USA > Pennsylvania > Luzerne County > Wilkes-Barre > A history of Wilkes-Barre, Luzerne County, Pennsylvania : from its first beginnings to the present time, including chapters of newly-discovered early Wyoming Valley history, together with many biographical sketches and much genealogical material. Volume IV > Part 30
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"Later I entered the employ of Lord Butler and had charge of his mill. The Butler mill was located on the now Public Square, Wilkes-Barre, and near where is now located the broker office of Lawrence Myers. This mill was the first steam mill in Luzerne County, and it required days and weeks to convert the people of those days to the understanding of the ways of steam. About the time their fears were removed and the mill began receiving the patronage of the sur- rounding country, an accident occurred which resulted in the bursting of the boiler and came near causing the death of Mr. Stroh and his fireman. The work of repairing the boiler had to be accomplished at night time, that the people might not learn the facts of the case. Had they been apprised of the accident their feared suspicions of the new power would have offered new evidence to their fright. Accordingly a man with four horses and lumber wagon was dispatched to Harris- burg in the night, a boiler maker and a quantity of boiler steel procured, and the work accom- plished in the night, and the people were none the wiser."
Records throw but little light on the J. C. Smith credited with being the designer and builder of the first engines manufactured for commercial purposes at Wilkes-Barré. By those available, he is mentioned as a sort of independent genius who built machinery on the basis of a factor in the Laning shop. His business was taken over by the Laning plant which, in 1850, was destroyed by
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fire. Undaunted, Augustus C. Laning in the same year began the erection of a more commodious foundry and machine shop along the canal on what is now Pennsylvania avenue, the site being selected owing to an intention of the firm of engaging largely in the building of iron hull canal boats and engines for their propulsion.
Several of these were actually built but the eventual decline of canal activity turned the firm's attention to the construction of engines almost ex- clusively. The firm prospered under the name of Laning and Marshal until in 1869 the business was sold to the Dickson Manufacturing Company, to be later consolidated with the latter's plant at Scranton.
Adding to a diversity of industries of early Wilkes-Barré was the hat making establishment of Isaac Carpenter, established in 1808 and continuing in the manufacture of hats and clothing for nearly half a century, a wagon manu- factory, founded by Benjamin Drake, George Flake and A. O. Cahoon in 1824; Peter Gallagher's plant for the manufacture of copper and tin products, at first situated at the corner of Union and Franklin streets, and the Wyoming Planing Mill Company whose business was taken over by the firm of Daniel A. Fell & Co., in 1853.
In 1812 a small paper mill was erected along Toby's Creek in Kingston Township by the subscriptions of a number of prominent Wilkes-Barréans. Commercially it was a failure and in 1827, passed to the ownership of Col. Matthias Hollenback by whom it was operated until his death.
In addition to furnishing the limited supply of newsprint needed to pub- lish the Gleaner, the mill manufactured writing paper of a fine quality, samples of which may occasion- ally be found in old letters of the period. It gave employment to but few persons during its existence and is referred to more for the sake of indicating the diver- sity of industries es- tablished in early RAFT ON THE UPPER LEHIGH times than for its im- portance as an enterprise. The opening of the lumbering business along the upper Lehigh in the early forties likewise brought a sliare of trade to the county town. For the period 1850 to 1860, the average amount of forest product, largely pine, marketed via the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company locks in the Lehigh River from this section, averaged over 30,000,000 board feet per annum. The blasting of rock and coal at the mines brought forward still another industry now unimportant in scope in the country. This was the manufacture of powder.
VULCA N
IR- O N
W
O RKS
OPERATING PLANTS
AND MAIN OFFICE
WILKES-BARRE
PENNA., U. S. A.
VULCAN IRON WORKS
1983
While no record of many of these early powder manufacturies remains, the following clipping from the Republican of February 20, 1839, is significant:
"We learn with regret that the Powder Manufactory of Capt. W. H. Alexander, on Laurel Run above Wilkes-Barre, was destroyed yesterday, by explosion. Fortunately no lives were lost; one man was seriously, though it is thought not dangerously burnt. A singular fatality seems to attend powder manufactories in this region. This is the third instance of explosion within a year. Whether they are the result of inexperience, accident or carelessness, we cannot tell- probably, however, of accident."
The establishment of other early powder mills is determined rather by their fate, as recorded in the local press, than by recorded information as to situation or size. Thus the Advocate of September 15, 1847, narrates that "A powder mill on Laurel Run about two miles east of this Borough was shattered by an explosion on Thursday afternoon last. One man named Charles Kinney, was so badly hurt that he died next morning. Another man was injured but it is believed he will recover. The mill had just been started by Messrs. Parish and Knopp two enterprising young men, whose loss is two or three hundred dollars."
The same journal records that this same firm built another powder mill "below Wilkes-Barre" in 1849, only to announce that an explosion had wrecked that establishment in May, 1852.
An estimate of capital invested and numbers of men employed by reason of the major industries of Luzerne County in 1850, exclusive of coal, was made by Pearce and published in his Annals as follows:
"INDUSTRY
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES
CAPITAL INVESTED
Iron Industry
650
LA 650,000
Lumber
500
450,000
Tanneries
225
550,000
Foundries and Engine Works
355
290,000
Powder
125
100,000
1855
$2,040.000"
In the absence of Chambers of Commerce or other civic bodies looking to the industrial development of the community, individual citizens took the initiative in matters of this sort. It appears of record, for instance, that members of the board of the Wyoming Bank and other enterprising business men made a decisive, although unsuccessful, effort to have the United States Government establish a gun factory at Wilkes-Barré in the year 1845. The greater difficulty, however, has been an ability to preserve in the community many industries which seemed well established. The loss of a once promising basic iron industry to Danville and points along the Lehigh River, the removal of the well estab- lished and prosperous plant of Laning and Marshall and the decline of many other ventures which looked promising to the generation of an earlier day seem difficult to reconcile with the forward trend of events which attended the general affairs of the community. But the history of all industry has been one of capable management rather than of opportunities afforded by capital or location. And to the support of this business axiom might be brought the success of the Vulcan Iron Works, which today, as for three quarters of a century past has been one of the industrial mainsprings of the valley. Aside from the Miner-Hillard Milling Company, dating back to 1795 and maintaining an unbroken record of continuous and increasing service to employees, shareholders and community alike, the Vulcan works alone remains of the pioneer industries of Wyoming.
The business of this establishment was begun in a modest way by Richard Jones-he of the diminutive steam engine some thirteen years before-in the
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fall of 1849. Mr. Jones who had been an employee of the then defunct rolling mill, was wise enough to confine his manufacturing activities to iron products needed in connection with mining. Hence his business grew in proportion as the mining industry thrived.
Needing more capital in the business to meet its opportunities the concern was incorporated as the Vulcan Iron Works in 1867 since which time its ex- pansion has made it one of the most dependably managed as well as the largest of the community's independent industries. Acquiring branch plants at West Pittston and Tamaqua as occasion offered and purchasing the business of the Wyoming Valley Manufacturing Company locomotive builders, in 1888 the Vulcan's output of engines, machinery and locomotives now has an international market as well as possesses a corresponding reputation for merit.
With its splendid organization placed at the disposal of the government during the duration of the World War, the Vulcan completed a new steel plant in 1919 on the site of a large acreage purchased for the purpose along the lines of the Pennsylvania and Delaware and Hudson railroads.
This steel plant, was, at the conclusion of the war, adapted to uses of or- dinary lines of manufacture, thus providing its own processes in the conversion of raw materials to finished product of the most exacting engineering requirement. The value of its manufactures in 1923 was in excess of $3,000,000.00 With an increase of its capital stock in 1924 to $2,500,000, the Vulcan is, at the present writing, in position to avail itself of additional facilities for manufacture and of new markets for its products. Employing, at capacity, some 1600 skilled ar- tisans, the concern is rated as the community's most valuable manufacturing asset. Those at present responsible in an official capacity for its progressive policies are: President, S. T. Nicholson; Vice President and Assistant General Manager, George Nicholson; Secretary and Manager, Fred O. Smith; Treasurer, Wm. E. Willingale.
With this sketch of the diversified industries of the valley up to Civil War times, attention may next be drawn to the secondary development of the great underlying wealth of Wyoming, as it progressed through the years, in response to the hitherto described beginnings of anthracite production impelled by the tenacious purpose of the Smith brothers of Plymouth.
Viewed through the century of its existence as an enterprise, the anthracite business resolves itself into three epochs. The first, dealing with its discovery and its adaptation to commercial use by slow and discouraging processes, has been covered in a previous Chapter. The second epoch found the industry on the threshold of a promising career but needing half a century of seasoning process before it could be classed as reaching a stabilized basis.
This was the period of the independent operator, of his efforts to obtaining markets; of inadequate capital to properly exploit the business; of his struggles to make ends meet in good times and ill. It was, notwithstanding, a half century of close association of capital and labor and relates to a day when owner and miner called each other by first names and the human side of relationships was worn outermost. The third epoch of anthracite development is naturally grouped about the business after the dream of George F. Baer was fulfilled in the almost monopolistic control of stores of anthracite by large carrier systems of the country. With the second epoch the remainder of the present Chapter will be concerned. The last period will be referred to in proper sequence.
1985
Underground treasures have, from time immemorial, excited both the curiosity and cupidity of mankind. It is therefore not surprising to find that the first quarter century of anthracite development was one of speculation in the main, when frequent turnovers of properties were in evidence and when gain or loss was more lightly considered than would have been the case in a venture concerned with usual business activities.
Practically no anthracite was shipped from the Wyoming Valley prior to 1808. From 1808 to 1830, those who deal with statistics, estimate that some 48,500 tons sought outside markets from the same source. In the decade be- tween 1830 and 1840, more reliable figures place the tonnage at 350,000 tons, mounting to 1,407,554 tons between 1840 and 1850 and gaining by leaps and bounds to 4,079,053 tons in the decade ending with the close of 1860.
For those with a penchant for figures, the following table of shipment from various portions of what was then Luzerne County, but exclusive of ship- ment by river from the Wyoming Valley, may be studied with interest:
LACKAWANNA VALLEY
WYOMING VALLEY
EASTERN MIDDLE COAL FIELD
Years
Delaware and Hudson Canal Co.
Delaware Lacka- wanna & Western Railroad
North Branch Canal South
North Branch Canal North
Lehigh and Sus- quehanna Railroad
Pennsyl- vania Coal Co.
Lacka- wanna & Blooms- burg Rail- road
Lehigh Coal & Navi- gation
Lehigh Valley Railroad
Total
1829
7,000
7,000
1830
43,000
43,000
1831
54,000
54,000
1832
84,600
84,600
1833
111,777
111,777
1834
43,700
43,700
1835
98,845
98,845
1836
104,500
104,500
1837
115,387
115,387
1838
76,321
16,221
92,542
1839
122,300
41,350
163,650
1840
148,470
79,459
227,929
1841
192,270
38,733
272,213
1842
205,253
47,346
62,942
315,541
1843
227,605
57,740
74,237
359,582
1844
251,005
114,906
90,530
456,441
1845
266,072
178,401
96,023
540,496
1846
381,000
166,923
5,978
162,026
715,927
1847
395,343
285,462
27,448
199,617
907,910
1848
437,500
237,271
11,112
247,887
933,770
1849
454,240
259,080
20,316
280,898
1,014,534
1850
441,403
243,250
24,220
111,014
201,964
1,021,851
1851
479,078
6,000
334,017
26,200
316,017
334,660
1,495,972
1852
497,105
67,489
319,341
43,161
426,164
374,476
1,727,736
1853
494,327
97,358
419,413
27,863
512,659
336,721
1,888,340
1854
440,944
133,964
492,689
45,932
496,648
358,577
1,968,754
1855
565,460
188,865
464,039
51,415
504,803
427,251
8,466
2,210,299
1856
499,650
296,232
510,631
1,150
45,054
612,500
387,605
152,912
2,505,734
1857
480,677
490,023
405,877
2,274
44,005
543,873
224,734
336,973
2,528,436
1858
347,873
683,411
293,310
38,947
78,150
630,056 688,855
210,042
302,591
336,218
2,920,598
1859
599,999
829,434
387,737
51,914
71,398
358,471
321,731
420,183
3,729,722
8,666,704 | 2,792,776 | 5,658,443 |
94,285 | 522,091 | 4,842,589 |
568,513 | 4,660,233| 1,254,752 |29,060,386
Production in the earlier portion of the period in question, as the figures clearly show, did not run to appreciable totals.
Reference to files of publications of the time furnishes the historian with practically the only information obtainable as to facts as well as figures of the early industry.
The first attempts of the Messers. Smith to introduce a knowledge of the uses of anthracite were limited to small settlements along the Susquehanna. But it was the markets of large seaboard cities that those who had visions of an exapanding industry sought to secure. Difficulties in this direction took years to overcome. The earliest mention of anthracite in the Baltimore market appeared in the Baltimore Patriot of January 21, 1823, as follows:
"Every day circumstances are transpiring which develop the importance of Susquehanna navigation to Baltimore. Last season a large quantity of coal was brought down to this market for which hardly any price could be obtained, its quality not being known. It was reshipped to
41,210
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Philadelphia and New York, and there sold as the Lehigh coal, which is in much repute. This morning we were invited to call at the stores of Messrs. W. & N. Tyson, on Spear's wharf, where we observed a grate of a very simple construction, filled with the Susquehanna Coal-the fire was as good as ever witnessed from any other Coal, and free from any disagreeable smell. It is a matter of pleasure to find that this valuable article is becoming to be known here, and we can assure the people on the Susquehanna, that their inexhaustible coal Mines will be to them a source of wealth, and to their children an unfailing resource. From observation and enquiry, we can confidently recommend this article to those who study economy and comfort; and we recommend others to call and examine for themselves."
Of the Philadelphia situation, Watson's Annals, published in 1839, states that "no regular sale of anthracite coal was effected in the Philadelphia market till the year 1825." In 1820 the old Lehigh Coal Company sent 365 tons from Mauch Chunk to Philadelphia, "as the first fruits of the concern," and, "little as that was, it completely stocked the market and was sold with difficulty. It increased each subsequent year up to 1824, making in that year a delivery of 9,541 tons. In 1825 it ran up to 28,393 tons, and kept along at nearly that rate until 1832, when 70,000 tons were delivered. From that time it went regul- arly on increasing, until in 1839, it has delivered 221,850 tons. And now that it has got its momentuin, who can guess where it will end?"
Due to a greater proximity to the markets of New York and Philadelphia both Schuylkill coal and that from the Mauch Chunk mines became established there before the Susquehanna product could gain a footing. The Susquehanna Democrat of November 12, 1824 thus reflects a peculiar situation which arose in the New York market of that year:
"The New York papers begin to lament the scarcity of fuel and express their fears that they will not be able to get their susual supply of Liverpool Coal, nor yet make up the defficiency from the Schuylkill or Lehigh. Their distresses are much regretted, but if the New Yorkers are so disposed, they can prevent a recurrence of the like difficulties in future years. Coal of the best quality can even in the present state of the Susquehanna navigation, be delivered at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, from Wilkesbarre, at about five dollars per ton-and we have no doubt that in a few years, the navigation will be so much improved as to enable us to deliver Coal at the head of tide for four dollars per ton. All we want is capital, to carry the business on. Let the people of New York, Boston and Baltimore, think of it-and perhaps a trade may be established which will prove mutually beneficial and accommodating."
The shortage of that fall commanded a complaint in the New York Evening Post of November 2, 1824, as follows:
"A number of our citizens have put themselves to the expense of fitting up grates of a peculiar construction to burn the Schuylkill coal, which they were led to expect would have been for sale in New York at least two months ago. They are now, to appearance, as near obtaining it as when it was first spoken of. But this is not all. The owners of the Liverpool vessels, believing that this market would be overstocked with Schuylkill coal, have not brought us the usual supply, in consequence of which, Liverpool coal has risen to 17 or 18 dollars a chaldron.
"About a month ago when every one expected the arrival of the boats with the native coal, the former could have been purchased at 12 dollars a chaldron. All kinds of fuel have risen upon us in a manner both distressing and indeed alarming. We are afraid that speculation have had some hand in this. If so, their conduct cannot be too severely reprobated."
Rarely, however, in the early days was there an insufficient supply in any market. Instead, the opposite tendency usually prevailed. But in spite of the fact that different sources of supply were competing against each other for sea- board markets, the business responded amazing after the year 1825, for those who patiently spread the propaganda of its use and were content to await such results as this form of advertising might bring.
As to this competition and the rather dubious outlook of meeting it on the part of the more distant Wyoming coal, the following sentiments, expressed by a Wilkes-Barré correspondent of the Philadelphia Album, a widely circulated weekly journal of the period, may be found interesting. Under date of Saturday, September 25, 1830, and the title of "Wilkes-Barré," the following appeared:
"Coal is the prominent object of attention here. It is almost incredible to what a height the excitement with regard to this subject has risen. It is expected instantly to raise the price of
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land and labour; to pour the wealth of the whole state into the lap of the valley. and to accom- plish-God knows what. Those who now swink and sweat over their plough willleave it for the carriage; and, from Dan to Beersheba, plenty and pleasure are to bear unmeasured sway. It is the coming of the canal that is to work these wonders; and we have been for years most de- votedly wishing and waiting for this consummation-our mouths open for the dropping of the manna. But it has not yet come; and when it does, it will be with the inseparable follower of such expectations, dissapointment. The presence of coal has no doubt its advantages; but they are advantages in which the whole state will share. The coal of Wyoming Valley is pronounced by Professor Silliman to be, in the farthest sense of the word, inexhaustible. It overspreads the whole country. It is impossible to walk a quarter of a mile in any direction without discovering the unequivocal demonstration of its presence. Its extent is not ascertained, and cannot be com- puted. From the abundance of coal it must be obvious, that the value of the mineral here cannot be much greater than the expense of mining it.
"The most sanguine cannot anticipate a permanent and unglutted market for the immense quantity of coal which is now, from every quarter, pouring into Philadelphia. The works at Mauch Chunk, in consequence of their recent improvement, are or will be greatly extended; the Pottsville mines, even supposing them, as alleged, eventually exhaustible, will for a long time continue to furnish a large quantity. It is impossible that the market can sustain the addition of the Wyoming coal, without a reduction of the demand; and, however great may be the facilities of navigation, it will be found impracticable to send it to so remote a market at a price much lower than the present.
"Still it has its advantages. It will, for a while at least, afford a handsome profit on its transportation, and furnish a ready market for our produce. It will, if permanently pursued, crowd our valley with a dense population; but one which will not elevate its character, though, by enhancing the value of land, it must increase its prosperity.
"We boast another source of wealth, iron. The extent of it is not ascertained, but from my own observation, I know it to be great. The advantages presented for iron works, from the abund- ance of coal, wood, and water, render this an object worthy the attention of the wealthy and
A TYPICAL CARGO BOAT OF THE LATER CANAL ERA
adventurous. The streams of this country afford many valuable mill-seats. Among these the Lackawanna is the first. It pours down from the mountains a copious and constant torrent, and presents situations for mills unequalled in the state. It passes through a country full of coal, iron, and timbers, and has, for the establishment of manufactures, a combination of advantages seldom seen. Property on this stream is at present cheap, but rising rapidly.
"The presence of so many different sources of profit demonstrate, beyond a doubt, that this valley, must be, at no remote period, the seat of industry and wealth. Indeed, its present progressive improvement is wonderful. The idle but enterprising race which generally pioneer in the path of the prudent and prosperous Dutchman, is gradually advancing further onward;
1988
while a population more thrifty and substantial supply its place. The natural advantages of the valley are beginning to be appreciated and improved; and, while individual prosperity is advanced, the general welfare is secured and extended."
Editor Collins of the Republican Farmer was one who held to a tenacious faith in the future of mining. Among a number of articles of hopeful albeit some- what wistful, trend which featured the editorial pages of his weekly in 1837, was the following appearing in the issue of February 22d, of that year:
"All things change. Improvement is altering as with the wand of magic, and as Spring opens we shall have probably new faces, new associations, new impulses, and new interests. To many this is not pleasant, either in prospect nor in reality.
"Suppose all the coal land in this valley purchased by those coming from different quarters, north, south, east and west, and the activity necessary to render such investment of capital profitable fairly employed, what would be the change in the aspect of everything round us! What a different population from that now occupylng this Valley! How increased in number, and how changed in views, feelings, religion, etc.
"Standing at this point in its history but little more than half a century from its settlement, it is easy for us, limited as our opportunity has been, to embrace in the memory almost every inhabitant. With each house and its head we are acquainted, almost without exception.
"The coal of this Valley, inexhaustible, as it is, it is very reasonable to suppose will be in other hands soon. It will require very, very little of that immense capital now waiting for pro- fitable investment to buy every foot of our land. At the average price of $40 per acre, the sum would not be anything like as great as has been expended by our nearest neighbors at Carbondale and Mauch Chunk. This result then is enevitable-that the moral features of this Valley-that the habits of the people, will be altered, and that in the place of that happy indolence which waited for the grass and grain to grow, as it did with but little culture, we shall have the sharpness and skill of competition-the restlessness and unwearying vigilance of those who wish to be rich. We are preparing for the consummation of this view. Starting in life as we do now just at its threshold, and soliciting, in common with others, patronage and property, certainly we ought not, to complain.
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