USA > Pennsylvania > Blair County > Altoona > History of the city of Altoona and Blair County : including sketches of the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad Co. > Part 13
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In September, 1866, the Empire Hook and Ladder company was instituted, and equipped with a good, substantial truck, ladders, etc., purchased from the Empire company of Lancaster.
In 1867 the borough council created the offices of chief and assist- ant engineers. Alex. A. Smyth was chosen chief, and A. H. Max- well and B. F. Rose assistant engineers. Mr. Smyth served as chief about one year, when he resigned, and A. H. Maxwell was elected.
The two companies forming the department, at that time, were deemed sufficient for the protection of property, but the numerous in- eendiary fires soon convinced the authorities that additional apparatus was needed.
The Pennsylvania Railroad company, early in 1867, ordered from the Amoskeag Manufacturing company of Manchester, N. H., one of their fine second-class steamers. On the 4th of June of the same year, the engine arrived and was immediately placed in service, under the charge of W. A. Adams and Adam Moss, members of the " Altoona Steam Fire Engine company."
On the 12th of February, 1868, the legislature passed an act im- powering the burgess and council of the borough of Altoona to levy and collect a special tax of twelve mills on the dollar, for three years, for the purpose of purchasing steam fire engines, etc.
147
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
Council having decided to purchase two Amoskeag steamers, one for the Good Will company, on the east side, and the other for the west side of town, it was deemed necessary to organize another fire company. Accordingly a number of prominent young men formed themselves into a company, March 26, 1868, under the name of the "Vigilant Steam Fire Engine company."
The two steamers were contracted for by A. H. Maxwell, chief en- gineer and chairman of Fire committee of council. On the fourth of July, 1868, the engines were placed in charge of the Good Will and Vigilant companies.
In 1869 a number of young men organized the Excelsior Hose company.
At this time, October, 1880, Altoona has five efficient fire compa- nies, forming as complete a five department as can be found anywhere in the State. [Although the Altoona Steam Fire Engine company does not belong to the fire department of the city, it cheerfully co- operates with it at all times in extinguishing fires. ]
ENGINE, 110SE AND TRUCK IIOUSES.
In 1859 the Pennsylvania Railroad company erected a building on their land, corner Ninth avenue and Twelfth street, for the occu- pancy of the Good Will until that company could secure other quar- ters. Since the removal of the Good Will the railroad company has occupied the house with one of their two hose carriages, their steamer and the other carriage being kept in a building at the lower shops.
The Vigilant building, on the corner of Thirteenth avenue and Twelfth street, was built in 1870-1, and cost $17,423.
The Empire building, on Tenth avenue, between Fourteenth and Fifteenth streets, was built in 1871-2, and cost $10,500.
The Excelsior Hose company put up a building, on Tenth street, between Chestnut and Lexington avenues, in 1880, which cost about $1,000.
A building for the Good Will Engine company, Fifth avenue and Thirteenth street, is now under contract, to cost $7,500.
BOARD OF FIRE DEPARTMENT.
The board of fire department consists of the following gentlemen : B. F. Rose, Vigilant, chief engineer; Gust. Klemmert, Good Will, assistant engineer, eastern district ; John B. Stahl, Excelsior, assist- ant engineer, western distriet. Directors: A. C. Vauclain, sr., Good Will; George B. Bennett, Vigilant ; W. R. Gamble, Empire; Elmer Hackett, Excelsior.
148
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
TERKEL C. NELSON,
PRACTICAL
WATCHMAKER AND JEWELER, - AND DEALER IN -
WATCHES, CLOCKS, JEWELRY, SILVER-PLATED WARE, ETC. 1126 ELEVENTH AVENUE, ALTOONA, PA.
DR. J. F. FULTON,
OFFICE: Over Randolph's Drug Store, ALTOONA, PA.
OFFICE HOURS : 8 10 10 a. m. 12 to 2 p. m. 6 to 8 p. m.
A. LUEBBERT,
MANUFACTURER OF AND DEALER IN
CIGARS, TOBACCOS, PIPES, SNUFFS.
1008 SEVENTEENTH STREET, ALTOONA, PA.
WM. B. MILLER, D. D. S.
DENTAL OFFICE:
1330} ELEVENTH AVENUE, - ALTOONA, PA.
(UP STAIRS. )
OFFICE HOURS :
8 to 12 a. m
I to 5:30 p. m.
6:30 to 9 p. m.
SYLVAN SCENE ON THE ALLEGHENIES, NEAR ALTOONA.
THE NEW YORK PUBLIC LIBRARY
ASTOR. ENOX AND T.LDEN FOUNDATIONS.
149
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY. ..
CHIEF ENGINEERS.
The following is a list of the chief engineers since the organiza- tion of the department :
Alexander A. Smyth 1867 E. Mountney .1873
A. H. Maxwell. .1868 T. B. Patton .1875
B. F. Rose
.1869 J. R. Garden .1877
T. B. Patton.
1871 B. F. Rose IS79
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE GOOD WILL COMPANY.
A. C. Vanelain, sr., prest.
¡C. C. Smith,
W. A. Adams,
C. E. Renner,
W. Riches.
J. E. Gardner,
J. A. Hindman,
G. T. Plummer,
G. S. Debray,
W. MeBride,
II. Bowers,
Wm. F. Enney, engincer.
ACTIVE MEMBERS.
George Bowman,
J. Sapp,
D. Lafferty,
J. Mccullough,
F. Endress,
W. Isett,
P. Logue.
.J. Carney,
R. McGraw,
C. S. Cordes,
N. Crum,
D. Donahue,
A. R. Moss A. H. O Neil,
A. Gamble,
B. Iliggins,
F. Custer.
C. Filer,
S. Renner,
J. Klink,
D. Shultzberger,
J. Kelly,
D. Robertson,
D. Stackhouse,
R. Lowther,
W. Hudson,
G. Klemmert,
W. L. Faisick,
T. Tierney,
J. Malady,
J. Kimmell,
H. Smith,
W. Rice.
J. P. Faisick,
F. Clabaugh,
J. Bradley.
W. Young,
G. Treece,
H. Stackhouse,
N. Kearns,
T. Patterson.
T. Mckee.
Wm. F. Enney,
J. Leng,
J. T. Pendergast,
J. Ford,
A. H. Maxwell,
A. C. Vauclain, SI.,
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF TIIE EMPIRE COMPANY.
W. W. Smith, president. Jas. McMurray, vice pres. Charles Gern, secretary. C. Gardner, assistant sec. .J. A. Weidensall, treas.
ACTIVE MEMBERS.
M. Alexander,
S. W. Arble.
J. McMurray,
D. K. Ramey.
.J. W. Anderson,
T. B. Patton,
W. Alexander,
J. H. Burley,
C. Petsehelt,
S. C. Baker,
E. Burley,
George Reeves,
D. F. Beegle,
A. Behm,
J. Raymond,
F. Blumhardt,
R. Black,
J. Kamp,
II. Fettinger, sr.,
M. A. Condrin,
S. S. Stains,
S. Smith,
W. D. Couch,
J. N. Stevens,
E. M. Jones,
T. D. Crawford,
W. W. Smith,
G. Kessler,
P. Clare,
W. Vanghn,
W. M. Lloyd,
HI. Dougherty,
J. 1. Weidensall,
M. Yeager.
E. F. Lytle.
P. Flynn,
LIFE AND CONTRIBUTING MEMBERS.
S. M. Woodcock,
C. E. Gardner, M. Gardner, H. Gardner,
D. A. Gilland,
J. J. Gehrdes,
L. B. Pancake,
Charles Gern,
W. J. Allen,
George Houck,
HI. C. Dern,
C. Honek,
S. I. Fries,
E. B. Haines,
A. F. Heess,
V. Hudson,
J. Lutz,
Levi Knott,
E. B. McCrum,
W. Knepper,
L. Plack,
H. McCormick.
C. Wahl,
J. L. Reitsnyder,
A. Engle, .J. Fraley,
John London, R. A. O. Kerr,
.J. Fultz,
W. R. Gamble,
B. Berkowitz. C. L. Fettinger,
S. M. Griffith,
R. McMahan,
M. R. Jones, C. Yeager, S. Christ. W. Keller.
M. Weakland,
A. C. Vauclain, jr.,
M. Fagan,
D. Quay,
T. Riley.
A. A. Smyth,
F. J. O'Kain,
D. McCloskey,
L. Wichum,
J. T. Dougherty,
Theo. Reis,
J. Bulger,
J. Carney,
D. Love.
C. W. Smith,
J. Galceran,
W. Alleman,
F. Hammers,
C. Cornelius,
T. Heacock, .
J. R. Garden.
HONORARY MEMBERS.
P. Drumgold.
I. Price,
J. T. Dougherty, vice pres. John Malady, sceretary.
James E. Gardner, asst. sec. John R. Garden, treas.
11
150
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE VIGILANT COMPANY.
Frank Molloy, president. W. M. Rose, secretary. B. W. Story, assistant see. Jolın Sehenk, treasurer. E. Lippett, engineer. G. II. Maxwell, fireman.
ACTIVE AND HONORARY MEM- BERS.
1M. Vetter,
F. W. Olmes,
IS. W. Beegle,
Christ Wahl,
D. Condrin,
L. P. Work,
W. Gundecker,
W. S. Bittner,
W. If. Eynon,
M. Clabangh,
11. Butler,
James Kearney,
E. Cassiday,
G. W. Kessler,
J. W. Leslie,
S. C. Baker,
G. P. Levan,
D. K. Ramey, C. C. Mason,
B. F. Rose,
C. M. Haekett,
C. S. Taylor,
R. Stehle,
A. S. Morrow.
Samuel Black,
HI. Parsons,
H. C. Dern,
C. Rauch,
D. Koch.
G. T. Bell,
R. L. MeCartney,
E. Mountney,
W. Ake,
George Rosenberger,
W. L. Ilallack,
Il. K. Story,
Rt. Rev. Bishop J. Tuigg,
G. M. Metz,
G. W. Kelly,
Theo .. Burehfield,
J. 1. Smith,
John P. Levan,
W. M. Rose,
B. Bennett,
James HI. Dysart,
F. Dumphy,
J. Hopkinson,
D. Laughman,
H. Barr,
P. Smith,
John L. Iekes.
W. H. Johnson,
HI. Brogan,
G. L. Myers,
J. B. Gray,
J. Stehle,
D. J. Netľ,
J. L. Riekabaugh,
J. Dixen,
George Dixon,
T. B. Story,
C. Ensbrenner,
P. Vetter,
J. Johnston,
J. H. Sehenk,
1I. Fettinger, sr., C. Gnyer,
W. II. Bennett,
G. F. Fresh,
Hon. John A. Lemon,
1. H. Graham,
LA. M. Stewart,
Wm. Kemp.
J. Paisley,
C. A. Szink,
D. Kilday,
I. Farabangh,
11. Beam,
II. Kimmerling,
John O'Neil,
Il. Ritter,
L. Smith,
Wm. H. Renner,
W. Simpson,
J. Goldman,
Daniel Price,
G. B. Bennett,
D. MeEldowney,
W. C. Alexander,
B. W. Story,
J. E. Winn,
Dr. Walter Bell,
W. Pimlott, E. Folk.
W. A. MeCormick,
Samuel Smith,
C. Esterline,
G. H. Maxwell,
John F. Bowman,
E. Powell,
1. Ward,
John Stelle,
J. V. Mazurie,
F. Copley,
William Murray,
D. P. Ray,
Godfrey Wolf,
Louis Plaek,
E. Lippett,
G. W. Sparks,
John II. Friedley,
J. W. Arnsberger,
W. H. Durborrow,
John Trout,
T. Winn,
Adam Behm,
J. Carland,
G. W. Stewart,
C. Kephart,
John M. Bowman,
S. A. Christ,
B. W. Coyle,
E. H. Williams,
John A. Smith,
F. Story,
R. A. O. Kerr,
Jacob Snyder,
C. Belm,
Joseph Watson,
W. Davis,
Wm. Myers,
John London,
M. Zimmerman,
Dr. J. T. Christy,
Frank Molloy,
W. Rodamore, James S. Mann,
N. F. Mervine.
A. Davis,
E. L. Taylor,
Fred Ramey,
F. X. Endress,
G. Brunner.
Stephen Bewley,
J. S. Smith,
J. P. Montgomery,
C. C. Shannon,
T. E. Gintner, A. F. Heess,
C. Herr,
C. Adams,
J. Espenlanb,
C. Cassiday,
Jacob Stier,
Hon. B. L. Hewitt,
C. Flinn,
Ilon. D. J. Morrell,
lIon. Samuel Calvin,
Henry Elway.
J. Adams,
L. R. Levan,
T. W. Jackson.
Jacob Rink,
LIFE MEMBERS.
Wm. Conroy, W. A. Adams,
J. M. Stonebraker,
M. McCartney,
D. T. Caldwell,
John A. Sprankle,
*
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
151
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF THE EXCELSIOR COMPANY.
Emmett P. Davis, president| Emmett P. Davis,
J. W. Elway, Ist viee pres. G. M. Atkinson, 20
Will J. Ferguson, William Roush,
John L. Yeatts,
L. B. Weisgarver,
J. W. Elway,
N. J. Ehringer,
William Copley,
Thomas Clabanglı,
Derbin Trout.
Charles Loreman,
Robert Goodwin,
James Miller. William Weisenberg,
R. E. Stonffer,
I. E. Ferguson,
James Stitzel,
Joseph Watts,
Elmer Hackett,
Harry Smith,
H. M. Ferguson,
James MeCormick,
F. JJ. Stehle,
George F. Kriek,
II. D. Alexander,
J. B. Stahl,
John Irvine,
H. M. Parker,
William Heller,
G. M. Atkinson,
Herman J. L. Piper.
OFFICERS AND MEMBERS OF TIIE ALTOONA COMPANY.
Andrew Kipple, foreman. G. F. MeNoldy, Ist asst. M. Valentine, 20 asst.
J. D. Stouffer, secretary. W. A. Adams, engineer. Harry Geesey, fireman.
MEMRERS.
A. Kipple,
G. R. Waggoner,
G. W. Sands,
W. Shultzberger,
G. Slater,
D. F. Mauk,
J. Irwin,
J. D. Stouffer,
J. L. Smelser,
S. Bumgardner,
Christ Gern,
J. Wertsberger,
L. K. Young,
T. Blackburn,
C. Rath,
G. Filer,
J. McNoldy, jr.,
C. Labe,
C. Patterson,
C. W. Smith,
J. Lantz,
W. Ferguson,
W. H. Shaw,
W. Moore,
W. Irwin,
[H. Kriner,
A. Pietsch,
Harry Geesy,
A. Cretin,
J. C. Palmer,
M. B. Stoueh,
M. Wilkins,
C. W. Armstrong,
W. W. Green,
S. Gaily,
J. R. Fraser,
C. C. Wilson,
O. L. Forrister,
R. Wilson,
D. Miller,
M. H. Foose,
C. H. Bragonier,
M. Fiehtner,
G. B. Smith,
A. C. Lytle,
F. Richter,
D. S. Markey,
G. Rupert,
J. A. Walters,
W. B. Hershey,
E. S. Hall,
H. Swanger,
G. Tompkins,
T. P. Clegg,
C. W. Kerlin,
I. Kelly,
J. Foust,
C. Salsburg,
L. Statler,
D. M. Keckler,
G. Davis.
J. Roberts,
R. A. Isenberg,
E. K. Hamilton,
L. G. Flemming,
C. A. Weidman,
G. Curtis.
G. Moore,
G. F. McNoldy,
J. Ullery,
R. Woods.
W. A. Adams,
E. Clegg,
1.J. H. White,
1E. E. Johnson,
G. W. Blackburn,
L. W. Vanghn,
E. A. Grindle, J. Smithhammer,
A. E. Rickabaugh,
J. Foster,
R. W. Taylor,
E. L. Price,
S. Groves,
H. Stover,
G. Carrolus, W. Green,
C. E. Hiltner,
C. Mellor,
W. Grindle,
M. Valentine,
P. F. Barkdoll,
I. Wyant,
E. N. Moore,
C. S. Nieodemus,
J. Filer,
J. Eagle,
II. Rettburg,
William Clark,
T. W. Alleman,
P. MeDonough,
J. R. Rnnyeon,
George Leslie,
Charles Klink,
William O. Roush, treas.
H. D. Alexander, see'y.
T. W. Alleman, asst. sec'y.
MEMBERS.
George Wigand,
Clay Cherry, George Palmer,
Charles Garrettson,
George Inlew,
George Fultz,
John Espenlaub, jr.,
W. Brinkman,
M. D. Carrolns, 3d asst.
M. D. Carrolns, G. C. Detrow, G. L. Adams,
N. F. Cunningham.
P. McGarvey,
152
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
PALMER & MORSE ,
MANUFACTURERS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION OF
COACHES, CARRIAGES, SULKIES,
LIGHT AND HEAVY SPRING WAGONS,
SLEIGHS, ETC.
REPAIRING IN ALL ITS BRANCHES DONE WITH DISPATCH.
Eighth Street, bet. Sixth and Seventh Avenues,
ALTOONA, PA.
153
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
GAS AND WATER DEPARTMENTS.
WATER DEPARTMENT.
"The Gas and Water Company of Altoona," was incorporated April 9, 1859, upon which the city was dependent for both water and gas. [See pages 63 and 65.] Its first officers were : President, William H. Wilson ; treasurer, Wm. M. Lloyd; secretary, B. F. Rose ; managers, John Shoemaker, Enos M. Jones, Charles J. Mann, Albert B. Clark and George B. Cramer; superintendent, Thomas S. Francis. The name of the company, on May 9, 1871, was changed to "Altoona Gas Company," and on September 10, 1872, the water pipes were sold to the city authorities. The reservoirs at Pottsgrove, with the company's interest in water power of Pottsgrove mill and in the twelve-inch main from there to Twelfth street reservoir, were sold to the Pennsylvania Railroad company.
Without repeating what is said on page 65 in regard to increasing the water supply at the time referred to, and the means by which it was effected, we are confidant in saying that no one supposed that in so short a period it would prove inadequate to the requirements of the population, which has nearly doubled within the last ten years.
At an early period of the present year (1880) the subject of in- creasing the supply of water, which had been agitating the commun- ity for several years, began to be regarded as one of prime import- ance, requiring prompt attention. Such was the seareity of water during the previous summer (1879) that nearly all the Pennsylvania Railroad company's engines were directed to stop and take water at other points ; thus entailing, at the same time and by the same eause, serious loss and forced idleness to workmen in the shops, loss to the railroad company in having to stop work and in being compelled to take water supplies at inconvenient points, and loss and great incon- venience to every consumer in the city.
About three hundred houses had been erected during that season, rendering an additional quantity essential, to say nothing of the pre- dicament the city would have been in had an extensive conflagration occurred. At a meeting of the city council, held on the evening of June 14, 1880, the following was offered by A. F. Kerr, which was adopted by the council :
WHEREAS, The city is poorly supplied with water pipes, and the reservoirs are too small to retain an adequate supply during dry seasons ;
154
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
-
AND WHEREAS, The reservoir of the city cannot be relied on to meet the defi- cieney in this direction : Now, therefore, may it be ordained, etc.,
That in order to extend the water pipes through the city, and increase the sup- ply of water, this council negotiate a loan of $60,000, in accordance with the author- ity given them by Act of Assembly of 1874, and supplements thereto, and the Mayor is hereby instructed to give the proper notice, as provided by law, and to direct an election to be held on the 20th day of July, 1880, to the end that the quali- fied voters of this city may have the opportunity to approve or disapprove of said loan.
In accordance with the above, on the 23d of June, Mayor How- ard issued a proclamation appointing an election to be held on the 23d day of the following month, but in consequence of the inability of a committee which had been appointed by council to make esti- mates of the cost of constructing a dam at Kittanning Point,* the election was postponed until August 2, when a majority of seven hundred and thirty-nine citizens voted in favor of the loan.
At a special meeting of the city council, held on the evening of August 11, the following resolution was offered by Mr. Kerr and passed by that body by a vote of seven to five:
RESOLVED, That the Committee on Water be and they are hereby instructed to purchase water pipes, hydrants and material needed for laying of the same in such quantifies and at such times as they may deem proper, such purchase not to exceed in the aggregate $15,000. The laying of the pipe shall commence as quickly as a supply can be obtained, and the digging of the trenches for said pipe shall be let to the lowest bidder ; and the committee may, if they find it needful, let the laying of the water pipe to the lowest responsible bidder, the successful bidder to furnish bonds to be approved by the committee and city solicitor.
Shortly after the contract of laying the pipe was awarded to Da- vid Wylie, plumber and gas fitter, who, on the, 7th of September com- merced the work.
TIIE GAS WORKS.
On April 9, 1859, the "Gas and Water Company of Altoona" was. incorporated. [For names of first officers see page 153.]
On December 15, 1859, gas was first introduced into the pipes.
On May 9, 1871, having previously disposed of their water prop- erty to the Pennsylvania Railroad and Altoona, the name was changed to "Altoona Gas Company," and retains that name to the present time.
*In compliance with a request by the city council a corps of Pennsylvania Railroad company engineers made a complete map of the proposed reservoir or dam on the city property at Kittanning Point, and gave the following estimate of the cost of its construction : For grubbing and cleaning, $792; moving 9,640 yards of earth, $2,838; moving 2,850 yards of inck, $997.50; moving 5,840 yards of puddle earth, $4,380; moving 1,003 yards of riprap, $451.35; moving 1,500 yards of overflow, $450; masonry and paving outlet, $4,000; contingencies, $1,000; total, $14,908.85.
They also made a map of a proposed reservoir on Loudon's Hill, and also of two places to the right (coming into Altoona) of the Wopsonnonock road, but have at this time of writing made no report.
155
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
The capacity of the gas works, when first started, was 30,000 feet per day; present capacity, 150,000 feet per day. The first price of gas was three dollars per 1,000 feet, and ten per cent. added when not paid in ten days after presentation of bills; present price two dollars per 1,000 feet.
Improvements have recently been made. · An addition of fifteen feet has been made to the purifying room. The present purifiers, six by eight feet, will be replaced by a new set ten by fourteen feet, and with three times the power of the old ones.
The eastern side of the city, especially beyond Sixth avenue, has often been poorly lighted when the shops were running. This was not caused by inferior gas, but by the light pressure. That part of the city was supplied by a four inch main from which the shops also tapped. In order to remedy it there was laid a six inch main aeross Twelfth street, and since that time no complaint has been made.
The average consumption of gas per day, in summer time, is fifty thousand feet, five tons of coal being required to make it. The coal produces from four and one-half to five cubic feet of gas for every pound used. During the summer and winter the supply varies greatly. One month the amount of gas used was over 3,300,000 feet, but this fluctuates and depends largely on the work in the company's shops.
There is now in use a plan by which all the gas tar, or the greater part of it, is burnt, and used in place of coke under the gas retorts. It makes an intensely hot fire and thrown into the furnace in a small stream answers very satisfactorily. By this means nearly all the coke remains for sale and finds a ready market among city consumers.
At the election of officers, May 2, 1880, the following were chosen : President, J. B. Collin ; secretary, W. S. Humes; treasurer, W. D. Couch ; superintendent and engineer, T. W. Cole ; assistant engineer, D. T. Kantner ; managers, W. H. Wilson, Enoch Lewis, H. C. Dern, Clement Jaggard and George W. Patton.
The works are located on Eleventh avenue near Ninth street.
.
156
HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
INTERESTING MUSEUM OF CURIOSITIES,
EMBRACING ARTICLES SUITED FOR
GIFTS OR PRESENTS,
ALWAYS TO BE FOUND AT
CURTIS ,
GREAT VARIETY AND MAMMOTH
DOLLAR STORE,
REMODELED, ENLARGED AND IMPROVED,
PRESENTING AN UNEQUALED APPEARANCE AND CONTAINING THE
Finest Goods for the Least Money.
EVERYBODY WELCOME. No one urged to buy. Courteous salesladies always in attendance. CASH AND ONE PRICE.
Small Dealers', Pedlars' and Merchants' Supplies at Wholesale Prices ..
Manufacturers' Agents for Show Cases and Baby Carriages.
CURTIS' GREAT VARIETY STORE,
(IN THE MOST CENTRAL BLOCK,) ALTOONA, PA.
157
HISTORY OF 'ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
PENNSYLVANIA RAILROAD COMPANY'S SHOPS.
INTRODUCTORY REMARKS.
One hundred and twenty-two acres of ground are occupied for business purposes by the Pennsylvania Railroad company in this city. On this are erected the passenger station and the Logan House ; freight warehouse; offices of the general superintendent ; the superintendent of motive power ; the superintendent of transpor- tation, with their appurtenances, and the following additional build- ings: Three engine or round houses; iron and brass foundries ; ma- chine shops; paint shops; blacksmith shops; coaling platform ; freight car works; passenger car shop; planing mill; tin and cabinet shops; upholstery shop ; store houses ; fire engine room ; lumber dryer ; car shed, etc., having an aggregate frontage of fully two miles. All the buildings, excepting the paint shop, ear shed and the temporary wheel foundry, are composed of brick or stone, substantially constructed on the most approved plans, and the tools and machinery used in them are the best that can be procured. As a consequence the work is of the highest standard, and at the minimum cost.
It is difficult to analyze the impressions left by a visit to the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad. The progress that is silently yet surely underway is difficult to grasp, for the work that the company is doing, a work of national importance, comes upon you with the sharp force of a revelation. There is, indeed, a revolution in pro- gress here. You feel it; you recognize the tremendous influence that is emanating and must emanate from the metropolitan city of the Alleghenies, spreading like ripples upon the surface of a pond, until our whole country feels the force of railroad science carried to its conclusion. It is a fact universally conceded that the Pennsyl- vania railroad company is the leader of the van of progress. Every month, every year it institutes the most exact scientific researches, tests, experiments and observations governed by the sole idea of ob- taining railroad perfection ; and the benefit of each year's crystallized experience forms the basis of the operations, constantly progressive, of the following twelve months. A corps of scientists, regularly in the employ of the company, devotes its entire time, intelligence, acu- men and energy in determining what is best in everything, and the result is not only to furnish the road with what is wanted but to
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HISTORY OF ALTOONA AND BLAIR COUNTY.
gradually raise and purify the products of manufacturers of railroad supplies. A single instance will illustrate the subject. By other railroad companies, generally speaking, a car spring is ordered with due reference to its dimensions only, the name of a good maker be- ing considered a sufficient guarantee of its quality. The spring ar- rives, is put in position, and after serving its time it is condemned, taken out and disposed of, and that is the end of it. At the shops of the Pennsylvania Railroad no spring is received from the manufac- turer that does not rigidly conform to a prepared specification, a speci- fication that calls not only for absolutely correct dimensions, but in- sists upon a soft, slow movement, regularity of action, certain qual- ity of steel, and a hundred requirements which cause the spring to be as near perfection as possible. Such springs, also, are not only tested before being placed to determine their probable performance, but are tested again after condemnation, to better ascertain the cause of failure, or, in other words, to learn just how new springs must be made to obviate what proved weakness in the old. Everything is therefore based on a system of betterments ; on the theory of always improv- ing by correcting each discovered fault ; a system of thorough eman- cipation from blunder, with the always sought result of perfection.
MOTIVE POWER DEPARTMENT OR "UPPER SIIOPS."
We have premised this much to give to the reader a faint idea of the spirit which pervades the "upper " machine shop to which we are about to introduce him. And it must be always borne in mind that it is entirely on the initiative of the Pennsylvania Railroad that the experiments to which we shall call attention have been instituted and carried to their present conclusion ; experiments that, while every railroad would readily acknowledge to be of inestimable value, would yet leave to the manufacturers to carry out. And they, for want of better facilities, never could carry them out. Bearing this in mind,
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