228 THE BOTANISTS OF PHILADELPHIA. 



His first efforts were along the lines of his greatest 

 future usefulness. He was attached to an engineer corps 

 which had in hand the survey and construction of a 

 railroad from Blossburg, Tioga County, Pennsylvania, to 

 Corning, New York. This is the present Tioga Railroad. 

 The character of the service which young Smith rendered 

 in the construction of the road, and the impression upon 

 others which his faithfulness and signal abilities made, are 

 shown by the fact that upon its completion he was appointed 

 Superintendent of the new line. Later on, this supervision 

 was extended over the Blossburg coal mines as well. 



Mr. Smith returned to Philadelphia in 1844, and very 

 soon thereafter entered into business on his own account. He 

 built the Fairmount Rolling-mill in 1846, but the repeal of 

 the tariff that same year made it unprofitable. He sold 

 out his interest to his partners, and soon thereafter became 

 manager of the extensive Rensselaer Iron Works, at Troy, 

 New York. These works were the first in the Empire State 

 to engage in the construction of railroad iron. 



Mr. Smith presently became the chief organizer of the 

 most famous coalition ever created in the iron industries. 

 In December, 1849, a convention of the iron manufacturers 

 of Pennsylvania was held in the City of Philadelphia. The 

 object was to co-operate in an effort to secure a re-enactment 

 of the tariff of 1842, which had protected their interests and 

 was necessary for their future prosperit}^ But it was found 

 at the convention that they were all strangers to one 

 another. Some preliminary acquaintance must be secured. 

 In this dilemma Mr. Smith volunteered to canvass the entire 

 State of Pennsylvania and to present a report of his trip. 

 The report drawn up by Mr. Smith was presented and 



