made in
arge quantities IN Newcastle ana Liverpool but tho
inc Is coming that American soda ash wall be used
Exclusively by the Pittsburg manufacturers. am in
ormed that Cincinnati has succeeded OF late in pro-
iucng soda ash FULLY equal TO the English article,
ma, as 1t Is a most important Ingredient IN tho
acture OF glass; Pitisburgcrs are watching 10 see
whether enough will be made IN this country satisfy
heir urcments. Tho progress TO be made IN obtain
ne all the ingredients in this OF great mpor-
ance whore manufacturers are SO anxious to COM
'cte With foreign nations, as IL VIII materially reduce
TIL further the cost of the glass. seven the case
lass manufacturers, provided we could Fave wages
% low ms they are in other countries. But he con-
inucd, 81 do not tnink It desirable TO bring wages
own TO such level IT would BE- too miserable. IN
Iced tor our people, and yet, cannot see how we |
an IN any other manner cndcavor to competc with |
hem SUCCESSFULLY The wages paid first class
men is IRON 500 TO $3.50 per month, and S65 per |
month 10 second class men. All OF this IS skilled !
nbor and but very little machinery ia used in those
works. his manufacturer explained that somc or !
window glass has been sent TO
,anada, aud that no contemplated with great
atIsfaction the Efforts made everywhere to /
ostcr South American trade, which he con- |
ijered our natural market, especially ut time that
urg was concerned however their greatest confidence
10 the future cxpanse OF trade based upon the
improvements at the mouth OF the Mississippi now |
cing made by Captain Eads, which would enable |
manufacturers here 10 ship direct by water TO tho
'ulf OF Mexico, &c Pittsburg would hail with delight
he day when tho Mississippi should be declared open
nd che would no longer have ~ depend upon the DIS
policy OF the railroads. II cost thon TO-
lay almost much In freight TO California as the |
ai1e OF tho goods thai were shipped In aci no had
nipped only last week. by barge goods to ST. LOUIS ut
Y per ton for which the railroads asked So and the
Inference In Time o! arrival only very lew DAYS
In tho Manufacture OF bottle glass American manu-
&C urcrs now beat tue foreign article from halt
rachm wal 10 twelve gallon carboy except IN
articuiar shape OF German wine bottle, which the
cutons make at low figure. In all other |
rades, however, this country has nothing whatever
learn IN the bottle glass manufacture, which. Ike
window glass, - business by ITSELF In fruit jars |
tnc American article lar superior IN |
make M to Anything OF tho sort made In Europe. |
his particular industry Is represented by ten fac
cries IN Pttsbury, and here Tor the first time have
net the eight hour -workIngmen, not because they
70 protected IN TIN respect by law, but owing to
he requirements OF their heath. Glassbowers are
xposed TO an intense heat, and though OF them
YORK ten hours. the majority cannot possibly stand II
more than eight hours and then they be exceed
ugy temperate In their habits, for tho least deviation
rom the ordinary routine of nic TACT the least
abuse. will shorten their lives much quicker