The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1890-10-08


A correspondent of the New York sun
writes concerning the forging OF the
shaft of the Great Eastern: The crank
shaft of the Great Eastern was forged
at the Lancefield forge, Lanceficld
street, Glasgow, Scotland. the work
having been undertaken by James Beau
mont Nelson, commonly called "ifot-
blast" Nelson, after unsuccessful at
tempts by the FORCES of Leeds and WI
gan. The firm, Fulton Il Nelson, had
what was believed to be the largest
hammer in the world, and it was said
that Mr.. Nelson declared that he would
..forge the shaft or burst the hammer.
Mr.. Nelson was immensely rich, the
product of long lawsuit against tho
Bairds of Gartsherrie and other iron
masters for twelve years royalty for
the use of his ''hot-blast'' process with
out license. His coal and iron
mines, his forge, his Hyde Park
foundry and Hyde Park engine shop
were all on the largest scale
of that day, and their pro
ducts were uneXcelled. Mr.. Full
ton, a son-in-law of the elder
Robert Napier, the renowned Clyde ship
builder was most impcrious man.
The partners, being both men of strong
will, did not go along smoothly. so,
shortly after the ''crank shaft episode,
they separated. Fulton building the
"Glasgow forge" with still larger
hammer. He refused to have valua-
tion put upon the old concern. but in
sisted upon selling it at auction. II was
an exciting scene to watch these two
men striving to become the sole possess
sor OF the great Representation yielding
an iota, and bidding iuriously against
each other: rs was anticipated. Nelson
r,.
his whistle. Fulton insisted that the
books be equally divided. and they lit
orally were, with Il saw. leaving them
OF no value to either.
4 company of st. Louis men has just
been formed for the purpose OF manu-
featuring hydraulic street car motor.
The officers arc ut work on the machin-
cry for q full-SiZcd street car. to be tried
on one of the local roads as soon as 1t is
complete. The pumps with which the
hydraulic pressure is rEerted arc to he
operated with electricity. and the ny
draulic engines are to he connected
directly to the aXles of the trucks OF the
car.
Final arrangements arc expected to
be consummated shortly for the build
ing of railroad from Broadway, Va. to
the West Virginia State limo via Brooks
gap, the valley route through North
River Gap. thence west, and another
line casterly from Broadway to tide
water via New Market and Luray.
The second trial at the Southern Steel
Works, at Chattanooga, Tenn. has re-
suited in the same success that attend
cd the first. The furnace was charged
with low grade white coke iron instead
of charcoal iron. and after Il lapse of
seven hours IL run was made which. on
being tested, proved to he higher grade
Of steel, even more desirable for some
purposes than that made by the first
trial, being harder. containing more car
bon. and q steel Of superior quality for
tools.
Tho coal palace, at Uttumwa, Iowa.
covers almost a block of ground. and is
200 feet in the clear to It's highest cen
t.al tower. The cost of the building
will be between $2S.000 and $50 600.
The architecture will he compromise
between the Gothic and byzantine. The
building is two stories in height, the
first being about twenty feet to the
ceiling, the other reaching to the top
OF the structure, varying from forty To
sixty feet. The main hall with the bal
comics ascending direct from the stage,
will give the building an auditorium
with a seating capacity OF from 5000 to
5000. The walls are composed of blocks
of bituminous coal. laid in red mortar,
veneered over Il solid Shooting of plank.
The ten counties which form the coal
league-though the citizens Of Ottumwa
are building the palacc-prOducc over
3.0oo.0c0 tons OF coal Il year.
Shipments OF currency to the interior
during the week have been on Il very
large scale. Treasury operations in Sep