Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-03-03
One Man Found Who Has Rather De-
cided objections, While a
NUMBER ARE VERY INCREDUL0US.
The Majority of Erie's Citizens. However,
Are Radically
IN FAVOR OF THE PROPOSED SCHEME


OF the Anchor Line. Mr.. Vogle, of the
same compa ", says Mr.. Reynolds is con.
stitutiona2 and vigorous kicker, and takes
particular delight in finding something to
kick.
But NJ. Reynolds objection to the build
ing Of a ship canal are not so unresson-
able after all, taken from his stand
point Mr.. Reynolds says he would
not object to having a canal some
thing like the old one, which would
require the reshipment of freight, but he
does seriously object to an actual ship canal
which would permit lake-going vessels to
pass through without changing cargoes.
Such a canal, he says, would make Erie
merely a wav station, and deprive it OF
much of its income as a terminal point
ONE OF THE POINTS.
Very much of the yards of the Anchor
Line used for reshipping from vessel to rail
or from rail to vessel would become value
less because of ''innocuouS disuetude
There would also be good deal more room
to snare in the big eleN 2tors of the Anchor
Line As every man ought to look out for
himself first and the other fellow afterward,
it is not surprising that Mr.. Reynolds does
not relish the idea OF an actual ship canal
starting from Erie.
But Mr.. Reynolds is only one individual
in this city OF 10000 inhabitants and very
few persons agree with him regarding the
ship canal. In fact, he was the only one
who was outspoken in opposition to the
scheme The ma jority of Erie business
men are either Indifferent or decidedly in
credulouS about a canal. The incredulous
folks think the millennium will dawn on the
same day that vessel OF IA feet draught
passes through a canal from Lake Erie to
the Ohio river.
Yet there are other folks who not only
think the project possible but are enthu-
siastic in their commendation of its feasi-
bility and the wonderful advantages which
Erie would reap from it. Mr.. Brewer, of
the State Commission, as mat
ter of course, is one of these.
Mr.. George L. Moody, civil
engineer who has lived here many years, is
another.
A DIFFERENT OPINION.
Mr.. Moody has taken several levels at the
summit, and is thoroughly convinced that
an abundant supply of water can be OBJ
tanned, and that canal would help, instead
of hurting, Erie. Mention might be made
of numerous other names, but these are suf-
fcient
Erie is very pretty city; it is even pic
turesque. Like all of the cities which have
been built within later years. the streets
are wide, and the buildings, for the most
part, are large and handsome. There are
few "squatty' structures. There is evidence
OF virility and gaining strength on every
hand; but there are no heavy tonnage man
ufactories here such as Pittsburg has.
The manufactures of Erie now employ
about g. 600 men; have an invested capital
of about So. .000,0 600, and produce about S14,-
100000 of manufactured goods per wear.
The taxable valuation is close upon S19,OOO,- |
600. In comparison with Pittsburg these
figures appear small, but when figures get
up to the millions their relative value fails
to be realized fully.
ANOTHER FEATURE.
Erie has no rolling mills, no blast fur
naces, no mandatory, in fact, that pro-
duces or requires heavy tonnage, but it has
some valuable factories, nevertheless. A
simple enumeration of the chief manufac-
tories will probably give a comprehensive |
idea of Erie's industries.
The Jarecki Manufacturing Company, |
Limited, probably does the largest tonnage |
business in Erie. The company manufac- /
lures brass work, malleable and gray iron |
pipe, and fittings for steam, gas water and |
oil. Employment is given to 500 men, but |
as tine product is all finished material, the |
tonnage is not heavy.
The Erie Paper and Chemical Mills is an |
other important industry, and one of which |
Erie is proud, although a ship canal would |
neither help nor hurt such an establishment.
The 200 workmen employed would regret /
any project which might make them idle.
The Stearns Manufacturing Company, which
makes engines, boilers and sawmills, en-
ploys $50 men. The Erie Car Heating Com
hna
ments for cars, has nearly half a million
dollars invested in the works, and EMPLOYS
large number of hands.
THEY ARE PROUD OF 1T.
The Burdett Organ Company is one of the
enterprises which people in Erie never for
get to mention to stranger who is making in
quiries as to the city's industries. The Erie
City Iron Works, which manufactures
steam engines, boilers and portable saw
mills, has an invested capital OF $500. 900.
The +. f. Adams Company produces
novelties in woodwork. The Chicago and
Ere Stove Works has its foundry in Erie
and 5000, 900 invested in the establishment.
The Ball Engine Company, the Erie Engine
Works, L. NJ Nagle and the Skinner En-
CINE Company, all manufacture steam en-
glnes and their various appliances.
Ih. other iron working establishments
or tAe hSuIdullc Iron w Orks, davenport
q Fairborn, manufacturers of car wheels
and railroad castings; the Erie Car Works,
the Griswold Manufacturing Company.
hollowware; the Erie Malleable Iron Com
pany, the Brown Folding Machine Com
pany, folding, electrotyping and stereo-
typlng machinery; the Bay State Iron
Works, engines, boilers, etc.; n. A. Wat
son, boiler feeders; Hubbard & Haskell.
tle manu- iacturers; Radiant Home" Stove
Works and the Erie Specially Manufactur-
ing Company.
PLENTY OF BRASS.
There are several factories working in
brass, and as matter OF course. innuTner.
able lumber dealers and woodworking es-
tabl shnents because all lake cities can get
lumber at lower freight rates }
than can cities that have rnil haul None
ot these industries. however, indicate a
arge tonnage. The coal tonnage probably
reaches as much as any three or four of the e
would put together. d
There are two large firms in the wholesale
business in coal IN Erie. One of them is = =
he Union Coal Company, dealing in an I
hracite, and the other is the Youghiopheny
River Coal Company, handling bitumipous
md OF which Hon. W. L. Scott, a man moi
Iltogether unknown to fame and cash, is the
President. {
And, speaking of coal, reminds me of the !
act that Erie has natural gas for fuel and 7
as had it ever since 1860. 1t comes from :
be shalU and not from such gas sands as
xist in the Murrysville district. The sup-
ly is not strong, but it is much more en-
uring than that obtained from the storage
ouse sands.
oRToN's GAS IDEAS.
Prof orton, State Geologist of Ohio, =
ln EraaV. .al, Ga IL. ,lA
he sha!es, because, while the supply is linn
led in quantity Ior each well and the flow S