NP, RE 9-4-60

NP, RE 9/4/1860

From the Richmond Enquirer

September 4, 1860

Southern Manufacturers

At the present day, when our whole country is in a state of political excitement, and disunion has almost become a by-word, it would seem to be the dictate of prudence, as well as patriotism, to direct the public mind to the encouragement of our own industrial pursuits, and disabuse it of the erroneous and fatal assumption, that the South is helpless, and, of necessity must depend upon the North for most of its requirements in the mechanic arts.

So far as our iron manufactures are concerned, we are proud to say, that we occupy a ground which renders us independent of all foreign or hostile competition; and it will be a source of gratification to every one who feels an interest in the prosperity of our city, ad the rapid development of our industrial resources, to know that here, in our midst, we can boast of an establishment of which not only Virginia, but the whole South, should be justly proud -- we mean the

Tredegar Iron Works

Conducted by Messrs, J. R. Anderson & Co.; and we propose, in this article, to give a running sketch of what a visit to these extensive works exhibits.

A pleasant walk on the canal bank, to the Armory grounds, brings us to the first

Rolling Mill

Here we find furnaces for melting and converting pig iron, and ponderous machinery for rolling it into the various forms of merchant and railroad bars, railroad axles, bridge bolts and railroad chairs; enormous machines that punch an inch hole trough an inch bar; lathes for turning axles; screw-cutters, for cutting nuts and bridge bolts, and machines for making every kind of railroad chair.

Our attention was particularly directed to the ingenious machinery, recently invented by one of their operatives, a most skilful workman, for rolling and straightening the continuous lip-chair and the new rail-splice, forming a continuous rail, and successfully introduced in the Island of Cuba. The principle on which the splice is made is entirely new as the depth required in the groove, to receive the web of the rail, could not be attained by any mode of rolling hitherto adopted.

A few yards farther on we come to the second Rolling Mill, where all the various denominations of large and small iron are made. Here the rods for making spikes are rolled; and attached to this mill is the new and extensive

Spike Factory,

Eighty-one feet long, by fifty wide, and four stories high, where the rods are fashioned into spikes of every form and size. A visit to this department would alone repay the curious for his trouble. You see here three gigantic machines turning out railroad spikes at the rate of one per second each, and from twenty to twenty-five tons per day; these falling into the basement story are carefully inspected, packed up in kegs, neatly marked and stored away ready for shipment.

In another part of this building is the

Cooper Shop,

Worked entirely by negro boys, under the supervision of an experienced foreman, and on another floor are various machines for cutting Nuts, and Bridge Bolts.

Passing through the South gate of the Rolling Mill, you come to the

Foundry Buildings

The capacity of this department has been much increased within the last year. The first building is for very heavy work, and they are at this time casting heavy Navy Guns, and Water Pipes, two feet in diameter, for the city.

The next building is for general castings, such as railroad, bridge and engine work, and the third is exclusively for railroad

Car Wheels,

Of which they manufacture both single and double plate. Near the Iron Foundry is the

Brass Foundry,

Where all the castings for Locomotives and other engines are made.

Leaving the Foundry we come next to the

First Machine Shop

Here we find a new and powerful Hydraulic Press, for forcing the car wheel on the axle, with an indicator to show the exact power required to effect it. Near it turns a horizontal, self-adjusting boring mill, for boring out the eye of the wheel. On the other side lathes, for turning axles, and one 50 feet long for turning long and heavy shafting and wheels. Lower down in this shop you come to the

Gun Mill,

for boring cannon, and the powerful lathes and planers for turning and finishing them off. The reputation of the guns made here is unrivalled by that of any made in this country of Europe, as the records and certificates in the Tredegar Office will show.

Locomotive Shop

This building is three stories high, 150 feet long and 45 feet wide, and has attached to it a setting up shop, 140 by 60 feet, and a carpenters' shop for the wood work of cars, saw mills, &c.

In this shop all the nicer and more delicate work for locomotive, marine, stationary, portable and hoisting engines, saw-mills, sugar-mills, &c., is executed. Several highly finished locomotives are now being constructed, and will shortly be running on our Southern roads; a splendid engine and saw-mill, with two saws, one working about the other, is now being boxed up ready for shipment to Cuba -- with which Island, we understand, the proprietors have already inaugurated an extensive and profitable trade. In this department many new and improved tools have been recently introduced, and many more of entirely differently character will in a short time be erected, for executing the large and important contract made with the State for putting

The Armory

in condition, to run out 5,000 rifled muskets per annum.

In front, and on the line of the river, stands the

Boiler Shop,

one hundred and sixty feet long A lively scene awaits the visitor here; but unless his ears are proof against the most stunning and distracting sounds, he had better keep clear of it.

In this shop the enormous boilers of the United States frigates Roanoke and Colorado were built.

Adjoining the Boiler Shop and on the same line we find the

Blacksmith Shop.

This building is 180 feet long, and is furnished with twenty-five fires, a large Nesmith steam hammer, besides smaller tilt-hammers. The greater part of this shop has been appropriated for a year of more past to the forging car and truck work for Southern roads -- for which articles the proprietors have received the most liberal encouragement. Adjoining this building, there is now in the process of erection a

Cast Steel Foundry,

with trip-hammers and machinery for manufacturing the various kinds of steel, under the superintendence of a Southerner who has been many years engaged in the business. It opens a new and interesting field to Southern enterprise.

Blacksmith Shop.

This building is 180 feet long, and is furnished with twenty-five fires, a large Nesmith steam hammer, besides smaller tilt-hammers. The greater part of this shop has been appropriated for a year or more past to the forging car and truck work for Southern roads -- for which articles the proprietors have received the most liberal encouragement. Adjoining this building, there is now in the process of erection a

Cast Steel Foundry,

We have thus, in as concise a way as our limits and information would allow, given a hurried and imperfect description of these truly magnificent works. There are thousands in our own vicinity who have no idea that such an establishment as the Tredegar Works exists, and who would be amazed at viewing the multifarious and varied operations carried on there; for we believe there is no establishment within the broad limits of the United States where such a variety of work is executed. To the enterprising and energetic proprietors the State and the whole South owe a debt of gratitude, which we cannot doubt they will amply repay by a liberal patronage, and thus keep at home the money which they have heretofore so freely lavished upon Northern establishments hostile to our institutions, and whose unceasing efforts have for years past been directed to break down every attempt to introduce the mechanic arts in the South. That the work turned out from the Tredegar shops will compare favorably with that from the best Northern establishments, there is abundant evidence to show. Why should it be otherwise, when the best skill in the country is at their command to insure its quality, and their machinery is operated by the cheapest of all powers, water, from our never failing canal?