Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-03-21
At THE HOMESTEAD MILL.
The Manufacturers and the Workers
Are Alike Interested.
VIEWS ADVANCED BY D. B. OLIVER.
Details of the Discovery Needed to Make
Positive Predictions.
THE SECRET BEING CLOSELY GUARDED

The announcement of the revolution in
steel-making at the Homestead mills, made
exclusively in THE DISPATCH, caused a
sensation, particularly among those directly
interested in the iron and steel industries.
1t was the one topic of conversation among
manufacturers and workmen alike, and all
were speculating upon the effect the appli-
cation of the discovery would have upon
the future of the business.
When Mr.. David B. Oliver was seen he
said he did not know whether Carnegie s
new process refers TO new application of
the direct process or a further application
of machinery in the manipulation of steel
He said further: "The direct process, so
called, has engaged the attention of various
metallurgists for years, but as yet with no
particular success from a practical stand
point Perhaps the Homestead people have
discovered means of overcoming the diff
culties heretofore found to be in the way,
and, if so, it will prove to be great boon,
for the cheaper the production of steel the
greater its use will be.
Granting this process to be a success,
will it give Carnegie a monopoly of the
steel business?''
The Result Depends Upon Details.
THAT depends on just what Mr.. Car
negie's discovery is, and whether it can all
be covered by patents. The discoveries of
others may overlap the point which makes
his process a success"
The solitary subject of discussion in
Homestead Yesterday was that of the new
direct process. From time to time the
thing has been leaking ont, but it always
leaked in confidential way and only few
Of the people knew of it yesterday. The
DISPATCH'S outline of the process was the
first intimation that the citizens in general
of Homestead had of it. Yesterday an ef-
fort was made to secure statement from
General Manager Patton at his home in
Homestead, but the gentleman could not be
interviewed.
All over the lively town groups of en-
ployes of the different departments of the
mill could be seen discussing the subject.
There were but few of them, however. who
knew more than they had read in The DIS
PATCH. One or two men were found who
were acquainted with some of the details.
. One of them said:
Guarding the Secret Closely.
81 know that the company has inaugu-
rated new system in the steel works, and
it is of the Basic order. What little the
men in general know about the process is
gathered up here and there. None of the
outside men were allowed TO go into the
department where this system is in vogue.
A big policeman stands at the entrance,
and that is as close as one can get.
"The metal is now melted in such way
that great number of men are no longer
needed to handle the iron. In fact, there
are only one or two men working in the
new department. The thing is too young
vet to tell how much it will affect us. 1
have been told the men in the converting,
blooming, beam and the 23-inch structural
mill and the open-hearth department will
be cut down TO one-half their present num-
ber by July l. The system cannot make
much change until July, for the Amalga-
mated scale holds good until then. At
present all the non-union men and laborers
who can be dispensed with are being dis
charged. l do not suppose the new process
will affect the skilled men to any extent, at
least not until it has been in use for long
limo -