HISTORICAL. 1 7 



both competent, good men. The character of the work in the foundry has 

 necessitated the employment of a citizen moulder, Mr. Ed. Robinson. With 

 this exception the work is all done with convict labor. We have made and 

 shipped under this contract the columns, pedestals, bases, and caps for the 

 first, second, and third stories of the Capitol building, amounting to 609,860 

 pounds, and are now at work on the fourth story castings. The work so far 

 done is in Austin to show for itself, and has been pronounced excellent by all 

 who have seen it. The contractor and Capitol Commissioners have expressed 

 themselves as well pleased, both with the material and workmanship. 



The castings for the dome will be of a different character of work and more 

 difficult to execute, but I have full confidence in our ability to do it. The 

 margin for profit in this contract is not large, but three objects will be accom- 

 plished: 1. The consumption of the product of the furnace. 2. The em- 

 ployment of a large number of convicts within the walls. 3. The training of 

 a large number of convicts into skilled moulders. In addition to the forego- 

 ing advantages, the display of our work from iron manufactured in the State 

 will be a splendid advertisement, both for the State and our prison industries. 



The Pipe Foundry. — Mr. John Birkinbine, before alluded to, discussed 

 in his report the various industries connected with the manufacture of pig 

 iron which might be carried on with convict labor. He says: "The manu- 

 facture of cast iron water and gas pipe would consume a large quantity of 

 iron, but would use a small amount of labor per pound of metal, and would 

 require more expensive appliances than the manufacture of car wheels; but 

 with the rapid growth of Texas, and the fact that no iron pipe of any amount 

 are made nearer than St. Louis, Mo., or Birmingham, Ala., this specialty 

 would seem worthy of careful consideration, as the contracts made would be 

 with safe parties and in large amounts." 



In the latter part of January last, when on your visit to Rusk, and after 

 thorough discussion of the matter in all its phases, you determined to inau- 

 gurate this as one of the industries for the Rusk Penitentiary, and directed me 

 to proceed and have erected the necessary buildings and appliances for such 

 foundry. 1 placed the work under the entire control of Mr. Barrett, who 

 went to St. Louis to get the necessary information as to details of construc- 

 tion, to enable him to get up the detailed drawings and plans for the work. 

 The work is of considerable magnitude, requiring much labor and material, 

 and as a great deal of this material consists of castings (about five hundred 

 and fifty thousand pounds), which had to be made in our own foundry, it has 

 been somewhat delayed to avoid. conflicting with our Capitol contract. There 

 has been delay, also, in obtaining material from St. Louis, because of the 

 strike. This material has recently arrived and we are rapidly finishing the 

 other castings. The pipe foundry has been placed at the end of the furnace 

 cast house, so that when the furnace is in operation we can use its product to 

 a considerable extent for pipes without remelting, thus saving the cost of 

 coke and the wear and tear of the cupola in remelting. 



We have, however, fitted up cupola and blower, so that the pipe foundry 

 can be operated when the furnace is out of blast. The appliances of this pipe 

 foundry are first class in every particular, and it will be complete and ready 

 for operation in a short time, and will utilize the labor of from thirty of fifty 

 convicts. 



From the number of inquiries constantly made about water pipe, I feel sat- 

 isfied that the capacity of the furnace and foundry will be hardly sufficient to 

 supply the demand.* 



* Reports of the Superintendent and Financial Agent of the Texas State Penitentiaries, for 

 two yea,rs ending October 31, 1886. Austin, 1886, 



