Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-02-21

as IL was the intention to take a run to Home
stead on the T.. V. q C., inspect the great mills
at that place and return in time for an elabor
ate luncheon at the DuqueSne Club and the
1act that the schedule was made on time re-
bounds more to the credit of Jerry Gilchrist
the engineer. than the tagging guests. Before
the arrival of the party at the Station word had
reached there Of the distinguished party's CON-
ing, and large crowd of railroad employees and
strangers gathered to see the President
That notable appeared to be in a most cheer
fui humor, as he smiled broadly at some re-
mark of Mr.. Carnegie, tipped his hat to the
crowd and shook hands with the pray.bearded
gateman- His short legs were scarcely able to
reach the steps of the handsome special car
but the sturdy shoulder OF a friend soon over
came that difficulty.
IN THE BIG MILLS.
After 40 minutes ride the train hauled into
Homestead, where Superintendent Potter of
the mills, met the guests. and forthwith took
President Harrison under his wing. The party
first went to the armor plate mill where Is
ton ingot molten hot, was swung from pit,
over the head of the astonished President and
into the heavy rolls. where it was soon con-
verted into billets chopped by the iron Jaws as
easily as Governor Beaver himself bit off the
end of his cigar.
The converting mill was then visited, and
aroused new wonder, which was even tran
scended by the glories of the bloom mill and
other departments. There was but little inter-
est at first shown in the visitors by the work
men, for they hadn't the faintest idea whom
they were entertaining. The word soon Spread,
however, and excited knots gathered for mo-
ment, only to have each man forming portion
of the group, scatter right and left to their va
rious duties as the familiar, good humored
face of their employer, Andrew Carnegie, was
seen at the head of the long line of guests
At about l1:5o the delighted party returned to
the train, amazed at the exhibition given, and
President Harrison asked If the sights there
were not something unusual but was told no
preparations had been made for his visit and
that things were only going on in the ordinary
course.
During the trip on the train, and while in the
mills, some scraps of conversation were caught
many of a very important character, as both
the President and Governor, and in fact all the
guests, for the nonce, forgot their political
and business importance and chatted pleas
antly of the inside of public affairs that it
would not do now to repeat else some sur
prises would be simply shocking. Other talks,
however just as interesting to Pittsburgers, were
caught and remembered as for instance, Gov
ernor Beaver said: mo, Pm not in politics, but
will be glad if can get through with what I
have on hands. Those coal lands of mine, for in
stance up in the southwest corner of Cambria
county, now lying practically idle. have the
coal and the consumers, but no transportation,
as the Bells Gap Railroad runs so sharply up
and down hill all trains must be made light"
WOULD HAVE BEEN WELL.
"speaking of roads," said Colonel Bayne.
what great thing it would have been for
Pittsburg if the South Penn had ever gone
through"
We'll" said the Governor, refectively, 'T
don't know as to that 1t seems to me, Roberts,
of the Pennsylvania is waking to the fact that
more privileges must be granted this section,
come far more liberal than it wash
Anyway" concluded the Governor "my
idea of competition is simply this: Suppose
some producers live 1000 miles farther away
from a market than others, it follows that they
must be given relatively lower rates. or they
will not produce for us at all.n An attempt by
a gentleman present to call this a free trade
argument resulted disastrously.
As the train rounded into tine Southside a
splendid view of the city was given, and John
Dalzell, pointing to the splendid sight, said
proudly: "Mr. President, that is portion of
1900 majority"
The President smiled and looked his graft
tude, and Mr.. Carnegie grumbled: II wish we
had 10000 of those Allegheny county voters
down in New York with u.s."
YES" said the President. laughingly.
'-Or," interrupted Tom Bayne, significantly,
tin indianapolis"
JUST IN TIME.
This clever cut at certain recent develop
menrs in Harrison's home created a smile all
around, and any embarrassment that might
have followed was nipped by the car porter,
who did better than he knew by stumbling into
the compartment with box of Victorias
In nspeaking of libraries Enoch Pratt, founder
of the Baltimore library, said the success of
the institution even surpassed his very san
guine expectations, as 450, 900 books had been
taken out by readers during the past year.
Mr.. Carnegie expressed the hope that his
Allegheny donation would exceed this
il possible, and the President ind0rsed
his remark that the elevating influence
of splendid buildings, spacious rooms and halls
coupled with the best of books, could not be
overestimated This talk led into a discussion
Of buildings and architects, and the Govern