Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1916-03-07
REYNDERS RESIGNS AS
DIRECTOR UF STEEL CO.
[Continued From First PageJ

[Continued From First Page]
impression upon the men of the Steel
ton plant during his recent visit
VINO feel that he is a broad
gauged executive VINO will go out of
his way to do justice to employees who
have been instrumental in building
up the big plant and who are active
In its operations at present. In this
he would be merely following out the
established custom of Charles Nj.
Schwab at Bethlehem, who brought
the Bethlehem plant up to its pres
ent high state of efficiency by using and
developing the men whom he found
with the business when he took over
the properties.
Becomes Operating Plant
The reason for MIR. Reynders' resig-
nation lies in the fact that it is the
plan of the Schwab interests TO absorb
completely the Pennsylvania Steel
company. The Pennsylvania Steel
company will he blotted out entire
ly and the Steeiton plant will become
one of the units of the bethlehem
company. Mr.. Reynders as vice-pres-
ident of the Pennsylvania company
has been in executive charge OF the
Steelton end of the big business and
this office would naturally pass out
with the absorption of the Pennsyl-
vania company. Thus Steelton's oper-
ations will depend upon executive or
ders for Bethlehem and the new head
at Steelton will be a general manager
but not in executive control. Mr..
Reynders' resignation is simply a step
in advance OF the dissolution OF the
Pennsylvania Steel company.
Mr.. Reynders said to-day that he
will continue an active personal in
terest in the properties and that he
believes Steelton Is just on the step
ping stone TO a great future. He will
continue, he said, to take an active in
terest in civic affairs, with which he
has been prominently identified for
many years.
Great Bridge Expert
Mr.. Reynders has been with the
Pennsylvania Steel company since
1892 and first attracted attention in
steel circles as an expert in bridge
construction and erection. He is a
graduate of Rensselaer, Polytechnique
Institute at Troy, n. Y, and upon
graduation Immediately entered the
service of the Pennsylvania Steel
company as engineer in charge of the
bridge and construction department.
In 1896 he was made superintendent
of the bridge and construction de-
partment. In this position he con-
tinued until 1909 when he was placed
in complete charge of the works at
Steelton and elected vice-president
and director of the company, which
positions he has since held.
During the period of his superin-
tendency of the bridge and construc-
ton department and since his elcVa-
ton to the presidency, Mr.. Reyn-
ders has made a wonderful record as
"a bridge engineer. Some of the big
gest works of that kind in the whole
world were turned out of the Steelton
plant and erected by Steelton engi-
necrs, among them the BlackWelfs
Island and Williamsburg bridges,
New York; the gigantic Gokteik via
duct in Burmah, the Niagara arch
and the Memphis bridge, now in
course of construction.
Saved StccIton From Scrap Heap
it is generally known among men
who have been in touch with the sit
uation that it was largely due 10 the
efforts of Mr.. Reyndcrs that Steelton
is the Steelton of to-day. When the
Pennsylvania and other railroad COM
panies came into a controlling interest
of the Pennsylvania Steel company
they found an antiquated and unpro-
ftable series or plants at Steelton and
for a time there was much talk of
Iabolishing the Steelton industry en-
tirely and concentrating elsewhere.
At this juncture Mr.. Reynders threw
his influence into the balance and
started the Steelton plants on their
career of progress that made them an
attractive proposition when Schwab
began to look around for an oppor-
tunity to extend the capacity of his
company.
When Mr.. Reynders took hold at
Steelton the properties were run down.
To-day they are at the height of their
profits. In 1902 and 1903 Mr. Reyn-
ders rebuilt the bridge and construc-
~ -. sg.lz Ill sl,..
they are still modern and regarded as
models of their kind. When built
they were away ahead OF their period.
Since 1906 he has remodeled the
West End plant and reconstructed the
open-hearth department which is
now regarded as one of the very best
in the country. 1t has been repeatedly
the subject of sketches and pictures
in the technical magazines. Among
the more recent improvements made
at Steelton through the instrumental
ity of Mr.. Reynders are the new roll
ing mills built last year and the year
previous, the new rail and structural
mills the rebuilt splice bar mills and
finishing shop, and the new IA and
16-inch mills, which were given a
successful try-out yesterday. One
new blast furnace was built under his
direction, steel hydraulic presses were
installed for forgings and gas blowing
engines were provided for the blast
furnaces. In addition a modern and
well equipped hospital has been erect
! ed in connection with the works and
fine new office building built. Much
of the financing of the Pennsylvania
Steel company enterprises has been
conducted by Mr.. Reynders.
Mr.. Reynders has been q member
of the borough council of Steeltor
continuously since 1906, and it's pres
ident since 1907. In that time, and
with his assistance, Steelton has be-
come one of the best paved boroughs
| in the State and q model filter plant
has been erected. The borough has