Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1882-03-14

Editor Kennebee Journal:
| have been in this city on business, for the
last two weeks, and have enjoyed the oppor-
tuniiy of observing its changes and growth,
since my first visit here, in 1856. The pro-
gress has been immense, both in increase of
population and general improvement. Then
the Government bad days, and Pennsylvania
Avenue were all that was attractive to a
stranger. Within the last % years the
population has increased more than 100, 900
the Capitol and most of the Department build
ings have been enlarged and beautifed; the
avenues have been extended. the streets
multiplied and handsomely and substantially
paved; public parks have been laid ont and
decorated with historic statuary; magnificent
dwellings and elaborate hotels have been
erected, making Washington one of the
attractive cities of the world.
Wealth is now concentrated here from
every part of the country, and contributing to
the prosperity and beauty of the city. Truly
"Boss Shepherd while laying the foundation
of the great scandal upon himself, was laying
a beautiful and lasting foundation for the
prosperity of Washington.
At the time of the battle of Bull Run in
1861, being across the Potomac, by force of
circumstances | was compelled to remain n
few days in the city of Alexandria. 1t was
my first opportunity of surveying that old
city on Virginia Shore" Ii was within a
slave holding statc--was notorious as the
place of the assassination of the brave and
lamented Ellsworth the ''slave-pcns and
'.auction- blocks where slaves have been
bought were there intact and there had
ample time and curiosity to view these oft
mentioned objects.
Since that time, when in Washington.
have visited Alexandria; il has seemed slow
and 10th to wake from the lethargy brought
upon it by the war Washington has progress
ed while Alexandria fingered.
During my stay here, | have repeated my
visit across the Potomac, and found Alex
andra but little changed, especially upon the
river front. Here and there, near the old
wharves and landings, appeared evidence of
new enterprises, as though American capital
and energy were taking root amid the
dilapidation of its wbarves and old ware
houses.
was invited to visit while there, the works
of the Potomac Manufacturing Company
just being put in operation, few squares to
the left of the wharf. or the ferry landing.
The property of the company embraces about
half mile of the river front with a depth back
some twenty rods from the shore including
the most valuable part of the maritime front
of the city This company has been formed.
and the property purchased within the last
year, embracing large brick steam -four
MILL and extensive coal yard and wharf, and
many buildings. which will be removed to
make place for the works now being construc-
ted, and for the future operations of the com
pany.
These works are specially interesting as
being used for the novel and improved mode
of manufacturing iron and steel, bv what is
called the "vapor fluid process 1t is COM
paratively new invention, its successful
operation having but recently been fully
tested. The heat for smelling the ores and
metals is produced by the consumption of
vapor or gas, generated from crude petroleum
oil instead of from burning coal. as in the
usual process of the manufacture of iron and
steel. The new process has been duly patent
ed and secured to the company, and such is
said to be the improvement in the quality and
expense OF production, that this mode of max
ing steel and iron, and of smelling other ores
and metals will soon take the place of all
others. They have already in operation two
furnaces which are producing two and half
tons of iron blooms per hour, and three
ton hammer, ~hich works the iron into the
"blooms' ready for the rolling mill.
To run the two furnaces it requires IS gal
Ions of oil per hour; (that is, to produce two
and half tons of iron in the ''5loom'') The
cost of the oil at the works is S1.O4 per bar
rel. | was told that in the manufacture from
"old scrap iron" the loss is but "a per cent by
the new process, while in the coal process the
loss Is from 10 to ID per cent. The design is
to work the native iron and steel ores, which
abound in Virginia and can be delivered at
this mandatory for 81. 30 per ton. was in
formed that. on experiment, the finest steel
has been produced from the native ore in Just
eight minutes by this process. The company
are preparing to erect two more furnaces this
season, and another heavy hammer and are
soon to add rolling mills for all the iron and
steel produced at their works. The Touring
mill, which they are now putting into thor
ough repair has been leased to a company
composed of Portland and Boston parties,
who will go into possession the present sea-
son. prepared to produce -four at the rate Of
800 bbls. per day.
Large crews of men are now at work clear
ing off debris. building wharves and conven-
fences for building iron ships of all classes /:
as their water frontage embraces depth Of
channel sufficient for launching and floating
the largest ships; and as this is the head of
navigation upon the Potomac for large ships
and is near to the Capitol, the advantages
for the construction of large iron vessels must
be very great Hence, next to the manufac-
ture OF the material for shipbuilding. is the
preparation for the use of that material.
The Potomac Manufacturing Co was first
incorporated by act of Congress, and more
ecently by an act of the State of Virginia
with capital stock of 81 900. 900. Among
its corporators and stockholders I find the
names of Senator Blair of New Hampshire,
L. S. Treasurer Gilfllan, Sergeant at Arms
Of the L. s. Senate, X. J. Bright, Hon. A. L.
Roache of Indiana, Hon j. b. Archer and
Hon. c. Z. Lincoln Of Washington, ID. c.,
Hon. J. $. Barbour Of Virginia, and Hon. G.
c. Goss, J. X. Bodwell and A. g. Page of
Maine, and / will here say that found Capt
Goss on the premises, with coat off, actually
engaged in planning the improvements and
giving the employees practical lessons of in
cipient preparations for shipbuilding. At this
early stage | am informed that the stock is at
par value, with early premium prospects.
Mr.. Ralph Crooker, Sr., of Boston, who