The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-09-05
nAIro. : ONO RAILnoAp snors
A Hrief sketch Of the Large and Wen
Regulated Railroad shops. Located
III Our City.

III Our City.
Railroads and their complete sys.
TENS Of operation, have proved beyond
all doubt, to DO one or the grandesi
industries and the best possible means,
to assist in the development of al
countries and nationalties Of the globe.
Commerce ii extended BY the mighty
systems, consequently an mankind arc
being daily benefited, and the wealth
Of ournation increased proportionately.
If from some unknown cause our rail-
roads were abandoned and I'M work
pertaining thereto were prohibited for
the space OF several years, what vast
change would be wrought in tho four
ishing industries Of these United
States, as well as all nationalities. IF
this state Of affairs existed, to what
a deplorable situation We would be
subjected, and how rapidly this great
nation Of ours would decrease In manu-
Featuring industries but MS We are
situated with these providential bless
ings, all Of our fellow citizens are
proud Of this, their native land, whose
banner is an emblem Of liberty, peace,
and prosperity.
| The railroad shops were erected in
our city some years prior to the late
civil war. Since their completion they
have given remnnerative employment
to hundreds Of hands. There are four
large buildings. built Of brick and
iron. alsoa number Of small buildings
Of the samematerial. The dimensions
Of The machine shop are l09x60 feet
and tho height at tho caves Of the roof
| is 40 feet, containing two stories. The
lower apartment is used exclusively for
machinery Of all kinds, embracing
about 35 pieces, each being operated
by an experienced mechanic, and in
many instances the machines require
several workmen. Three fine ma
chimes are used to plane all kinds De
steel OF large dimensions. Three are
used principally to plane iron and
brass Of various sizes one huge ma
chine Is used to remove engine tires !;
Twelve planes or turning lathes are In
operation for executing fine work in
steel, iron, and brass two large slot
ting machines for growing brass and
iron one immense hydraulic machine
for forcing axles into car wheels q
machine very much similar Is used to
force axles into engine wheels one
large machine il used to bore ont the
center Of ear wheels then there is q
huge machine for sweating and forcing
on tires.
There are four large press drills for
boring all sizes Of holes into various
metals; two machines are used to cut
threads on bolts and taps one for
cutting down engine axles and one
machine Of very fine mechanism used
for turning of engine tires. These
fne machines are capable Of executing
all kinds Of difficult work pertaining
to the erection or repairing Of cars or
engines. In this room is also q fine
engine which propels the machinery,
and at the same time works q pump
that forces two and three quarter gal
Ions Of water at each stroke, or so gal
Ions per minute into the reservoir on
another side Of the yard. This large
tank is 30 feet in diameter, and has
q capacity Of 81, 900 gallons Of water,
which is used for supplying engines.
The required pressure Of steam is 30
lbs, eighty horsepower. The boiler
contains 125 two inch hues, and the
size of the furnace is 4x5 feet. Fire is
kept in the engine alIthe time, as there
are workmen busy day and night
throughout the year. The upper story
OF this building is used as a carpenter
shop, store room, and paint shop.
The boiler and blacksmith shops oc-
cnpy one building, 200 feet long, 100
feet wide, and about Is feet high.
Here all kinds Of boiler repairing is
done with much skill. Large pits are
in the floor Of this shop, for convent
ence in repairing engines. Three drill
presses are used for drilling holes
into boiler iron one large machine
is used for shearing and punching
boiler iron one large Steam press
weighing at least five tons, is also used
| to press holes in boiler material two
FORCES and one turning lathe are used
/ in operation. The boiler making and
repairing tools are Of the latest and
most improved patterns.
In this shop is an engine, Of the same
dimension as the one used in the ma
chine shop, and is used for operating
the machinery for making and repair
ing boilers, and the large steam ham
mer in the center Of the blacksmith
shop with dimensions 100x50 feet.
Around tile sides of the shop are the
forges, operated by ten expert black
smiths with helpers. Two derricks are
so arranged as to carry large heated
pieces of iron to and from the steam
hammer in the center Of the shop.
This Is known as a 1000 ID. hammer,
that is, the weight Of the striking iron,
ON the end Of the piston, just weighs
\ 900 lbs.
When the hammer was put in the
shop, a hole 25 feet deep and 2 feet
wide was dug to foundation Of solid
rock, them small rock and cement were
used to obtain a solid smooth sur
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