Some idea of the ordinary business of Reading, may be gathered from the account of trades and pursuits, given in a preceding chapter. But this Borough is of late assuming an importance from its manufactures and public improvements. which demands for these a separate notice.
No manufacturing was done in Reading previous to the year 1836, except in the articles of boots and shoes, hats and stone ware. Since that period the Iron and Nail Works of Messrs. Keim, Whitaker & Co., the Iron & Brass Foundry of Messrs Darling, Taylor & Co., the Locomotive Engine Manufactory and Machine shop of D.H. Dotterer & Co., the Stationary Steam Engine and Rifle Barrel Manufactory of William G. Taylor, the Foundry of Adam Johnston, the Auger Manufactory of Messrs. Rankin & Philips, the Steam Saw Mill and Chopping Mill of Messrs. Ferry and Frill, and three shops for manufacturing Horse Power Thrashing Machines, Corn Shellers, Patent Ploughs, Revolving Hay Rakes, Cultivators, &c., have been established.
There are also two Flour Mills in the borough. The extensive flouring Mill occupied by Mr. George Smith, is a large brick building, four stories high. It has four pair of stones, and manufactures 8,000 barrels of flour a year.
The following description of some of the principal Iron Works have been obligingly furnished me.
The "Reading Nail and Iron Works," owned by Messrs. Keim, Whitaker & Co., are situated in the southern part of the borough, near the base of the Neversink Mountain, and between the river Schuylkill and the Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road.
"The Rolling Mill is a heavy frame building, 130 by 166 feet, having seven reverberatory furnaces; four of which are for puddling, and three for heating iron. It is divided into three divisions or mills, viz: One for rolling large bar iron, round, square and flat, and also nail plates and band iron. One for puddled iron, which is also fitted for sheet and boiler iron, and one for small round, square, and scroll iron.
"The Puddle Mill also has a squeezer attached, for forming the balls or loops coming from the furnace, into a convenient shape for entering the large rolls. There are also five pair of shears for different purposes, some of which are sufficiently strong to cut billets of iron of two inches square with ease. "Immediately adjoining the Rolling Mill, and connected therewith, in the nail factory—a substantial and massive brick building, 75 by 50 feet, 2 stories high, having on its principal floor thirty machines for cutting nails: say from 2d up to seven inch spikes. The basement story contains the drums and belts that drive the machinery above, and also the grind-stone, and is used as a store-house for nails, of which it is capable of storing several thousand kegs.
"The whole of the machinery is driven by a steam engine of 180 horse power—high pressure—built in 1835, by McClurg, Wade & Co. of Pittsburgh.
"This establishment employs about one hundred hands—consumes annually from 80 to 90 thousand bushels of bituminous, and upwards of two thousand tons of Anthracite Coal,—and turns out daily from 5 to 6 tons of nails, and ten tons of merchant iron ready for market.
"Besides the principal building already mentioned, there are several others in the immediate vicinity, and belonging to the concern—viz, a blacksmith shop with two fires; a cooper shop, where from 8 to 10 coopers are constantly employed in making nail-kegs—also a counting-house, store-houses for iron, tool-houses, &c. &c.
"The Locomotive and Steam Engine Manufactory, of D.H. Dotterer &c Co., is situated immediately on the Canal, and a short distance above the Lancaster Bridge. The Machine Shop is a brick building, 145 by 32 feet, one half of which is 3 stories high. The Smith Shop and Engine House is 95 by 24 feet, and one and a half stories high. The Stationary Engine of this establishment is of 15 horse power, and used for propelling the machinery, and blowing cylinders for the Foundry of Messrs. Darling, Taylor & Co. D.H. Dotterer & Co. have built, in the last year, 6 first class Locomotive Engines, and re-built 3. In the same time they have built 3 Stationary Engines, besides doing the work of a general machine shop. The buildings and machinery are sufficient to turn out 12 first class Locomotives a year, along with the other work. This establishment has been in successful operation about three years; and the average number of hands employed is 30 journeymen and 16 apprentices.
"Adjoining the above establishment is the Iron and Brass Foundry of Darling, Taylor & Co. The Iron Foundry is a brick building, 90 by 45 feet, and one story high, with a steeple and bell. Bellows and Cupola House, 70 by 30 feet, part of which is two stories high. Connected with the Foundry is an Air Furnace of the largest class; building, 20 by 30 feet, and a Cupola of the largest class, the air for which is supplied by a pair of Iron Blowing Cylinders, constructed upon the most improved plan. The above establishment is calculated to make castings of all dimensions.—Also, Forge Hammers, Anvils, &c. The number of hands employed is 16. The Brass Foundry and Smith Shop, is 100 by 25 feet, one and a half stories high, of brick. The Brass department is calculated to cast Brasses of every description, and bells of all sizes equal in point of tone, to any cast in the U. States. The other part of the building is occupied by two forge fires for the use of Foundry and Thrashing Machine shop, 50 by 30 feet, and 2 stories high; in which are built Horse Power and Thrashing Machines of the most improved construction, and all kinds of agricultural implements.—Number of hands employed—5 journeymen; and have manufactured for sale from 75 to 100 Machines the past season.
The above Foundry has been in operation about five years."
The Reading Stationary Steam Engine Manufactory of W.G. Taylor, is situated on Water, near Penn street.
These works employ a large number of hands, and do a large and extensive business. They have constructed a great number of Engines of various power, which have uniformly proved of excellent quality. Boilers for locomotive and other engines are made here; and also Mill Gearing, Lathes, Drills, and a variety of other machinery. Connected with this establishment is a Rifle Barrel Manufactory, which turns out over 3000 barrels annually.
The New Foundry of Mr. Adam Johnston, was put in operation during the last year, and is situated at the corner of Chestnut and Eighth streets. The building is of brick, 25 by 59 feet, and at present employs eight hands. The Machine Shop is 26 by 36 feet. From the experience of Mr. Johnston, in the business, and his well known skill as a practical moulder, there is little doubt that this new establishment will thrive and prosper in business, and prove a valuable acquisition to the borough.
The extent to which manufactures have grown up in Reading within the last four or five years, and their success thus far, add confidence to the opinion, now pretty generally entertained, that this town possesses no ordinary advantages for manufacturing operations. As yet they are confined principally to some branch of the iron business; but wollen and other factories will probably soon be established. The borough already feels the benefits of this new interest, in the increase of population and business which it has brought to the place; and it is pretty certain, that if Reading is destined to increase greatly in size or importance, it must be by the improvement of its natural advantages, and becoming an extensive manufacturing town.
The Schuylkill Canal commences at Port Carbon, in the coal region—passes through Reading, and terminates in Philadelphia. It is 108 miles long, with 117 lift locks, overcoming a fall of 610 feet.
The Union Canal commences at Middletown, on the Susquehanna—enters the Schuylkill at Reading, near the foot of Penn street, and continues in and along the river for about two miles below Reading, where it forms a junction with the Schuylkill Canal.
These canals are of the highest importance to Reading—the one affording a cheap and safe mode of transportation to Philadelphia and Pottsville, and the other connecting with the Pennsylvania Canal, at Middletown, opens a direct line of transportation to Pittsburg, and the far West.—The business furnished by them gives employment to a large number of our citizens; and the various improvements of bridges and buildings erected along and upon them, adds much to the appearance of that part of the borough through which they pass. The buildings belonging to the Schuylkill Canal Company, occupied by Mr. Samuel Griscom, are very elegant, and the large and beautiful gardens attached to them, are probably unequalled by any in the borough.
The Philadelphia and Reading Rail Road has been for some time in operation between Reading and Philadelphia, a distance of 58 miles. It is being continued on to Pottsville, and is nearly completed, and will shortly be in operation, as far as Port Clinton, where it intersects with the Little Schuylkill Coal Company's Rail Road to their coal mines. From Pottsville to Philadelphia there will be no ascending grade, but a descent of nineteen inches to the mile. An extensive and elegant Depot is erected at Reading. A fine specimen of art is exhibited in a cut, twenty-two and a half feet deep, for the passage of the Rail-road through the town, with five substantial bridges crossing the same. This cut was worked through in 1839, by Messrs. Graul and Henry, by whom also the Depot was erected in 1836.
Abstract of the business done on the above Rail Road, during the year ending December 31, 1840.
| Whole number of passengers transported on the Road | 60,516 |
| Equal to 33,225 over the whole length of the road. Whole amount of freight, including 38,385 bbls. flour | 16,850 tons |
| Total receipts of freight and passengers | $100,764 62 |
The Reading Water Company, first brought water into the borough, in 1822. Since that time, their works have been greatly improved and enlarged, The town is supplied with an excellent spring of water, led into a reservoir near the head of Penn street, from whence it is carried through the various streets, by means of iron pipe, an aggregate distance of between two or three miles, for the several sections of the inhabitants. This water is furnished to upwards of five hundred families: There are eighteen fire plugs, located at the most convenient points; and a large reservoir has been lately made, and is kept constantly filled, as a resource in case of fire. The expenses of the Water Company from the commencement of works up to April 1840, were $25,000; and the average net income from the water rents amounts to $1,600 per annum.
The reader—if he has diligently read all that goes before—is no doubt satisfied that Reading possesses great advantages in a business point of view, and is, in verity, a thrifty, business-doing town. But have you no provision for pleasant relaxation for those whom business has made weary?—methinks I hear him ask,—perhaps growing a little weary himself:—no inviting retreat for health and spirit restoring recreation and amusement? We have—a variety of such;—places adapted to the case not only of persons who are weary with much business, but of such also as are weary with none.
The Nursery, which has been noticed in another place, is one of the most charming resorts that taste and ingenuity could devise, for the comfort of those oppressed with the toil and heat of the Town. Here is realised all that the imagination is accustomed to picture as delightful in rural scenery.
Those who take delight in clambering over hills, and breathing the fresh mountain air, have the Neversink and Penn's Mount, with their winding and shady paths bordered with flowers, inviting them to this invigorating and wholesome enjoyment, and opening to their view a variety of scenery, rarely equaled in richness or beauty.
But the most common resort of our citizens for recreation and amusement, is the Mineral Spring. The water of the fountain which has given its name to the place, is not the principal object of attraction, nor is it made much account of at present, though said to possess excellent mineral qualities, and may, it is not unlikely, before many years, take its rank among the fashionable watering places of the country.—This romantic spot is situated about two miles to the east of the town. It is a narrow valley or ravine between high and steep hills, through which runs a fine stream of water. It is so completely hedged about with mountains, and well shaded with original forest trees, as to be almost entirely screened from the influence of the sun, and is ten or fifteen degrees cooler in summer than the open country around. The Hotel, and various works designed for the comfort and entertainment of visitors, are kept in excellent repair; and under the supervision of the present proprietor, Mr. John Coleman, present no ordinary attractions.
Submitted by: Nancy.
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