The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1878-02-09
For The Cecil Wits
IRON MAKING
THE COLONY OF MARYLAND:
1S2O-11SO.
THE PRINCIPLE COMPANY.
CONCLUDED.

THE PRINCIPLE COMPANY.
CONCLUDED.
! The next few years were hard ones for
the Company financially. The product of
the blast of 1868 turned out to be rank red
short, and being sold in England almost
| destroyed their old established reputation;
indeed so nearly ruined the brand that they
were much distressed to make sale of any
of the pig iron consigned to them. Care
! lessness or unskillfulness in drawing bar
iron at the FORCES under Bakers charge
added to their troubles. The Navy De-
partment rejected large lot because of its
! irregularity, and even the best finished iron
was dull and could hardly be sold. They
write to Mr.. Russell in May, 1867, that
"American bar iron here is mere drug,
and not worth the Company's while engag-
ing in it; there is no market for it, as no
one cares to purchase it even at GIG per
tom In spite of all this, drafts which
came from America for funds to carry on
the works were none the less heavy and
incessant, and it is no wonder that the let.
tiers of this period were written in a de-
spondent strain, full of complaint and re-
monstrance. Agriculture had been so much
neglected that, instead of raising sufficient
grain on their own lands, fertile and ex-
tensive as they were, they were forced to
expend large sums of ready money for corn
and wheat. Iron and store goods, when
sold in the country, especially in Virginia,
carried long credits, and it was about an
even chance in the end if the bills could be
collected at all. Ore became scarce in their
own banks, and no vigorous measures were
| taken to secure future supplies: the bounds
of some of their numerous tracts of land
be disentangled, except by costly and vexa-
tious law suits; trespasserS came and squat
ted on some of the choicest spots; while
the apparent Indifference and inefficency
of the men whom they had intrusted with
the conduct of affairs filled their minds
with unpleasant forebodings. The contrast
between their present meagre dividends and
their former prosperity was too marked rot
to be commented upon. Thomas Russelrs
mission was to correct these evils, a labori
Gus task; but being seconded by the honest
efforts of Francis Phillips, whom he had
made manager at kingsbury, a worthy and
industrious man, affairs gradually regained
healthier aspect. A new bank of ore was
leased and opened, the pig made of it proved
excellent in quality; as good, they said in
London, as the best Principle ever was.
For four years Russell devoted himself
with all his energies to obtaining thor
ough knowledge of the situation and of
the condition of the iron business; he Wis
tied all the works frequently, went sew
eral times to Virginia, the principal home
market for bars, and at last had the salts
faction Of seeing a change for the better
arise, and of receiving the thanks of his
partners. Then he began to think of re-
turning to England. His mother and sis
ter had died in his absence, his brother
business in Birmingham, was begging for
his assistance in conducting it: his private
affairs needed his attention, and accord
ingly he sailed from Philadelphia in June,
1863. On his departure the management
devolved upon Francis Phillips and Will
liam Baxter Jointly, the former controlling
kingsbury aud Lancashire furnaces, the
latter Principle and North East forge, but
oh tn IN
a semiannual inspection by the other, and
bills of exchange drawn by either were to
be made payable to the order of the other.
This double arrangement was broken by
the death of Phillips towards the end of
the same year, after which affairs seem to
have fallen back into the old channel, and
Baxter, freed from restraint, resumed his
former practices until the Company could
endure him no longer, and in ITO ap
pointed Nathaniel Martin to have general
supervision of the works, as temporary
expedient, until they could induce Mr.. Rus
sell to resume the position. This he con-
scented to do, aud set out from England for
the second time in I'LL. From this time
forward he was an american. In the diff
culties which arose between the two coun-
tries, and which eventually eliminated in
the Revolution, he unhestatIngly cast his
fortunes with the colonistS. This, in con-
nection with severe illness shortly after
his arrival may have given rise to the
charge of remissness in attending to their
business which the Company prefer against
him in the following letter commenting
very severely npon his management:
"LoNDoN, 31st March, 1172."
"SIR I'VE must likewise remind
you of the intent of your going second
time to America which was to bring to
| punishment William Baxter, and to settle
our affairs there. In this we think you
have used us extremely ill., as we are doubt
full you have neither effected the one nor
forwarded the other. of this we are GER
tain that contrary to your word and pro-
mise when you left England, you have
| never sent us line of Intelligence or in
the least acquainted us with what you
have been doing in order to re establish
| our affairs. Do you think, sir, any set Of
| gentlemen, embarked in business like
| ours, can be so negligent OF their interests
| as TO remain COuJtuI III SuCH udIhueSS, OF
to suffer a continuation of such remissneSs,
and we cannot but remark to you that from
the constant date and tenor of your letters,
and the excuses and hurry in which you
generally conclude them the pacquett
either sailing or you setting out on a
Journey we fancy you must have spent
your chief time in Phila. and consequently
cannot have given proper attention to
our concerns at the works. These COM
plants, however disagreeable, still we
think it a duty to ourselves to communi-
cate to you and must insist that your best
| endeavors be used in order to redeem them"
1t is not clear that Mr.. Russell deserved
so much blame, though it must be admit
ted that affairs were in bad condition.
Nevertheless it was not his fault that the
streams had failed very much since the
land had been cleared; that iron ore had
become scarce and what was procured was
at great expense; that the cord wood most
convenient to the furnaces having been cut