The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-08-13
NEWS OF OUR INDUSTRIES.
Happeninss Of Interest TO the Staple
Trades and Particularly to the Trade
In Iron. Steel and Anthracite Coal.

The ink used in printing the Bank Of
England notes was formerly made from
grape stone charcoal, but now It Is
manufactured from naphtna smoke.
A large wire nail mill has been COM
pleted by the Grand Crossing Tack
company. of Chicago, ILL.,, and the ma
chinery is now being placed In position.
When in full operation this mill will
have capacity OF 1900 kegs Of wire
nails day.
The franklin Steel Casting company.
OF Franklin, Pa, was organized re-
Gently. A site for the plant will be se-
leoted and work on the buildings be-
gun at once. The company will man.
ufacture an automatic star coupler and
other railway supplies.
One of the longest. II not the longest.
wire span In the world is stated to be
.the telephone wire crossing the Wallen-
see in Switzerland. This wire Is 1850
feet long and Is supported 100 feet above
the water by two supports on shore,
fastened to the rock one 425 feet and
the other 1,1S0 feet above the level Of
the lake.
Aluminium is being employed for gen.
eral clarifying purposes In German
breweries In the form OF corrugated
strips. These strips are said to have
the advantages over wood shavings
that they are non-absorbent and can
be readily cleaned and are, therefore,
hygienically preferable, while their
efficiency Is considered quite equal to
wood shavings.
A new air-brake for electric cars is
being brought out by two Chicago in
ventors. The principal novelty Is the
use of a reciprocating electric motor
to compress the air. the motor taking
ha In xx-tra
tomato cut-out Is provided, SO that the
pump works only when the air pres
sure Is reduced. The reservoir contains
air enough to make several applications
Of the brake.
Bar iron Is a scarce article in eastern
markets. particularly in Philadelphia.
Prices have advanced about IS a ton
over the lowest point reached. Even
at that figure buyers can not get
enough to meet the requirements, al
though mills are running to their full
capacity. and many mills that were idle
six months ago are now In full opera
tion. Plates and sheets show still
greater advance and command SO to
S12 more money than they did six
months ago.
The demand for structural material.
especially in Pittsburg, Is very strong.
The mills there are sold way ahead and
will take no additional orders except
for extended deliveries. Work Is now
practically suspended on new bank
building, because the mill making the
material can not supply 1t at present.
The structural mills admit that never
In their history have they been so over
run with orders, and that, although
they are working night and day, II Is
impossible for them to come near fill
ing the orders on time.
The demand for charcoal iron Is
steadily growing, the activity OF car
works. railroad shops and malleable
iron works, OF course. being responsible
for II. The Rome (Ga) Iron company.
which recently increased wages 10 per
cents, has its output for three months
engaged. Several charcoal furnaces In
Wisconsin and Minnesota also report
plenty Of orders on hand. One OF the
leading charcoal furnace companies In
Wisconsin has recently advanced the
price of Its iron 81 ton.