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Pottsville Iron and Steel Works
| Name | Pottsville Iron and Steel Works |
| Ortssitz | Pottsville (Penns.) |
| Art des Unternehmens | Eisenwerk |
| Anmerkungen | Vergl. auch: "Pottsville Rolling Mills" und "Atkins Brothers". Verwaltung in Philadelphia, 224 South Fourth Street. |
| Quellenangaben | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 158] |
| Zeit |
Ereignis |
| 1838 |
Mr. Paterson legt das Fundament für einen Ofen zum Eisenschmelzen |
| 13.07.1839 |
Der Schmelzofen wird angeblasen |
| 12.10.1839 |
Das erste erfolgreichen Ergebnis mit dem Schmelzofen wird erzielt |
| 18.01.1840 |
Gründung |
| Produkt |
ab |
Bem. |
bis |
Bem. |
Kommentar |
| Eisen |
1891 |
[Philadelphia] |
1891 |
[Philadelphia] |
|
| Stahl |
1891 |
[Philadelphia] |
1891 |
[Philadelphia] |
|
| Zeit |
Objekt |
Anz. |
Betriebsteil |
Hersteller |
Kennwert |
Wert |
[...] |
Beschreibung |
Verwendung |
| ab 1884-1885 |
Dampfkessel |
3 |
|
Babcock & Wilcox Co. |
Heizfläche ges. |
374 |
qm |
Wasserrohrkessel |
|
| ZEIT | 1891 |
| THEMA | Beschreibung |
| TEXT | On the 18th of January, 1890, the Pottsville Iron and Steel Works were fifty years old, and on that date it celebrated its bi-centennial of perpetual existence. On the establishment of these works it was for the first time authoritatively declared that iron could be smelted with Pennsylvania anthracite coal exclusively by the use of the hot blast. The experiment was made at the Pioneer furnace, the site foundation of which is now the property of the company. The Pennsylvania Legislature was several times urged to offer a premium for the successful smelting of iron with anthracite coal. Without waiting for the action of the Legislature, Kurd Patterson, of Pottsville, Pa., announced that he would give a thousand dollars per ton for ten tons of good iron smelted with anthracite coal. In 1838 Mr. Patterson laid the foundation for a furnace for the smelting of iron. On July 13, 1839, the furnace was in blast, and on October 12 of the same year a successful result was attained. William Lyman, then at the head of the works, was using iron ore from the mines of Morris, Mann & Co., at Iron Hall. Not a scrap of old metal, wood or charcoal was used, except for the mere
purpose of first ignition. The undoubted success of the Pottsville Iron and Steel Works attracted attention throughout the country, and its importance was commented upon by all the leading journals. January 18, 1840, a banquet was given to celebrate the successful establishment of these works. A bonus of 10,000 had been offered as a reward if there could be an entirely successful three months' run, and Mr. Lyman carried off the prize. The success of this experiment marked the beginning of a new era. The flattering verdict of a Philadelphia committee, composed as they were of men of wide reputation, settled the question which had for several years been a mooted one, as to whether by the Pennsylvania anthracite coal alone and the hot blast, iron ore could be smelted. The furnace was then named the Pioneer. Mr. Lyman
and others disposed of it to the Atkins Brothers in 1853. When Hanson E., Charles M. and William Way Atkins purchased the Pioneer Furnace thev employed about twenty-five men and the works covered an area of perhaps an acre. There was but one stack and it and the machinery were of the most primitive order. Improvements were at once begun, and although the expense was great the immediate returns showed the wisdom of the new proprietors. In 1854, Mr. C. M. Atkins purchased an interest in the Fishbach Rolling Mill, built by John Buruis in 1852. The mill then employed about fifty people, had one heating and three puddling furnaces. The facilities of the mill were enlarged and the demand for iron increasing, it was necessary to keep the furnaces up to the requirements of the works. In 1870 a new mill was erected and several times enlarged, and machinery put in for the manufacture of bridge iron. This has grown to be a most important feature of the plant, and orders are filled for contractors from all parts of the country. In 1884 a steel plant addition was erected. These shops constitute the backbone of the business of Pottsville. The Pioneer Furnace has grown until it now covers an area of seven acres, and comprises three large furnaces turning out 50.000 tons of pig iron annually. The furnaces are under the personal management of H. B. Milliken, with H. C. Cooper as superintendent. All the pig iron turned out is used at the rolling mills at Fishbach. These nulls cover an area of fourteen acres. Their capacity is about 125.000 tons of finished iron and steel per annum. When the Atkins Brothers took hold of the property it produced about one-third of that quantity. The mills now employ 850 men and both plants together secure employment to over 1000 hands, and steady work is given all the year around. The works of the company are situated at Pottsville, ninety-three miles from Philadelphia, but as a very large proportion of its production is sold in this market, it may properly be called a Philadelphia concern. The offices of the company are at No. 226 South Fourth street, Philadelphia. The two companies which are controlled by the same interest are manufacturers of all classes of iron and steel for buildings,
bridges, and structural work generally, and also manufacture all classes of bridges, and in connection with the Pottsville Bridge Company are contractors for the erection of this work. Among the many prominent buildings in Philadelphia for which it has furnished the material are: The Girard Life Insurance and Trust Company, corner of Broad ami Chestnut streets; the large apartment house of Henry Warden, and part of the iron work required in the floors of the new City Hall. They are at present engaged in building and erecting the west approach to the new Walnut street bridge, which contract covers about 200.000 worth of work. The present president of the Pottsville Iron and Steel Company is William Atkins, son of the late Charles M. Atkins. |
| QUELLE | [Philadelphia and popular Philadelphians (1891) 158] |
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