| From the Richmond Enquirer |
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| October 1, 1861 |
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| The Mechanical and Industrial Resources of
Richmond |
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| Under this caption we design
giving such occasional statistical information respecting the extent,
resources and progress of the industrial interests of our city, as shall
demonstrate at a glance the rapidly increasing importance of Richmond as
a manufacturing place and the entire ability of our mechanic, and
businessmen generally, to assert with ease and profit their entire
independence of Yankee capital, and of Yankee enterprise. As a matter of
justice to long established success, we devote this initial sketch to
the Richmond Tredegar Iron Works of Messrs. Joseph R. Anderson & Co.,
situated at the James River. For a very interesting visit to these
extensive works, on Wednesday, and a detailed explanation of its
operations, we rest under obligations to the courtesy of Mr. Edward R.
Archer, its Assistant Superintendent. |
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| The Tredegar Iron Works |
| This vast and magnificent
establishment, the resources and the important services of which must
constitute a prominent chapter in the future history of Southern
independence, has long enjoyed a very wide spread and honorable
celebrity, not only as the most extensive of its character in America,
but on the score also of the superior and admirable quality of the work
which has issued from it. Established many years ago, and at a period
when the mechanical and industrial inferiority of the businessmen of the
South to those of the North, seems to have been generally conceded even
by Southern writers, the Tredegar works, under the well directed skill
and quiet enterprise of its proprietors, generally extended its
operations, and developed its resources to a degree which brought it
into direct competition with the best establishments of a similar class
in the North, when its superior excellence in many, if not all the
branches of iron manufacture, extorted an unequivocal recognition from
the Government of the United States, which awarded to Messrs. Anderson &
Co., construction of the engines of the first class steam frigates
Roanoke and Colorado, and the manufacture of a very considerable
quantity of cannon and ordnance, and projectiles of all kinds. |
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| Very few intelligent Southern
readers need to be reminded, we imagine, that the manufacture of
locomotives, the Tredegar Works stand second to none on this continent.
The fact is amply demonstrated by the popularity of the admirable
engines of the Tredegar stamp upon the Southern roads, and even upon
those of Cuba, which are extensively furnished with them we believe. But
even the most intelligent Southern ___ may well be surprised at the
variety of delicate and complicated machinery and steel ware,
manufacture by Messrs. Anderson & Co.; and only by a walk through their
establishment the work of hours by the way can a just idea of its actual
operations be obtained. The list of manufactures when the Works are
capable under ordinary circumstances of turning out, includes, in
addition to locomotives and every description of iron work connected
with the construction of railroads, sugar and saw mills &c., planing
machines, ship spikes, chains iron and brass castings, portable and
stationary steam engines, machinery for plantation purposes circular saw
plates, carriage axles, and tool and machinery steel of every shape and
size. To the manufacture of cast steel especial attention has been
given; sine steel furnaces with proper machinery, are employed in this
department, and the work turned out is confidently claimed to be fully
equal to the best English brands for tenacity, soundness and uniformity
of temper. |
| The amount of machinery,
forges, mills, &c., required in the various department of the Tredegar
Works are of course enormous, and would require, in their hurried
description even, more technical knowledge than we could summon up, and
far more space than the demands of the public will enable us to give.
There are in all about fifteen shops, each one of which is employed in a
distinct branch of the general manufacturing business of the firm. These
comprise: The Rolling Mill with furnaces for melting and puddling iron,
and pondrous machinery for rolling it into the several requisite forms
of merchantable iron; Spike Factory, for the manufacture of ship and
rail road spikes, about thirty tons of which can be made in the course
of one day; Cooper Shop; the Foundry, where all the castings are
made: this department is in three divisions, the first of which is
devoted t heavy castings, inclusive of gins, &c., the second to rail
road, engines, and other ___ machinery and the third rail ___ there is
now being in the 6___ casting a peculiar mould, the name and object of
which it would not be judicious to disclose, being for Government
purposes, which will require about three weeks for its entire casting,
and will, when completed, weigh upwards of 17,000 pounds; Car Wheels;
Brass Foundry, where the brass castings of locomotives, &c., are made.
The First Machine Shop, where car wheels and cannon are bored, turned
and rifled. In this shop is an immense Hydralic press for forcing the
car wheel on the axle, and which possesses a power of compression equal
to two hundred tons; locomotive shop in which locomotives, mills,
engines, and the more delicate machinery generally are all made. The
armory, designed for the manufacture of rifled muskets, but not in
operation; Carpenter shop; Boiler shop; Pattern shop; Cast steel
foundry; wheel and Mill-wright shop; and Blacksmith shop. In the latter
building, which is 180 feet long, and well supplied with trip hammers
for light work, and every requisite appliance, forty forges are kept
constantly employed. The Laboratory, where shells and grape shot are
filled, and other projectiles prepared, is a separate department called
into existence by the exigencies of the times. |
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