Centre Democrat. [volume] (Bellefonte, Pa.) 1848-1989, 1879-05-22
Tho Howard Iron Works.
PAST HISTORY, PRESENT STATUS AND Pu
YURE PRohPECTs

Away back In the first third Of the CEN
tury, hfty years ago, the attention of capi-
talists and iron masters was attracted 10
the Gnc ores of Nittany Valley, In what
are now Marion and Walker townships,
and In 1880 the water power furnished by
Lick Run, cutting through the Bald Eagle
Mountain at Hoy's Gap and emptyIng into
Bald Eagle Creek just below the borough
Of Howard, was utilized by the erection Of
| "A furnace for the purpose Of putting them
into marketable condition. During large
part Of the half century which will close
with 1880, Howard furnace was one Of the
many whose fires lighted the Bald Eagle
Valley from Tyrone TO Lock Haven, and
of them all IL is the only one now in opera
ton, with the exception Of Curtn's. How
the valley has In this time furnished to the
industries of the world perhaps no man
can tell, but il Il certain that OF IL all none
was Of better quality than that sent from
Howard. A complete history Of the fur.
mace would require more time and space
than we can now devote TO II, but we give
synopsis Of the changes in its manage
ment which will be Of interest to our
readers: 1t WAS built in 1880 by Harris,
Thomas x Co., and operated by them until
1888 or 1894, when the firm name wRs
changed TO Harris, Rohrcr & Co., followed
shortly By Harris Lex 4 CO., until In 1897
the firm nRmo became Valentines, Harris
& Co. During these years, and until 1870,
the active manager on the ground was
Joseph Harris. In 1912 Jacob V. Thomas
4 Co. became the lcssccs, and IL was ope-
rated under their management until lsis,
when ii was purchased by Irwin, Thomas
* Co., who remained in power until 1861.
After a period Of three years Of idieness it
was sold in 1864 to Griscom, Bright 4 Co.
who sold TO Henry Hill, and he was in
time succeeded by Lauth, Thomas * Co,
who operated IL from 1879 until the begin
ming Of the current year, when it came
into the possession Of the present propric-
tor, Bernard LAuth.
Asan intere.iing instance Of the tcnaci;y
with which families cling to localities, VIC
may state here that among those who help
cd In the erection Of the furnace was John
Harmon, who hauled the fret stick Of tim
Der for the building, and that from ;ha;
time to the present members Of his family
have been constantly employed about the
works--at least sir of the name being In
the service Of the prcsen: proprietor.
While II is true that the greater number
Of the administrations which have held
sway over the past Of Howard Furnace
have been characterized by great ability,
energy and economy, and that these have
had their just reward, there 10 no doubt
that it, immediate future will be marked
by greatly increased activity. In falling
into the hands Of Mr.. Lsuih, Il has become
tho possession Of man Of great resources
Of experience, energy and genius, backed
by capital sufficient 90 meet every possible
demand, and ell these arc now being
brought 70 bear TO make Of 1t one Of the
finest iron establishments In the country
The pig metal ia technically known As cold
bias, charcoal iron, and it, superior quality
has always commanded for 1t a ready and
remuncrativc market but not content with
this, and knowing the value Of his metal,
Mr.. Lauth has determined TO carry its
manufacture several degrees further, null
tiplying iu value many times before 1t
leaves his hands. For this purpose great
improvements have been planned and are
now in progress. First among these may
be noted the placing Of large and subsiAn-
tial iron blast cylinders at the furnace
proper, the effect Of which will be large
ly increased production Of pig metal. Near
this cupalo and foundry are being erected
in which 70 re-mclt and cast the metal into
all the forms Of cast iron, for the finishing
and f.ting Of which machine shop, with
all the modern Improvements, cutters,
plancrs, &c, Ia being built near the old
rolling mill Indeed some Of these ma
chimes are now running under the old roof
AT this part Of the works are 20 be erected
a series of forge fires, for the conversion Of
a portion Of the products of the furnace
into blooms and slabs. To aid in this
work, one Of the finest steam hammers
made in this country, Of four thousand
pounds weight, made by Bernent & Son OF
Philadelphia, has been purchased, and will
soon be in position. For the still further
increase Of the value Of the iron made q.
these works, Mr.. Lauth has in contempla-
tion the erection of wire mill, Of entirely
new design, Of his own invention; and
which viii be as much Of an improvement
upon the ordinary wire mills Of the day, as