The Newtown bee., 1909-08-27
IRON INDUSTRY OF KENT.

obtained at one casting.
 "The fire in the stack has, of course, to be constantly watched, and the skilled eyes of the workmen are so we'll trained that they can tell frcm the appearance of the fire ir the stack and the aspect of the molten cinder, as it slowly winds out like a sluggish snake, in just what condition the stack is at any time, and what quality of iron may be expected at the next casting. The veteran foundryman, who has charge of the stack, is James Bark CT. He has been employed at the furnace since 1888, most of the time in his present capacity as superintendent. Fifteen or 20 men are constantly at work around the furnace, and about 30 men are en- ployed in all, some of them doing shoveling and like labor, for per forming which, no knowledge of the iron business is needed. Two gangs of men take charge of the furnace; one comes on at noon, and at mid night is relieved by the other gang Each gang is, therefore, 12 hours or and 12 hours off in a day of 24 hours. A portion of the water power of the hent Iron Co. is em ployed in running a grist mill
 belongs to the company Grain of all kinds and plaster art ground at this mill.
 Stephen Tobias of Waldpot was one of the first superintendents ot the Kent iron mine, and was most active ir develt ping it's early re- sources. This gentleman was tht second son of John Frobin Tobias o Waldpot, Waldburg Zell, German baron and Teutonic knight, wht settled in Sharon after the American revolution, having espoused thu cause of the colonies. Stephen, thu second son, was educated in the fam fly of Hon. John Cotton Smith governor of Connecticut, where ht imbibed those principles of stric integrity and sterling worth whicf were ever after his chief character istics. A man of splendid physique fair haired and having wonderful! beautiful blue eyes, he combined the prowess of a knight of old witt the more modern accomplishment of an old time gentleman. ExcellinI in the sports and pastimes of th' day he was always the champion 0 the weak and the defenseless ant the protector of womanhood.
 The iron industry in the Kousa tonic valley is one of considerabl antiquity. AS early as 1l34, it i said that a blomary forge wa erected at Lime Rock in Salisbur and it is certain that before 174C the Livingstones of New York prov ince had in successful operation a Ancram, blast furnace and re fnery forge. In 1762, the cele
 brated Ethan Allen, with two as
 sociates, built blast furnace
 Lakeville, which within @ few yea1
 fell into the hands of one Richar
 Smith of Hartford, who being
 Royalist, was compelled to flee t
 England during the Revolution, a
 though the works were kept in a'
 tive operation by the colony
 Connecticut during that period, prt
 ducing great quantities of cannon
 cannon balls, shells, etc., for the us
 of the Continental army. The blow . ing apparatus of this furnace COT
 sisted of a large leather below
 driven by a water wheel. Probabl
 the oldest furnace in Berkshil county was that formerly existin at Lenoxdale, which was built I17e6 and made iron the followin
 year. This establishment continue
 in intermittent operation for mol
 than a century, not having been d
 molished until about 1881. Durin
 the most prosperous period of u
 iron industry in this region it is sai
 that 27 furnaces were in full oper'
 tion within a radius of 30 miles
 Lakeyille, the greater part of the'
 being in Litchfield county. The Tor
 acceptance without effective protes
 of an industrial pollok whic hon ho,,, doIihorofo1v docienpd