Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-09-12

beneath it. These are carried of
into another building on track
beneath movable derrick which
lets down large pair of pincers. These
pick the moulds off the blocks of red hot
steel, which are called ingots
Each ingot contains enough steel to
make two rails of the requisite length for
steam molds. After the molds are re-
moved, the ingots are heated in gas
furnaces, then pass two or three times,
through large rollers, and are divided
into two pieces, enough in each fora rail.
They are then reheated and finally
passed through the last rollers where
they acquire the shape and size of rail.
While still rcd hot frame descends. with
circular saw at each end. and cuts the rail
into It's proper length which is said to be
in many cases now eighty feet. The
VIII DC process at these mills is wonder
fnl, especially the apparent ase with
which everything is done, the accurate
timing of each stage of the process to the
other, and the small number of men re-
quired for the amount ofwOrk done, owing
to the system of labor-saving machinery
employed. On the way to Braddock the
Homestead Works are passed. They are
on the opposite shore of the river and
are very extensive. No general visit
ors are allowed in the mills at this place
where the government armor plate is
manufactured for fear that spies from
other governments might happen to
gain an entrance. The colossal works
of ihe Westinghouse electrical appliance
plant are situated in East Pittsburg near
Wilmerding. Time, however, did not
suffice for visiting The interior of these,
and watching the various methods Of
manufacture.
Pittsburg is essentially modern
manufacturing center. The working
population is to large extent foreign
Irish, Polish, Bohemian and Hungarian,
with number of English of the artisan
class. The business part is well built,
gaining a growing number Of "sky
scrapers," chief amohg which is the
Frick building, opposite the handsome
edifce containing the courts of justice,
the last work of Richardson the arcbi-
tect. Pittsburg occupies the valleys Of
the Monongahela and Allegheny rivers
and the lofty hills which rise from these.
On the point where these rivers meet to
form the Ohio stanfs the historic French block
house built of brick in 1764 by Col. Bouquet on
the site of the Older build .n;s of Fort Du-
quesnc. 1t is now well-cared for by the
Daughters of the Revolution. The town of
Braddock receives its name from the disas-
trous fight which occurred there in 100 be-
tween the French and the English, under
General Braddock, who was marching to at
tack Fort Duquesne As is 80 well-known,
Washing o saved the English and colonial
troops from complete annihilation and cover
ed the retreat of the army with the wounded
B 'add0ck, who died about forty miles up the
river.
The residence section of Pittsburg is to TIE
east, in which direction the city is growing.
There are many fine houses, among them that
of Schwab, the steel Inagnaie.
The Carnegie Library and Museum is well
worthy of visit. One of the objects of in
lerest there is the piano Of Stephen Foster,
he popular song comp iser OF btty years ago,
who was born in PlttsDurg.
During our stay in this city we met our
friend, Mr.. Arthur Jordan, a former resident
OF White Post, Va. who is now prosperous
business man in Wilkensburg one of Pitts
burg's many suburbs. ). W.