AMERICAN INDUSTRIES SINCE COLUMBUS. 451 



America. He died at Catasauqua 011 June 20, 1882, in his eighty- 

 eighth year. 



Fig. 31 is a view of the first furnace erected at Catasauqua by 

 Mr. Thomas.* This furnace was about forty feet square at the 

 base and forty feet high ; it was twelve feet internal diameter at 

 the " boshes/' and was lined with nine-inch fire-brick brought from 

 Risca, in Wales. The hearth was four feet square. At first the 

 " hot-blast stoves " were on the ground and fired with coal ; they 

 were three in number, and each contained two " bed pipes/' con- 

 nected by ten semicircular " siphon pipes." Each " stove " had a 

 fire-grate at one end, and at the other was a chimney provided 



Fig. 31. Early Anthracite Iron-Furnace at Catasauqua. 



with a damper at its top. The gas escaped freely at the "tunnel- 

 head," and was, of course, wasted. The first blowing machinery 

 comprised a " breast " water-wheel, twenty-five feet long and 

 twelve feet in diameter ; this operated two blowing cylinders five 

 feet in diameter and six feet stroke. At first the pressure of blast 

 was only about a pound and a half, but the following year 

 another water-wheel of the same size was added, after which the 

 pressure of blast was increased to two pounds and a half per 

 square inch. The head and fall of the water-supply was eight 



* Diligent inquiry failed to discover any photograph or engraving of this furnace ; but 

 from some plans and elevations, combined with explanatory information kindly furnished 

 by John Thomas, Esq. Superintendent of the Thomas Iron Works, Hokendauqua, Pa., 

 together with information obtained from Oliver Williams, Esq., President of Catasauqua 

 Manufacturing Company, during a visit to the site of the old furnace, a pen-and-ink draw- 

 ing was made by the writer, from which the above engraving was reduced. It is said to 

 give a very correct idea of the furnace and its surroundings. 



