Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-08
OUR NAIL POUCH.
Early Glass Making.


To the Editor of The Dispatch:
have been in terested in the various COM
munications to your paper regarding the
early glass making in Pittsburg. Your cor
respondent "W.," as published in THE DIS
PATCH OF Monday last, is mistaken when he
writes that the glass works of O'Hara and
Craig were suspended by the withdrawal of
Major Craig i'll 1903 OF 1904" l. e., If he means
by suspension that the enterprise was aban-
doned. General O'Hara continued the man
uIacture OF glass at these works from Major
craig s withdrawal until his death IN 1879
at d1nerent times enlarging the plant, so
that in 1916 he writes of operating two works
ior the manufacture of window glass and
nollow ware. Following are extracts OF two
letters written by him bearing upon the
subject and interesting in this connection:
GCopy.]
PITTsBURG, June "a, 1905.
James Morrison, ESQ.,, Lexington. Ky.
DEAR SIR-I received yours of the 4th.
Your question on the probable expense oil
erecting glass works may be answered cor
rectly. My works, you know, stand at the
coal pit on the river bank 1 was engaged
one year before we mace glass.
The first bottle "a very ordinary one) cost
me $4,000. This bottle was all the blast pro
duced. Had the works pulled down and
began on the new, and continued from 1877
till my disbursements exceeded S32 600.
Major Craig gave up his connection in them
last year. There is no person concerned
with me at present.
have not been able to reduce the balance
duo me by this mandatory under $50 600,
exclusive of the fee simple property.
You snfe on your bet. They cannot make
glass with propriety before the first of June
next. The clay will not bear handling in
cold weather, and no good workman wishes
to employ pots in less than six months after
they are made.
My works have no. averaged 81, 900 worth
Wit iOh
supported.
You shall see my books when you arrive.
Yours sincerely,
(signed) JAMES OHARA.
[Copy.1
PITrsBURG, 26 May, 1906.
Mr.. Frederick NJ. Amelung Baltimore:
SIR-I received yours of the 18th in answer
to mine of the 10Th ulto. My works
have been improving seven years. and must
cerned with me in any respect. L have a
large stock of materials on hand, and the
tools complete; a horse mill for pounding,
pot ash works and smiths shop, all on the
ground belonging to the works in operation.
Coal and wood are now laying in for the
winter. The pots are in hand. Fifty Will
be finished by Falleur in few days, who
made for the last fire. My wish is to have az
least 100 beforehand.
The last fire continued very good eight
months, the benches Of our sandstone re-
mafl.ed unimpaired.
Having so many pots ready yonr next fur
mace must be on my old proportion, except
that you can prepare for ten pots instead of
eight. l shall not touch the furnace till
you arrive. 1 wish, however, to blow on the
1st of September. My hollow ware almost
out. and window glass going fast.
began on the 1st of August.
Two white plassmakers will be acceptable.
We have tried this in the same furnace with
the window glass with perfect success. +
Your friend and humble servant,
(Signed) JAMES O'HARA.
PIrTsBURG, October7.