St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1880-05-21
st. Johnsbury's Industries.
The Scale WOrks.-Continue
THE FOUNDRY.


The next branch in the course of the
scale industry is at the Foundry We
leave the pattern shop, with its clean
work and tidy rooms for this depart
ment, where things begin to assume the
aspect of greater stir, noise, and bus
tie. We begin to come into the atmes-
phere of dirt, smoke, and sweat; we
have sensation that we are entering a
little commercial world all by itself;
for here is the river, and there are
bridges, high brick walls, cars, railroad
track, and the hurrying to and fro of
men and teams. We find Mr.. Frank
Walker, the foreman, and together we
walk to the lower end of the works,
where we see pig-iron corded in piles
like wood, immense bins of coal, sand,
and other material, with buildings for
special purposes here and there. We
are impressed, that even here in the
country, away from cities and the sea-
board, there are such things as COM
merce and manufactures. The very
air around us is impregnated with the
spirit of enterprise; and this is inevita
ble, for the power behind it all is the
indefatigable human spirit working for
purpose.
This department, no less than the
Others, has its own peculiar duties and
cares. Yet it is from the beginning SO
strictly based upon order and system,
that the foreman can readily see all its
parts, and can easily determine his
course from day to day. What, un-
doubtedly, would greatly amaze others,
looks perfectly plain to him for de-
mand is made upon him from week to
week for Il certain amount of work, and
his head must see to the execution of il
promptly, or all the depaI tments that
follow his must suffer in consequence.
As the scales are nearly all iron, and q
large part of the irons are castings, Mr.
Walker mus constantly anticipate the
wants of the industry, and be ready tC
supply the demand through his depart.
ment.
The iron and coal used here come
over the Portland & Ogdensburg line
The Scotch, Port Henry, and Pennsyl-
vania brands of iron are those nov
mostly used. These brands are of diff
ferent qualities, and they have to b'
combined in various proportions in or
per to secure that special quality re
quired in this industry; for to Obtain
accuracy and durability it is importan
that scales be made of the very bes
material. We are told that no on,
grade of iron will do. Many kinds arr
so hard and brittle, that alone the,
would be worthless. The Scotch irol
is particular brand noted for it's soft
ness, and this united with other grade
will secure the desired results. Of til,
Port Henry iron there are used yearl,
1000 tons.
The heavy bars of pig-iron are takel
from the cars very near the foundry
weighed, broken in pieces with sledg,
hammers, placed upon wheelbarrow
by rugged men, rolled upon an elevate
near by which draws them up severa
feet, and even with floor made O
thick iron plates; they are then wheel
ed near to the open furnaces, three il
number, and put in piles ready for melt
= ing; the coal is also weighed and tax
! en- up in the same way, and dumped il
piles ready for the fires. The furnace
are used successively,-one in tn
morning, the second in the afternoon
} the third the next morning, as too con
5 slant use "sticksn them up and i'm
pairs their usefulness. About 5000 ton
, of Leheigh coal are used annually
These furnaces are heavy iron struc
lures of different capacity, supported b.
, solid iron pillars. They are lined wit
the best of friedrich, that will las
about a year.
/ Iron is melted twice each day-onc
in the forenoon and once in the after
: noon, and amounts to from 30 to 3
tons daily. The fires are built in thes
furnaces precisely as one would build
coal fire in stove. Kindling is frs
3 put in, then the coal, and then the iron
The coal and iron are put in successiv
layers, until the sufficient amount is in
Even this matter has to be regulate,
by mathematics. The amount of Goa
used must be according to the amour
of iron to be melted. 1t is calculate,
that I41 lbs. of coal will melt 100 lbs
of iron. Soif Is tons are melted at on
blast, about % tons of coal are used
Iu room near by is machine calle'
the StuItevant Blower, making 300
revolutions per minute, to which pipe
are attached. running to the furnaces