Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-14
The Blowing in OF Victoria Furnace

Goshen, Va, September ii, 1880
To the Editor of the Dispatch:
IT was the writer's pleasure 10 DE
| present at Goshen to-day on the occasion
! OF the lighting of Victoria furnace Inc
| event was marked by the presence or
large number of ladies and gentlemen
guests OF the Allegheny Hotel at G0snen'
and also friends of MI ana MIS-. V
Ferguson, Mr.. Ferguson being the super
intendent of the operations at Goshen;
The furnace was lighted through the
six tuyeres which surround the Dosh OF
the furnace. The interesting part OF the
lighting. which was done by heated IRON
rods. was performed by the following
ladies': Mrs. w. J.. Sims, Mrs. '. Fer
guson. Mrs. h. u. Hotchkiss. Miss Bessie
Sims, Miss Ruth Sims, and Miss Mar
garet Sins.
Precisely at 1890 =. NJ. everything be-
ing I'm readiness. the ladies' named above
took their places IA the tuyeres, when, at
a word given oy MIR. Fe Guson, the heated
iron rods were showed forward. and the
oiled waste. which had been prepared Tor
the lighting was ignited, and the furnace
blown in under the most favorable au-
spices and amid the cheering OF the ladleS
and gentlemen present. the poWerIul en-
gines of the plant being set in motion at
the same time.
This furnace. which is one Of the largest
located on the Che apeake and Ohio rail-
way, is at present operated by the En-
pire Steel and Iron Company, of New
York, of which MI. w l.. sims. for
mer Richmond gentleman. il general
manager, and Mr.. Y. re guson, referred
t. above is superintendent OF the VIZ
gInia department, and Mr. G. H. ThOmp-
son, chemist Of the Virginia department.
70 one who has had some experience. at
least in looking over plants Of this kind.
1t was exceedingly gratifying 70 note
what splendid work had been done IN
putting this furnace in condition to ope-
rate. This is true not only Of the fur-
mace proper. which has been entirely
changed and Renewed. but also in refer
ence to the tracks, trestles, machinery
locomotives, cars, stOck-hOuses, etc.
Surely. If you can judge from the condi-
ton OF the properly al present as COM
pared with the past. there can be no.
thing but success under the new manage
ment. 1T is the writer's pleasure to have
become we'll acquainted with Mr.. Sims
and Mr.. Ferguson. and l congratulate
the owners OF the property upon having
occurred such an able management for the
operation Of the plant
Those present on the occasion Were as
follows: Mr.. X. W. Powers Miss Pauline
Powers. Richmond, Va, j. w. Culpeper
Miss j. Culpeper, Clearwater HarbOr,
Fla; Mrs. /. n. Jones. Mr.. Bernard
Jones, Richmond. Va; Miss Knox and
Miss Constance Knox, Richmond, Va;
Mrs. w u. Kemper and Miss VI. j.
Kemper, Louisiana: Mr.. and Mrs. II. NJ.
Robertson and Misses Frances and Min
RE Robertson. Charleston, :. c.; Miss
Hatcher. Richmond Va: Mrs. John
Jacob Mapp, Miss Jennie and Miss Fran
ces Mapp Baltimore; Miss Alice HOtch-
kiss and Miss Lizzie Hotchkiss. Rich
mond, Va; Miss Sophie White, Rich
mond. Va; Mrs. a. Mackey, 81. Louis;
Mr.. George Mackey. 81. Louis: Misses
Florence and Annerlie McAllister, New
York, and Mr.. T.. ID. HOtchkiss, Rich
mOnd Va.
] predict for the Empire steel and Iron
Company and the Victoria furnace great
success in its present operation. II is
a happy condition OF business affairs
along the Chesapeake and Ohio railway
that this is the last of all the furnaces
10 go into blast; every furnace on the
line Of the road is now i'm successful ope-
ration. Yours very truly,
nv.