The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-03-25

The changes made at that time. with
improved blast furnace and steel con-
version practice, effected such large
economies in manufacturing cost as To
make competition possible in the mar
kcts Of the world. to the extent tlN't
the product of this mill is now to i've
found in every quarter Of the globe
where railroads are operated.
lie continued as superintendent and
assistant manager of the Edgar Thorn
son furnaces ana steel works from 1881
TO 1887. The late Coptain William Il.
Jones whose enduring works must
ever he associated, with the carly de-
velopment Of the American steel in.
dustry was general manager Of the
plant at that time, and showed abiding
faith in the genius and capacity of his
assistant Mr. Schwab co-operated
with Captain Jones in the perfection
and practical demonstration of the III
vonton known to the steel industry as
tho "mctal mixer" which has made
the name of Captain Jones almost as
famous in the world Of metallurgy as
that of Besesmer, Siemens, Martin ana
others.
In 1887 Mr.. Schwab was appointed
superintendent of the Homestead steel
works of the Carnegie company and
reconstructed the entire plant, making
it the largest plant i'm the world of ito
class, producing steel blooms. struc-
tural shapes, bridge steel, boiler. ar
NOR, ship and tank plato and steel
castings. shortly after hc assumed
the management of the Homestead
works, the Carnegie company under
took the manufacture of arDor plate
at the request of the United States
navy department. and the success at
tending this great enterprise from the
first day of operation may be attrbut-
ed to the engineers clear perception of
the mechanical and mctallurGical diff
cultioS involved and the manner in
which he overcame obstacles in this
gigantic work.
No branch OF the steel industry pre-
sentcd in its inception such hazards
to the engineer and steelmaker as did
armor piatemaking, and the results ac-
complished by Nh SchWab were par
ticularly Creditabc from the fact that
he succeeded almost from the initial
effort, while every previous attempt
failed at the beginning and armor was
a long period Of experiment.
Mr.. SchWab remained ut Homestead
as superintendent until October, 1889
when, upon the death of Captain
Jones, resulting from an accident at
the Edgar Thompson furnaces he was
appointed general superintendent Of
the Edgar Thomson works and fur
naccs, In 1892 the Homestead steel
Works were also placed under his
management for the second timo, and
| with headquarters at Homestead, hc
! directed the operations Of both im-
| menSc establishments, employing
| thousands of men and producing sever
| al million tons of steel per annum. lie
| was elected member of the board ol
| managers in 1896, and in February
| 1897, he succeeded John q. \. Lcish,
| man, United States minister to SWitZ.
| crIand in the office Of president of The
vast Carneic enterprises,
! This, in brief is the record of ChaS
/ NJ. SchWab's career, from the country
! lad ON the drivers seat Of the noun.
! tain village mail-coaCh to the prcsi,
dents chair or one of the leading com,
| merCial Institutions i'm the world. Iii,
! life or less than tWo-score years has
| indeed, been remarkably successful
and is all the more Creditable since n
owes nothing to advantageous clrcum,
stances of birth ana exceptional oppor,
| tunitios; but, unaidcd and by tho
! merit Of his own efforts, he has at,
! tanned a foremost place among tn,
| leaders of industrial commerce of IN,
world His achievements have beer
: many and noteworthy, and as me
chauical aud mc,allurgical expert q
the Carnegie stool company, he ma,
been an impoHaut factor in the sue
cess of that establishments. Mr.
Schwab's services TO the iron industr,
are highy valued, ard many Of IN,
rolling min devices and steel work,
| Improvements now employed ON butl
J sides of the Atlantic are the prulmr