The indicator., 1904-12-10

] lie past week mas been one OF
strenuous activity along the blast
furnace line OF the Minnequa
plant, and indications point to the
blowing in" of "A furnace no
later than the 18th. On Monday
slow fire was lighted in the gas
stoves OF the north end pig pro-
duccr, and smoke issuing from
the big stack led many to believe
that the furnace proper had been
bred. Such is not the case, how
kver, There is considerable work
bet TO be done i'll making the
thanges outlined by Superintend
snt Means about the bells OF
the furnace, as well as the new
-bleeders" being installed, and it
will be the first OF the week be
iore slow fires are started to
gradually warm up the furnace
proper. Superintendent Jack Nc
Kennan has got the boilers for
The blowing engines i'll shape, and
Goal was unloaded in the bins OF
|A' boiler house on Tuesday.
The cold blast engines are ready
|and Superintendent Schubert OF
the blowing engine department
says he is all ready for business
when the whistle blows for cold
blast for "a furnace, which will
be about the middle OF the conf
ling week. AT the south end OF
furnace row." work is being
pushed by bricklayers on the re-
lining OF "E" furnace, but it is
doubtful if they will be ready to
blow in before the middle of
January, as much time will be
consumed in the drying out pro-
cess after the bricklayers are
done. Nothing to speak OF is be-
ing done on "F" furnace, the last
Of the big ones to be erected, and
(which is as yet in an embryonic
state. 1t is probable that when
|"E is in operation &C. furnace
Twill be shut down. In the mean
time the work OF cleaning out "B
furnace continues, and it is prob
able that when a. %" and "E
are in commission, "B' will be
ready to turn out "speigel iron
With the three big furnaces turn
ing out pig iron, there will be nc
shortage for the converter and
open hearth furnaces, and barring
unforeseen accidents, no cause for
temporary shut down OF those
departments.
The converter did not resume
work Monday morning last as is
customary after the usual shut
down Sunday for cleaning up ano
necessary repairs, and the rea-
son was because the rail mill wa:
on big order for light rails made
from soft steel from the oper
hearth furnaces. These rails
IS pound-are for mine purposes
When the converter started Tues
day morning there was an acci
dent to the vessels that caused
delay, and it was after noon o
that day before the converte
started blowing Bessemer steel
which has been kept up day ant
night since.
The rail mill is on orders TO
heavy steel for the c. & S, the a
|. & S. F. and the d. & r. G.. rail
way systems. The c. & 5. stee
Is being laid in Texas, and it /
stated that that work will BIB
finished Saturday night, when I
X 5. orders will temporaril.
Cease. Notwithstanding that fac
there are other orders on file TO
various trunk roads that wi
keep the rail mill going indefinite
ly.
The volume of coal arriving j
the yards has greatly increase
during the past ten days, and nov
the various steam producing dc
partments are receiving what
known as double dump" dali.
That means that each is receivin
more than is consumed on tn
Gay and night turns, and a SUI
plus is accumulating in the bin
ore, coke and lime stone is b.
ing dumped in the bins for "a
and "E" furnaces, and the COX