The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-10-27
NESTOR OF IRONMASTERS
JOHN FRITZ TO BE HONORED BY
CAPTAINS OF INDUSTRY.
Leading Steel Manufacturer of To-
Day Were His Pupils Half
Century Ago.

BETHLEHEM, Pa. Oct. 26-The eightieth
birthday of. John Fritz, ironmaster and in
ventor, of Bethlehem, will be celebrated by
a dinner given in his honor at the Waldorf
Astoria, New York city, next Saturday.
The men who will gather there will make
up an altogether remarkable body, prob
ably as representative Of American achieve
ment as the men at the dinner given to
Prince Henry-captains of invention. indus
try and the central figures of finance allied
with the iron trade. The leading members
Of the engineering profession in this coun-
try and Europe will also be present. The
banquet will also signaIize the successful
founding of the John Fritz gold medal for
achievement in the Industrial sciences, the
mittee of the American Society of Civil
Engineers. the American Institute of Min
ing Engineers and the American Institute
of Electrical Engineers. The medal has
been designed by the American sculptor.
Victor d. Bremen, and 1T is regarded by
connoisseurs as fine piece of work. 1t
bears the head Of John Fritz. At the
banquet the speakers selected will respond
not only for each branch of the engineering
and mechanical arts, but for the army and
navy and allied interests.
John Fritz is the Nestor of the iron trade
in this country He began life as a black
smith in 1888, and in his long career has
been identified with almost every impor-
tant step In the progress Of making iron
and steel, which has resulted in an in
tons in 1888 to 100000 in 1901. The crown
ing effort of his life was the conception.
the designing and erection of the great
hem Steel Company. of which he was the
chief engineer and superintendent from
1860 to 1898.
Mr.. Fritz, physically vigorous and active
Of mind, still continues his investigations
in his little office in Market street, Bethle-
hem, where he can be found daily with his
assistants. He works early and late, and is
even as industrious as in his early life,
when he spent from eighteen to twenty
hours day among the FORCES of the Beth
lehem works. He is striking example Of
the typical American, born Of poor parents.
With only a district school education.
gained in the middle part of Pennsylvania,
he started life with the stimulus and OPP
portunity that American citizenship gives,
and attained a position in the steel indus
try that Is recognized by the whole world.
He is probably the only man now living
of the small group that introduced into
the United States the Bessemer steel
process. A great economical revolution
flowed the tremendous development seen
to-day in steel manufacture in the United
States The leading men in the industry
to-day are the pupils of John Fritz.
In 1898 the British Iron and Steel Insti-
tute gave Mr.. Fritz the Bessemer gold
medal, which is about the highest distinc-
Ton steeim max r., can receive Charles
iron works, and made a vast fortune for
himself and his brother, Abram S. Hewitt
is the only other American who has been
so honored
Born on Aug. 81, 1922. in Londonderry
township, Chester county, Mr.. Fritz al
the age of sixteen left the farm TO work In
country machine shop. near harrisburg
with view Of learning the trade of a ma
chinist. After various experiments in steel
making at Norristown and Safe Harbor
Mr.. Fritz in 1854 went to Johnstown, where
he remodeled an old mill and built what is
now known as the Cambria iron works
Ii was at this period that, in connection
with his brother George, he designed and
erected the well-known three high bloom
three high MILL These inventions
started an economical revolution in stee
manufacture
In the early days OF the Bethlehem iror
making steel by blowing air through
melted cast iron reached this country anC
outside Of the few persons engaged i'm tn,
experimental plant at Troy. n. Y, Their,
the process than Mr.. Fritz. Experiment.
were conducted by him there to a mos
successful issue. "A genius in business is bu
rarely worth anything. Industry, observa
things that have made our great men," /,
one of the inventors sayings. In speakins
Of his work. he said:
Industry and application are the key
note of my career. i studied at night
spent long hours after In the mills and
while the other employees were divertin,
themselves in the usual way. l added TO m,
surplus knowledge. / learned every day
studied things and conditions outside o
the iron business. and after fifteen year,
of industrious application l found that
had acquired more useful knowledge thar
| college-bred men,"
When asked if he thought the achieve
ments of the twentieth century would sur
pass those of the one just closed. he said
| with. much enthusiasm: They certainl,
| will. In the first place there are more of IA
| to work. and in the second place We know
| more The achievement of the past Is mere
| ly a point of departure. and you know II
| art .irnnnssihle is an imposshle word %