USA > Pennsylvania > Allegheny County > Pittsburgh > Standard history of Pittsburg, Pennsylvania > Part 29
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"Whereas, It is the true policy of this State to give encouragement to works of public utility, to foster our own manufactures and to render ourselves inde- pendent of foreign nations for articles of absolute necessity; therefore, Be it enacted, etc., That a loan be granted from the State to William Eichbaum of three thousand dollars."
This was given with the proviso that the sum should be repaid in seven years with interest at three per cent. per annum, but to be repaid in three years with six per cent. interest unless the manufactory should be in complete opera- tion within three years from the date of the enactment. The factory stood on the Monongahela River above the brewery, and was planned for the drawing of wire by the power of steam. It was erected in 1809 or 1810, but was not yet in complete operation in 1811, though wire had been drawn in 1810.
"The manufacture of ironmongery has increased in this place beyond cal- culation. Cut and wrought nails of all sizes are made in vast quantities, about, we think, 200 tons per year. Fire-shovels, tongs, drawing-knives, hatchets, two- feet squares, augers, chisels, adzes, axes, claw-hammers, door-hinges, chains, hackles, locks, door-handles, spinning-wheel irons, plow-irons, flatirons, etc .- tons of these, together with a number of other articles in the iron way, are exported annually. Abner Updegraff atempted the making of files, which he finds he can do to advantage. He also makes gimlets, and by way of experi- ment made a neat penknife. He is a whitesmith of much ingenuity and great industry. The excellency of his hackles and his edge tools have already acquired a name of superiority. James Tustin, an ingenious whitesmith and machinist, confines himself pretty much to the manufacturing of ironmongery, and he is now engaged in making the necessary engines for the steamboat, building for Roosevelt, Livingston & Fulton" (q).
(o) Navigator, 18II. (p) Act of February 6, 18II.
(q) Navigator, 1811. These engines were intended for the first steamboat ever afloat on the Western rivers.
259
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
In 1811 George Evans began the manufacture of steam engines on the Oliver Evans principle, and claimed their superiority over those of Butler & Watt. Anthony Beelen's air furnace was called Pittsburg Eagle Foundry, and stood on the Monongahela at the old shipyard. Here were made kettles for brewers, soap-boilers, potash and salt makers, stoves, grates, scales, etc. In 1812 Joseph McClurg was joined by his son Alexander, the partnership becom- ing Joseph & Alexander McClurg. They made stoves, barkmills, mill-nuts, mortars and pestles, carding machinery, hollow ironware, weights, cranks, anvils, sadirons, ragwheels, plowboards and other castings of all descriptions. Their establishment was yet called the Pittsburg Air Foundry. In March, 1813, the Pittsburg Steam Engine Company, composed of George Evans, Mahlon Rogers, Mark Stackhouse and Luther Stephens, began operations. They manufactured all kinds of castings, forgings and the Oliver Evans steam engine. There was great rivalry at this time between the owners of the Oliver Evans and the Butler & Watt steam engine patents over their respective merits. This firm seems to have succeeded to the factory started in 1811 by George Evans.
In 1812 Christopher Cowan erected the first so-called rolling-mill in Pitts- burg. He built "a most powerful steam engine, designed to reduce iron to various purposes," which will put in complete operation a rolling-mill, a slitting- mill and a tilt-hammer, all under the same roof. The engine was of seventy horsepower. The design was to make sheet-iron, nail and spike rods, shovels and tongs, spades, scythes, sickles, hoes, axes, frying-pans, cutting-knives, etc. "He now makes immense quantities of nails, also chains, plow-irons, shingling hatchets, claw-hammers, chisels, screw-augers, spinning-wheel irons, smiths' vises, etc. He has already invested nearly $100,000" (r). His mill was without puddling furnaces and did not reach the state of completion to roll iron (r). Soon after the close of the War of 1812 the establishment passed to Stackhouse & Whiting, under whom it was put in complete operation.
In 1812 James Patterson built his factory in Birmingham for the manu- facture of locks of all sizes, files, hinges, etc. Abner Updegraff at that date was inaking plain bits, door-handles, kitchen furniture, squares, hackles, edge tools, files and saddlers' knives. At this time, also, Stackhouse & Rogers were advanced in their business of making steam engines, for which product there was a large demand. Mr. Tustin was also engaged in the same line and in iron- mongery. It was estimated that for 1812 the total amount of ironmongery made here was 396 tons, valued at $174,240. In 1812, also, Leiper & McKowan began the erection of a steel factory, designed to make 150 tons annually, worth $65,000.
Foster, Murray & Co., composed of William B. Foster, Magnus M. Murray, and James Walton, operated their ironworks successfully in 1813, employing a tilt-hammer, and making scythes, sickles, augers, etc. Other articles, such as shovels, spades, etc., were added later. Their works were erected in 1812 and were operated by steam. In 1812 the two air foundries, McClurg's and Beelen's, cast about 600 tons of all sorts of hollow ironware, machinery, cannon balls, smith's anvils, sadirons, etc., worth about $54,000. Both manufactured iron boilers also, "which answer as a valuable substitute for copper stills" (s). Stcam power was used by both factories. William Price also conducted a small air foundry and made castings for butt-hinges, buckles for saddles, brass articles, etc. In 1812-13 Brown, Barker & Butler began the manufacture of nails, edge tools, cutlery, etc. In 1812 James Cuming made five wool-carding machines, six wool pickers, one mule and one billy (s).
In 1813 Fulton & Livingston were put to much trouble and expense in
(r) Louisiana and Mississippi Almanac, 1813.
(s) Louisiana and Mississippi Almanac, 1813.
260
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
defending their patent on the methods of steamboat propulsion, suing, among others, Daniel French and the owners of the steamboat Comet. During 1813 Eichbaum & Son operated their wire-mill profitably and "made beautiful wire of different sizes." It was said of them that they "can't supply the demand." Isaac Wickersham, in 1813, made cylindrical cloth-shearing machines, one of which could shear 400 yards of cloth in twelve hours. He also made wire, though not so extensively as Eichbaum & Son. At this time two factories were oper- ated here for the manufacture of stirrup-irons and bridle-bits. In 1812 Steven- son & Youard made one gross of wheel-irons weekly, worth $30 per gross. Frithy & Pratt made at this time also a considerable quantity of excellent knit- ting needles (t).
"To proprietors of blast furnaces: John Beal, lately from England, being informed that all the blast furnaces are in the habit of melting iron ore with charcoal, and knowing the great disadvantage it is to proprietors, i's induced to offer his services to instruct them in the method of converting stone coal into Coak. The advantage in using Coak will be so great that it cannot fail becom- ing general if put into practice. He flatters himself that he has had all the experi- ence that is necessary in the above branch to give general satisfaction to those who feel inclined to alter their mode of melting their ore.
"April 1, 1813.
JOHN BEAL, Iron Founder" (u).
Previous to this time, so far as can be learned, no coke had been used in the furnaces or factories here. Mr. Beal may be said to have introduced to Pittsburg manufacturers the importance and value of coke as a reduction and preparatory agent. It is probable that he did not meet from others the encour- agement which his proposition concerning "coak" deserved; because, imme- diately afterward, a partnership was formed, called Beal & Co., and a foundry was established and put in operation above that of Mr. Beelen's, on the bank of the Monongahela, in which, no doubt, the first coke in Pittsburg was manu- factured and consumed (u). Castings of all kinds were advertised to be made there.
The factory of Magnus M. Murray & Co., which stood on Grant's Hill, was in full operation at this time and prepared axes, scythes, sickles, knives, hoes, shovels, spades, chisels, vises, hinges, log-chains, screws, etc. Christopher Cowan, early in 1814, advertised for from thirty to fifty wagons to make three or four trips each for iron to the furnaces and forges near Bellefonte, and stated that twenty or thirty of them would be employed to haul iron by the year (v). He consumed large quantities of Juniata and Center County iron at his rolling- mill. In 1814 Joseph McClurg, Jr., took the place of Alexander McClurg in the firm of McClurg & Co., iron-founders. George Miltenberger's brass-foundry was in full operation in 1814. John McLean sold ironmongery, wholesale and retail, at this date, embracing English and American scrap steel. In August, 1814, William Leckey advertised for ten or fifteen wagons to haul iron from the Juniata and the Bellefonte works. The iron industry and all others here at this day were in an exceedingly flourishing condition. The commencement of the war had been followed by at least one good result.
In 1815 the existing duty on pig, bar, rolled or slit iron was $1 per ton; on iron castings, $1.50 per ton; on nails, brads and sprigs, other than wrought, one cent per pound. This was so low as to afford no aid to manufacturers here; but war measures kept out British products, and therefore domestic iron producers flourished. The peace of 1815 was to the English only second in importance to success at arms, because it afforded them an immense market
(t) Louisiana and Mississippi Almanac, 1813.
(u) Mercury, 1813. (v) Mercury, 1814.
261
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
for their goods, the duty in America being so insignificant as to permit them to undersell our manufacturers with ease.
"The population in 1800 was about 2,400 souls; in 1810 the census gave 4,740, and in 1815, a calculation founded on what is believed to be the correct ciata makes an estimate of upward of 9,000. This great increase of population is to be attributed to the late war with Great Britain, which converted a great portion of the capital of the seaboard into manufactures, much of which was concentrated in this place. The transportation of Southern produce during the war through Pittsburg across the mountains also contributed greatly to the increase of the population here" (a).
In 1815 Richard Abbott was a hot-nailer here; John Adams, a whitesmith; Alexander Alexander, a nailer; John Anderson, a pattern-maker; Jacob Anshutz made nails and stoves; John Ayres, a silver-plater; James Benny, machine- maker; John Baggs, nailer; Francis Boner, millwright; John E. Boudier, white lead maker, in Beelen's factory; Joseph Brittingham, nailer; Barker Brown, nail- maker; James Brown, cutter; John Bryan, blacksmith; Robert Burnside, wheel- wright; Samuel Byington, blacksmith; Alexander Call, nailcutter; Joseph Casteel, blacksmith; Thomas Chandler, blacksmith; Joseph Clyne, blacksmith; Samuel Conner, bridle-bit maker; Samuel Corbin, machine-maker; William Croby, nailer; Thomas Dickson, nailer; William Eichbaum, wire manufacturer; Archi- bald Ervin, blacksmith; Charles Ervin, same; Adam Everly, silver-plater; Jacob Fields, blacksmith; Robert Guy, brass-founder; John Hall, bridle-bit maker; George Harris, silversmith and sword manufacturer; William Hartuple, black- smith; H. & F. Hazleton, whitesmiths; Major Harman, blacksmith; John Her- ron, cannon-borer, at McClurg's boring-mill on the Allegheny; William Hooper, potter, at Beelen's foundry; John Horne, tinner; Lewis Huttenour, bitmaker; John Johnston, silversmith; William Johnston, pattern-maker and cannon-borer, at McClurg's. mill; Benjamin Kendrick, silver-plater; William Kepner, copper- smith and tin-plate worker; Peter Kimmel, iron merchant; John Kincaid, black- smith; Lawrence Kingsland, molder; James Kirkland, tinner; William Leckey, iron store; Long & Elliott, blacksmiths; William Lusk, nailer; Colonel Mc- Allister, gun and white smith; Samuel McBride, nailer; John McClean, iron- monger; Joseph McClurg, Jr., air founder; McClurg & McKnight, air foundry; Duncan McCollum, blacksmith; Adam Mccullough, nailer; Patrick McDevitt, nailer; McDonnell, Brown & Co., nail factory; John McDowell, blacksmith; James Mc Vicker, nailer; Daniel Magirk, bitmaker; John Marshall, iron-founder; William G. Miller, nailer; Andrew Mitchell, molder; William Montgomery, blacksmith; Edward Moore, brass-founder; Robert Moore, nailer; John and James Morford, patent plowmakers, blacksmiths and wagon-makers; David Moss, whitesmith; Reuben Neal, tin and button maker; James Nilson, auger- niaker; James Noble, tinner; Robert Patterson, wheelwright; James Pedan, blacksmith; John J. Pedan, auger and edge-tool maker; Lawrence Pyatt, black- smith; William Rankin, millwright; William Rippey, blacksmith; James Rob- inson, iron-founder; John Rogers, blacksmith; William Sands, blacksmith; Jeffery Scaife, tinplate worker; Nathan Scothorn, tinner; Alexander Shaw, black- smith; Adam and John Sheriff, tin and copper smiths; Andrew Sherwood, pat- tern-maker; Daniel Smith, blacksmith; George Smith, molder; Jacob Sowers, molder; Samuel Sprague, gilder; Stackhouse & Rodgers, steam-engine makers; Charles Starkey, cock-founder; Christopher Steel, nailer; John Stephenson, founder; Jacob Stewart, blacksmith; Matthew Stewart, nailer; James Thompson, iron-roller; John Town, coppersmith and tinplate worker; Abner Updegraff, cutter and edge-tool maker; Garret Vreeland, blacksmith; Harvey Walker,
(a) Riddle's Directory, 1815. (The population of 1815 was overestimated.)
-
262
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
blacksmith; John Watson, blacksmith; Lewis West, silver-plater; J. Whitney & Co., iron and nail makers and owners of rolling-mill; Isaac Wickersham, wire- maker; George Williams, hot-nailer; Levin Williams, brass-founder; James Youard, blacksmith. In Birmingham, Lawrenceville and Bayardstown were: James Fitzmorris, molder; Hugh Galagher, molder; Joseph Gibbin, blacksmith; Jacob Gossbury, blacksmith; William Hutchinson, blacksmith; John Linton, air founder; Anthony Matter, founder; John Osburn, vise and screw maker; James Patterson, locksmith; Samuel Wilkinson, whitesmith; Robert Williams, molder (b).
In 1815 William Eichbaum's wire factory was yet in operation, run by steam. McClurg & McKnight conducted a mill for boring cannon. At this time there were three air foundries in Pittsburg and one in Birmingham (w). James Patterson made locks of all sizes, coffee-mills, saddlers' buckles, etc. William Price, whose factory was near the "roundhouse," made crucibles, in which could be cast all kinds of iron, brass, etc. He also made butt-hinges and fire brick (w). At a later date he manufactured clay and other pipes at Kensington, which place was then called Pipetown from this fact. In 1817 Bosler & Co. made coffee- mills, butt-hinges, currycombs, Norfolk latches, sash-pulleys, steelyards, brass gun-mountings, teakettle knobs, still cocks, rivets, andirons, stove-grates, sheet- iron stovepipe, smoothing-irons, grist and saw mill irons, scales, weights, tea- kettles, waffle-irons, anvils, mandrils, boilers, mill-nuts, salt and potash kettles; kettles for soapmakers, hatters, fullers; windmill irons, dog-irons, mortars and · pestles, swivels, axes, hatchets, traces, augers, scale beams, etc.
The copper and tin ware factory, which, previous to July, 1817, had been owned and operated by Robert Cochran, passed to John Quigley & Co. at that date. Scothorn had been associated with Cochran. The Pittsburg Steam Engine Company at this time was conducted on an extensive scale and was a credit to its proprietors and to the young city. It comprised at this date, as it did for several years previously, six departments, as follows: I. Steam engine fac- tory; 2. Air foundry; 3. Anvil and anchor factory; 4. Brass foundry; 5. Pat- tern-makers' shop; 6. Screw manufactory. A. & J. Sheriff, on Fourth Street, between Market and Ferry, conducted a coppersmith and tinplate worker's shop. In May, 1818, iron, steel and their products were quoted in the market here as follows:
Juniata iron, ton. $200 to $210 180 Monongahela iron, ton
Hoop-iron, ton ..
235 to 250
Sheet-iron (American), pound. 20 cents
Sheet-iron (foreign), pound. 22 cents
Nails, cut, all sizes, pound.
15 to I9 cents
Nails, wrought, pound.
22 to 25 cents
Crowly steel, faggot. $30 to $35
American steel, faggot.
23
German steel, pound.
25 cents
Blister steel, hundredweight
$17
Castings, assorted, ton.
$120 to $125
Country blister steel was the staple article used here, but foreign brands, despite the duty, were always in good demand, particularly German, Swedish and Crowly cast steel. Waldron's American sheet-iron was extensively used (x). In 1818 R. & J. Towne manufactured stills, sheet-iron ware, japanned ware,
(b) Riddle's Directory, 1815.
(w) Riddle's Directory, 1815.
(x) Gazette, May, 1818.
263
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
brass kettles, tinware, teakettles, washkettles and kettles for hatters, potters, fill- ers, etc. Swetman, Hughes & Co. made planes. James Riddle & Co. sold nails, Russian sheet-iron, English, German and American steel, etc. The Pittsburg Iron and Nail Factory, which had been in operation for some time under the ownership of R. Whiting, was discontinued in March, 1819, by the dissolution of the firm. In April, 1819, Joshua Mahlon, of the Union Rolling Mill Company, advertised for several refiners, hammermen and puddlers. He was sole agent for the company, himself, George Evans and Mahlon Rogers being owners. Henry Miller made cooking-stoves on Second Street, near Wood.
Oliver Evans claimed the patent by right of discovery "that by increasing the consumption of fuel you increase the elastic force of steam." It was denied that this was a patentable principle and was opposed here in 1818 by J. Whiting, agent for the Pittsburg Iron and Nail Factory, which latter institution con- ducted a rolling and slitting mill and made machinery for cutting and heading nails. During the year 1818 the Pittsburg Steam Engine Company was estab- lished by William Robinson, Jr., and Joshua Mahlon, under the superintendence of the latter, who had come from Valley Forge. In 1818 George B. Lothian began to cast printing type, an important event for the Western country, as it was claimed. From March 5 to May 10, 1818, inclusive, there passed Loyalhanna, on the Conemaugh River, fifty-nine flatboats. loaded with bar-iron, salt and stove goods, each carrying from twenty to forty tons, which cargoes were on their way from Philadelphia to Pittsburg (y). Anshutz & Rahm, in spite of hard times, sold considerable quantities of Juniata bar and rolled iron and hardware here in the spring of 1818.
In April, 1819, a company of practical mechanics effected an organization known as the Pittsburg Manufacturing Association, with the object of promot- ing the sale, production and consumption of all the manufactures centering here. They opened a warehouse and employed the necessary officers and agents to conduct the affairs of the association. George Sutton was the first president, and George Cochran first clerk or agent. Their warehouse stood on Wood Street, between Front and Second, and there their stock was displayed for sale to Western merchants, who came here so numerously. The capital was placed at $10,000, in shares of $25 each, "payable in gold or silver" (z).
The Pittsburg White and Blacksmith Company, on Liberty Street, near Diamond, consisting of John Hannen, Thomas Cromwell and Michael Allen, whose agent was Thomas Hazleton, made in 1819 scale-beams, wheel-irons, hooks, hinges, patent balances, bedscrews, etc. Lewis Peterson manufactured a considerable quantity of copper, tin and sheet-iron ware. In 1819 Mr. Parsons, on Fifth Street, opposite McClintock's tavern, began the manufacture of razors, and front this time forward the sneer of the English that Yankees could not shave themselves were it not for John Bull was a melancholy memory of the past (a). In August, 1819, the Pittsburg Steam Engine Company, composed of Luther Stephens, George Evans and Mahlon Rogers, was dissolved, and Mark Stackhouse was employed to close up their business. In 1819 George Schreiner was engaged in making surgical instruments and a general line of white and lock smithing products. In 1819 George Miltenberger still conducted his bell and brass foundry, making, also, stills, kettles of all sizes and doing work in tin-plates, sheet-iron and copper.
At the Ætna Iron Works near Pittsburg, of which Joshua Mahlon was agent, the following products were kept for sale in 1819: Bar-iron tire for wagons, per ton, $160; fine drawn less than common, $170; nail rod, 6d, 8d, Iod, $190;
(y) Gazette, May, 1818.
(z) Gazette, April 23, 1819. : (a) Mercury, November 19, 1819.
264
HISTORY OF PITTSBURG.
saws, 4d, $200; boiler iron, 3, 3-16 and { inch thick, $250; single, less than } inch, $260; double and triple sheet-iron, $280. Bean & Butler manufactured, in 1819, corn and grass scythes, sickles, axes, spades, shovels, hoes, screw augers, cut nails of all sizes and any article manufactured out of iron to order.
George Brickell's nail factory stood on Diamond Alley, between Wood and Market streets. William McLean's nail factory was one of the promising indus- trial institutions of the city. The typefoundry of Reich & Starr was in com- plete operation in January, 1820. Henry Miller & Co. made stoves previous to 1820, at which date they were succeeded by James Belden. Townsend & Wicker- sham operated a wire factory. William and Robert Leckey and John and James Morford made plows from different models and patents and on a large scale (b). By the State law of 1820 counties were empowered under certain specifications to afford assistance to manufactures within their borders, and this law was extended and reaffirmed from time to time. The extraordinary depression in business circles which took place here from 1816 to 1821 was the means of clos- ing nearly all the iron establishments, though the few that managed to survive received the first blessings of the prosperity which began about 1824.
(b) Various issues of the Gazette, 1819-20.
CHAPTER XII.
IRON AND STEEL CONTINUED-REVIVAL OF BUSINESS IN 1825-29-ROLLING MILLS AND FOUNDRIES-THEIR WONDERFUL ADVANCEMENT-NAILS AND STEAM ENGINES-EX- TRAORDINARY DEVELOPMENT OF IRONMONGERY-OTHER METAL PRODUCTS-BROAD- MEADOW'S PITTSBURG STEEL-LEAD PIPES-PRINTING AND OTHER PRESSES- EXTENT OF BUSINESS IN 1830-PROGRESS IN 1836-PRICES AND TABULAR STATISTICS- BUSINESS OF 1839 - STATISTICS OF 1844-TARIFFS OF 1842 AND 1846-EFFECTS UPON THE IRON INDUSTRY-STRIKE OF 1848-49-
NEW INDUSTRIES-THE COPPER OUTPUT -- LOCOMOTIVE BUILDING-
CAST STEEL MAKING-RAILWAY IRON-FARM MACHINERY-STATIS- TICS OF 1856-THE BESSEMER PROCESS PRAISED-BUILDING IRON.
The Pittsburg Foundry, erected in 1804-5 by Joseph McClurg, met with many discouragements. His friends told him he would be ruined and that the foundry could not possibly succeed; but he persevered and "realized a fortune and retired from business, leaving the old foundry to fill the pockets of his suc- cessors with better stuff than pig-metal." During the War of 1812 he was given a large contract by the Government to furnish ordnance and balls, a large part of which was used by the fleet on Lake Erie. His long-range guns and his carronades stood the severest tests of the Government experts (a). In 1826 this old foundry was operated by Alexander McClurg, Sturley Cuthbert and James Cuddy on an extensive scale. Two furnaces were operated and about 600 tons consumed annually in the manufacture of wheels, shafts, cannons, stoves, hollow ware, grates and all sorts of castings. Nearly thirty hands were employed and the yearly product was valued at $40,800. In 1826 the company had a contract with the Government to furnish ninety pieces of ordnance of from six to twenty- four pounders. The boring of these guns was justly considered an artistic and difficult piece of work.
The Eagle Foundry, in Kensington, was built and put in operation in 1808-10 by Anthony Beelen, but in 1826 was conducted by Messrs. Kingsland, Lightner & Sauers of the Jackson Foundry. Twelve hands were employed and about 250 tons produced annually, valued at about $36,750. In 1821 a Mr. Clark established the Phoenix Foundry on Scotch Hill. In 1826 it was owned by Miller & Freeman, who consumed 200 tons annually in the manufacture of light cast- ings, such as sadirons, grates, stoves, wheels, etc. Ten hands were employed and the annual value of the product was $14,560. The Stackhouse Foundry, in 1826, was an attachment of the Columbian Steam Engine Company on Redoubt Alley. About 300 tons of metal were converted yearly into steam machinery principally. Twelve hands were employed and the value of the product was about $18,000. In 1822 the Allegheny Foundry was erected near the Alle- gheny River, on McCormick's Alley. In 1826 William Franklin was owner and operator. He consumed about 156 tons annually into light castings, employing six hands and producing $10,140 worth annually. In 1823 the Jack- son Foundry was built and put in operation at the corner of Sixth and Liberty streets. The owners, Lawrence Kingsland, Isaac Lightner and Jacob Sauers, produced some of the heaviest castings ever seen up to that time in the Western
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