Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-05-20

coal and iron ore. ana the digging for
both and the melting of the ore and east
ing the metal into ineots and rolling it
into bars have been the occupations Of
the inhabitants for centuries past, says
the Iron Axe. Frederick Krupp, the
founder of tho great works bearing his
name, was born in l7S7. and when crucible
east steel was first being introduced in
England, and it's importation from there
into Germany had been made Impossible
through the edict OF Napoleon, called
the continental sperra." I. krupp began
70 produce crucibte cast steel first in
small quantities for files. stamps. rolls
for coins and shears, but only slowly
could he convince and persuade German
manufacturers to use his east steel and
after life full Of disappointments ard
hardShlps he died in 1926, after a long and
severe illness, leaving to his son Aifre
little else than the old homestead, which
stll stands in the midst of the great
| works. and the secret OF his invention.
Alfred krupps energy and enterprise
soon conquered His first success was To
be able TO furnish It east steel of a vary
ing degree Of hardness, thereby increas-
| Ing its adaptability for many new pur-
weldless ear wheel tires, which were
patented in 1888 in all countries and fur
nshcd him capital for charging his
plant In 1867 he interested himself in
coal mines, iron ore mines and furnaces,
which should furnish the material for his
own works. ana in 1857 he began to reap
the harvest from his experiments inau-
gurated long since With steel CannonS,
and the great Franco-German war of
lSl9-1 proved beyond doubt their superior
ity as against the old bronze cannons,
Since then the success of these works
and their growth have been phenomenal.
and when Alfred krupp closed the DuS Y
and successful and philanthropic Work OF
his life in 1897 at Villa tluesei, his prince
~ home on the side hills OF the valley
Of the Ruhe. the city of Essen in reCog-
milton Of his great work, erected in his
memory a beautiful monument on the
most prominent square of the city. and
populations from many nations mourncd
at his grave.
Essen is city of $4,000 inhabitants. and
over 20100 of this population are employed
in the works OF the able and energetic
son of Alfred krupp-Friedrich Alfred.
| over 1900 acres of ground are covered
with buildings and machinery. Many
| coal mines furnish fuel for the works.
over 100 iron ore mines furnish the metal
ana large iron ore deposits in Spain. near
Bilbao. have been purchased in addition,
and Il special feet of steamers have been
| buit which bring over 100000 tons of this
Spanish ore from Spain to the German
| coast and up the Rhine. Twenty fur
naces at Dulsburg and Neuwied-on-tho-
Rhine are reducing this ore for the I<rupU
WORKS ana are owned or controlled by
THE main street Of Essen divides INC
| krupp works into two parts, connected
| overhead with nnumerable mammoth
steam pipes and bridges.and parallel with
| it, running east ana west. the tracks OF
the Rhenish railway pass the works in
the north. While in the south the railroad
| leading from Dusseldorf to Bremen. Ham
| burg and Berlin skirts the mills. lnnum-
| cradle tracks connect these two main
| lines of railroad, surrounding in an i'm. X
trcable network the buildings ana cross
! ing the street leading to Muelheim below
| its level. Powerful locomotives bring
| train loads of raw material into the yards
and leave the works with valuable pro l.
ucts, finished and ready for shipment to
all parts of the globe. Miniature engines
and cars move about between the build
| ngS on marrow gauge tracks. bringing
material Of smaller size from one building
| to another until it is finished and ready
| for the market.