USA > Indiana > Perry County > Cannelton > Cannelton, Perry County, Ind., at the intersection of the eastern margin of the Illinois coal basin, by the Ohio River : its natural advantages as a site for manufacturing > Part 11
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Hamilton Smith, Esq .:
CANNELTON, May 16, 1850.
Dear Sir-You have propounded to me the following questions in relation to my coal mining operations at this place:
1st. "What is the average number of bushels produced by a good miner in ten hours-that is, dug and placed in the coal car?"
2d. "What the expense for 1000 bushels per day of bringing the coal 500 yards to the mouth of the mine?"
3d. "What accidents have occurred in and about your mines since you com- menced operations. say seven years?"
4th. "What is the general health of your miners? What is your opinion of the healthfulness of the employment?" Is the labor of the miner more irksome than that of the agriculturist?"
To these please permit me to give a general answer. You alreadyknow the price I pay the miners is two cents per bushel for digging and piling up into the cars. To the second question I cannot give a precise answer, but from the following you can probably collect all you want. For the inside hauling in
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with the quality of the iron ores which are advantageously worked at a num- the mine, I keep seven small mnles, working generally five at a time, keeping two spare ones. These with five boys to drive, will bring to the mouth of the mine sixteen hundred bushels per day-for such a days work, the wages of the boys average 75 cents each. To keep drains and roads in good order, and perform other work inside apart from the mere digging, requires four or five men at an average wages of $1,25 per day. Foreman's wages $2,00 per day. Wear and tear of cars, inside railroad, &c. $1,50 per day.
The miners and their families are as healthy a class of people as any other amongst us. Both men and boys are attached to their business. Even the mules seem fond of it, and thrive well at it. For seven years, the whole time of my experience, there has been no accident in or about my mines, by which either man or boy has been killed or maimed, or in any way seriously injured.
The habit of my miners is to go to work very early in the morning-often before daylight, but always breakfasting before they go out. They dine early (dinner being always sent into the mine) and generally quit their days work about the middle of the afternoon, unless work is unusually pressing. The average time of the men for a days work is eleven hours, (including dinner time,) and for the boys and mules nine hours.
Comparing the miner's labor with that of the farmer, I would say the former has the greater points of attachment, because it is seldom that I notice a miner becoming a farmer, but frequently I find laborers and farmers desirous of be- coming miners. Very respectfully, Yours, JAMES BOYD. -
One of the important advantages possessed by Cannelton is its facili- ties for receiving and shipping freights by steamboats that stop there for coal. The following remarks of the Editor of the Louisville Courier, and the letter of Prof. Johnson conclusively show that these facilities wil be greatly enlarged.
FUEL FOR STEAMBOATS.
We publish to-day a valuable letter from Professor Walter N. Johnson. on the subject of coal fuel for steamboats. Professor Johnson was employed by Secretary Upshur, to make a series of experiments with the various coals of the United States, for the purpose of ascertaining the most appropriate article for use in the Government vessels. the report of Professor Johnson is one of the ablest scientific papers we know of, and it conclusivsly establishes his repu- tation as a man of extensive attainments, and an experimenter of the highest ability. The country is deeply indebted to Secretary Upshur, not only for the investigation he instituted, but for the aid and encouragement he gave Profes- sor Johnson throughont the examination. We have Professor Johnson's re- port, and appreciate it as one of the best documents ever printed by Congress.
The remarks of Professor Johnson on coal as a fuel for steamboats will ar- rest attention, and they should set some of our steamboat men to studying out results. The country is full of produce far beyond the wants at home, and in order to seek a market, even the present low rates of freights must be lowered. In order to accomplish this, a system of greater economy in working the boats must be introduced, and the item of fuel is the most important one to com- mence with. If $30 worth of coal fuel will answer in place of $100 worth of wood fuel, a fine opening for economy is at once made.
Boats can be worked from Pittsburg to St. Louis with coal. From Pitts- burgh to Lonisville there is no difficulty-below this point, at Cannelton, 120 miles from Louisville, at Bon Harbor 150 miles below, and at Trade Water, 290 miles, coal can be obtained in abundance, and can be placed at the mouth of the Ohio from these points. Then there is coal of an excellent quality 12 or 14 miles back of the Grand Tower between the mouth of the Ohio and St.
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Lonis. A depot is soon to be made at the Grand Tower, it is said, by a Boston company. That boats which use coal, can run at a great saving is certain, and all that is necessary to make a supply for them is to commence the use of the article. The use of wood is becoming a serious expense to steamboats, and some means must be devised for economising in this important article of con- sumption. The letter of Professor Johnson is to the point, and we hope it will receive the attention of steamboat owners and captains.
Louisville Courier.
WASHINGTON, June 20, 1848.
Hamilton Smith, Esq .: Dear Sir-I have never entertained a doubt that sooner or later coal is destined to supersede wood as fuel for steamboats. It is now ten years since wood was almost the only fuel used ou all the finest boats, on the Eastern waters especially, those on the Long Island Sound, the Hudson, the Delaware, and the less important streams. Now scarcely any other than anthracite is used on those waters, and with such advantage that the rates of freights and passage are essentially reduced, while the profits of running are such as to induce the building of larger and larger vessels-all with a view to that species of fuel.
As to the question of the relative value of coal, compared with dry beach, ash and cotton wood, I am not aware that any direct experiments on the latter kinds of woods have as yet furnished the data for computing that relation. You may have observed that, in my report on coals, I have stated that the sub- ject is yet unexhausted, and particularly that the coals of the West and South- west were but very imperfectly represented in the series of samples sent for trial in 1843. Mr. Bull, who made experiments on the woods some twenty- five years ago, also experimented on certain coals, and obtained comparativo results between weights of coal and cords of wood. But the western coals, those of Illinois, Indiana and Kentucky, were not, I think, then brought into notice, and I am under the impression that cotton wood was not among the kinds submitted to trial by him. One object I had in view in requesting the Government to continue the experiments on coal was to perform at the West a second series of trials on the coals and woods found on the Western lakes and rivers. From all that I do know of the Western coals, and from all that I have learned from others of the wood of the Western country, I do not entertain a doubt as to the great economy of using coal wherever it can be had at a moderate price.
It is very certain that with prices such as have hitherto ruled on the Ohio and its branches, one could hardly suppose any other fuel than coal would be used, if the trips were confined to the coal region, or to a moderate distance beyond it.
The grates for using coal will in general be of less depth than those for the use of wood; the bars will be from $ to & of an inch apart. But for different coals different dimensions of grate will be required. I suppose one difficulty experienced on the Western boats will arise from the attempt to burn too much coal at a time on the bars, by which means the iron will become over- heated and fused, and if the clinker be also heated to the fusing point, the sul- phur will attack the iron and run into compact masses with it. preventing the clearing of the fire. A thin stratum of coal on a grate raised to within a few inches of the bottom of the boiler will be probably found the most advanta- geous mode both for the economy of grate bars and for that of fuel. If the boilers do not make steam as rapidly as with wood, the obvious expedient is not to increase the depth of the stratum of coal, but to enlarge the area of the grate. Very respectfully, your obedient servant.
WALTER R. JOHNSON.
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It has been demonstrated in the Louisville papers that, by system and the use of proper boats and machinery, the Cannelton coal can be deliv. ered in that city at a cost of not over 6} cents per bushel, and at a re- munrative price of say 72 cents per bushel, and that, neither by the upper Ohio and its tributaries, nor by railroad can the cities at the Falls of the Ohio be supplied with coal at that low rate. As soon as the demand is sufficiently large to justify the construction of the expensive instruments required, it will result in the organization of a line of freight boats be- tween Cannelton and Louisville, and the large increase of a mining population at the former place and the still further increase of its facili- ties of receiving and shipping freights.
The value and superior qualities of the Cannelton stone quarries are indicated
1. By their convenience and extent, say five miles along the river bank, at the upper part of the property of the company, the cliffs are from 150 to 250 feet high, and approach within 200 yards of the river bank. Farther down, these cliffs recede from the river and lie immediately back of the town. The stone to build the mill and the coal to move its ma- chinery can be brought on the same railroad.
2. By the durability of the material. This is shown by the growth of the mosses on the face of the stone, by its sharp edges and by the absence of disintegrated particles at the foot of the cliffs. The geolog- ical position of the stone also proves its durability.
3. By the facility with which it can be worked. It can be taken from its place in blocks of any convenient size: it splits in straight lines and is dressed by sharp and pointed tools at less than half the cost of dressing limestone or granite. It is thus remarkably adapted for the elaborate styles of architecture. In the opinion of those who have ex- amined the subject, all the factories, public buildings and substantial pri- vate edifices will be made of this material in preference to brick at a cost of $5 per m. This will give the place an unique and beautiful appearance.
The following letters show the character of the stone under the tests of the hammer and chisel.
From Mr. Eastin, formerly Chief Engineer of the Public Works in Kentucky.
HENDERSON, Nov. 1, 1849.
In 1838 I opened the Cannelton stone quarries and with the stone taken therefrom, built the Lock No. 1, on Green river. This stone works well, is durable, and is not effected by any kind of weather, but on exposure becomes harder than it was in the quarry. 1 can safely say that it is the most substantial building material I have seen west of the Alleghany Mountains.
H. G. EASTIN, Ciril Enginesr.
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From Mr. A. McGregor, the Building Engineer of the Cannelton Cotton Mill.
CANNELTON, May 15, 1850.
For durability and cheapness the Canuclton quarries afford the best building stone I have seen west of the mountains, and it will stand the test of compari- son with that of any quarries in New England. The best sandstone used in New York is from Conncetient and this is the very same as the brown stone Used in building onr mill.
The stone used in the erection of Trinity Church. New York, is from the Little Falls, N. J., and before the workmen could obtain sufficient perfect blocks they probably rejected three-fourths of the quarried stone, which is full of air bubbles, or holes, from the size of a twenty-five cent piece to that of a small pea; these are filled with loose and dry sand, so that, in droving or dress- ing, the surface will present a ragged appearance. The stone from the other N. J. quarries is far behind this in quality. I regard this as equal in durability to the famous Craig Leith stone, although it is not of the same hardness and specific gravity. The material of which Melrose Abbey is made is a very close sandstone of a yellow gray color. The grain is as fine as it can be from sand. but in point of durability. this, in my opinion is not at all inferior.
The cheapness with which the Cannelton stone can be worked gives it a very decided advantage. In short, we have, in the new mill here, furnished the best voucher of the character of this building material, and he who exam- ines it must be very blind not to see its beauty and stability. Millions of tons of this material must soon be taken for building purposes to the towns and cities on the Ohio and Mississippi below this point. My foreman. Mr. David- son, who is familiar with the best quarries in the United States and Great Brit- ain, fully coineides with me in opinion. A. MCGREGOR.
Mr. McGregor was eighteen years on the public works of the U. S. government and had charge of the construction of Fort Adams. His workmen on this building were chiefly Scotsmen who had been employ- ed on the most important of the recently constructed public edifices in this country and in Great Britain. They all agreed in opinion that for convenience of access, ease of working, durability and beauty, this stone was not surpassed by any.
In 1848 Gen. C. T. James, of Providence, R. I. (who received his early instruction from Slater, the father of American cotton manufac- ture, and who has been engaged for the last fifteen years in putting cot- ton mills into operation in the most eligible positions in various portions of the country,) visited Cannelton and was at once forcibly struck with its great advantages. In a pamphlet published by him in 1849, he thus expresses his opinions:
"The convenient location of the spot for transportation-its close prox- imity to the cotton growing regions-its vast abundance of the best fuel in the country, and of every necessary material for building-its situation in the midst of a rich agricultural country-its command of the great valley of the Mississippi for a market-all these advantages, and others connected with them, make Cannelton the finest site for the manufacturing business in the Union; and fully justify the prediction that, ere many years have elapsed, it will become an extensive manufacturing city, not outrivaled even by Lowell
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herself. Such a prediction may appear extravagant to some, but when it is considered that Lowell, with no peculiar advantages but her power, within about twenty-five years, has risen from a barren and unpeopled waste, to a rich and populons city, there can be no plausible reason assigned, why Cannel- ton, with a better motive power than Lowell has, and innch more ot it, and a thousand advantages that Lowell never possessed, should not advance with equally rapid strides. Such will be the fact-and if Cannelton does not, in thirty years from this time, ontstrip the present Manchester of the United States, it will be because the people on the Ohio and Mississippi, had rather advance the interests of others than their own.
This, it strikes the writer, presents a grand field of operation for the people of the South, and more especially at the Southwest, at the present period, when it may be said that cotton manufacturing there is in its infancy. Estab- lish a manufacturing eity at this place, and it will serve as a beacon light to the people of the South, to direct their steps. It will also become a school, in which thousands will be taught to manage and direct the operations and busi- ness of the cotton mill, and from which, aid can readily be obtained at all times when wanted, at any other point. Such a place, by means of its almost iner- itable success and prosperity, would exert a very great influence on the south- ern country, through its own practical example; and would, indirectly, canse many other similar establishments to rise up in various parts. It would con- tinue to extend its ramifications in all directions, till the entire south had been awakened to the importance of the business and become a manufacturing country, as well as a cotton growing country. On this spot ard in self-de- fence, should the Southern and Western agriculturists meet, and, by the con- bination of their means and their energies, make Cannelton what it is fully ca- pable of being-THE great manufacturing city of the world.
To persons at all acquainted with the facilities afforded for the business of the cotton manufacture at the above named spot, and the details of the business itself, nothing need be added to what has already been said, to satisfy them of its admirable adaptation to the object in view. To others, however, a further explanation may be necessary. We would here remark-1. A very large pro- portion, nearly all, of the domestic cotton goods now consumed in the Missis- sippi Valley, find their way there from the East. either by the Lake route direct, or, by the way of New Orleans. The transportation, insurance, &c. by either route enhance the cost of the goods at least one-half per cent per yard. That additional cost per yard, on four millions and five hundred thou- sand yards per annum, the product of a mill of ten thousand spindles, will amount to $22,500. The cotton nsed at the east, must be transported from New Orleans or some other southern port, and provided there were no waste, the freight and expenses would be the same as on the cloth. But, for 4,500,- 000 yards of cloth, weighing about 1,600,000 pounds. it has been seen, a quan- tity of cotton is required, of 1,800,000 pounds. The freight and expenses on this, in the ratio of those on the cloth. would be $25,000; and which with the foregoing, makes the net sum of $47.500. Cannelton being situated in close proximity to the cotton growing country, it is very obvious that the expenses thus incurred to the Eastern manufacturer, on the raw material, will be saved to the mannfacturer of the former place As he also has a market for his cloth, at hand, a like saving on that article must be made too. The gross amount of $47.500 thus saved per annum, is about nineteen per cent on the entire capital of $250,000-a capital amply sufficient to cover the cost of the factory and its appendages.
At eastern manufacturing establishments, scarcely any requisite materials are found for building, with the exception of stone. Hence, large expenditures become necessary for the purchase of lumber, lime, brick. &c. &., at a distance. and to transport the same to the spot where wanted. But, at Cannelton. every necessary material is found at hand, at little or no expense, and requiring only to be bronght into proper forms for use. for which, every facility exists. These local advantages must of course be of vast consequence, as they will greatly expedite the construction of such buildings as may be required, and save much of the expense usually incurred.
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Again-the comparative trifling cost of steam power at Cannelton, is a de- sideratum not to be left out of the account; and to illustrate this fact more fully, we will give two or three estimates, made up from practical data, as follows: The cost of water power at Lowell, Mass. is five dollars per spindle. Hence, sufficient water power at that place to drive ten thousand spindles, is fifty thou- sand dollars, $50,000
Cost of foundations for a mill on the bank of a river, at a spot
selected for the purpose,
20,000
Making up a total cost of
$70,000
The interest on this, at 6 per cent per annum is
$4,200
Transportation of 2.500 tous per annum at $1,25,
3,125
Cost of heating the mill, per annum,
2,000
Making the total cost of water power per annum for ten thousand spindles at Lowell,
$9,325
A modern built mill will require, if constructed expressly for the manufac. ture of coarse cloths, a power equal to two hundred horses, to drive ten thou. sand spindles, with the requisite machinery. Thus, the horse power at Low. ell would cost $46,623 per annum. This we set down as within the actual cost of water power at Lowell. Let us now turn onr attention to steam pow- er. In this case, as in the statement relative to water power, we appeal to known facts.
There is in full operation at Salem, Mass. an establishment for the manufac- ture of cotton, known as the Naumkeag Mill. This mill contains thirty-one thousand spindles, and six hundred and fifty broad looms. The quantity of anthracite coal consumed, per day, is six tons; and this quantity is found ample to generate steam for motive power, for the mill and machine shop, warming the mill, offices, &c., making sizes, furnishing all the drying aparatns connected with making cloth, &c. In fact, the above is the entire amount of fuel con- sumed on the premises, for all purposes. The ammal quantity consumed, is therefore 1800 tons; which, at $5 per ton costs $9,000
Engineer, fire:nen, repairs on engine, &c., &c., 1,500
Making the entire cost per annum,
$10,500
'The engine in the Naumkeag Mill is four hundred and fifty horses power, and working three hundred and fifty. Thus the actual cost is $30 per horse power, and less than the cost of water power at Lowell, by $16 623-or, less than the water power at Lowell for ten thousand spindles, and the requisite number of looms, &c., by $3.324. To use steam however to the best advan- tage, the mill and engine should be large. A large engine operates with much greater power in proportion to its size, than a small one, or, in the technical language of scientific men, performs a much greater duty with a given quan- tity of fuel. In all small engines, necessity compels the adoption of the high pressure principle. In larger engines, that of low pressure is adopted; which makes a saving of at least fifty per cent in the article of fuel.
At Cannelton, the cost of steam power will be much less than it is at Salem. At Cannelton, coal of the best quality can be had at fonr cents per bushel; equivalent to $1 20 per ton. To run the Naumkeag engine at that place, with 1,800 tons of coal per annum, would cost, for fuel, $2.160; being $6,840 less than the fuel for that engine costs at Salem. The coal to drive a mill of 10,- 000 spindles, cannot exceed 1,000 tons per annum; which, at Cannelton, will cost $1,200. The pay of an engineer and fireman would be $1,000, and the cost of oil about $300 more; and making, together with the cost of coal, the comparatively trifling sum of $2.500 per annum, as the entire cost. In our estimate, we offset the cost of the steam engine, repairs. &c., against the cost of flumes, race-ways, water-wheels. wheel pits. &c., required for the mill driv- en by water power, though the original cost of the latter is greatest, and the former can be perpetuated and kept in repair at the smallest expense.
Cannelton is situated in the midst of a vast fertile region, yielding in great
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abundance, all the usual products of the farm and the dairy, including large supplies of corn and wheat; and which are sold in market at prices much low er than similar articles in the markets of New England. Fuel, a very impor- tant item in the list of articles for domestic uses, may be had, as already stated, at less than one-fourth part of its cost in eastern towns by manufacturers; or at about one-sixth of the price paid for the article at retail. Under all the cir- cumstances, probably it is not assuming too much to say that labor may be had there for manufacturing purposes, full twenty per cent lower than in New England, and yet all things considered, that operatives will be better paid. As labor constitutes much the greatest item in the cost of manufacturing, many thousands of dollars per annum will be saved in this way. We might, if neces- sary, enumerate many other advantages connected with Cannelton as a mann- facturing place, such as its easy communication with other places, especially the important port of New Orleans, &c., but it is presumed enough has al- ready been said on the subject to show that no other spot in the American Union, at least no one known, and occupied for manufacturing purposes, can compare with this for the prosecution of a safe and lucrative business. We will however add two or three other advantages, by way of inducement, to turn the attention of capitalists to this truly valuable spot. They are-first, persons who now contract for lots for manufacturing purposes, can rent coal land of the company, should they prefer to do so, at one cent per bushel of' coal raised-and it will costbut two cents per bushel to raise it. Thus, as good coal as our country affords may be had at the very low rate of NINETY CENTS per ton! Second-for all buildings erected on the premises for a time, the company will give requisite quantities of sand, clay, stone and timber; and they will sell at low rates, fire-clay, sand-stone, and lime-stone, all of the best quality. and all found in abundance within the limits of the company's purchase. Third-there cannot be a reasoable doubt that this property will, now active operations have commenced, be doubled or trebled in value in the course of a few years. It therefore presents an opportunity, and such an one as seldons occurs, for a very safe and profitable investment of capital. We repeat the question-Should not the planters and capitalists on the Lower Ohio and Mis- sissippi, combine their means and their energies to make this infant town, as a manufacturing place, what its situation and local advantages so eminently fit it to become? If they decline to do so, it must be because they do not properly appreciate the benefits to be derived from it.
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