Blast Furnaces.

"And far in the hazy distance Of that lovely night in June, The blaze from the flaming furnace Gleamed redder than the moon." --- Longfellow. At one time the flames of seven blast furnaces in our county lighted the mid-night sky. Just a few rods across the Perry-Hocking line two others poured out their molten mass of the useful metal. The furnaces of Perry County were the first to utilize the raw coal in the production of iron. 119

Baird Furnace, in Mondaycreek, was the pioneer Furnace in this region. Mr. Samuel Baird had charge of the old char-coal furnace at Logan and became thoroughly acquainted with the mineral resources of southern Perry. Mr. Baird purchased quite a tract of land in eastern Mondaycreek, for the purpose of manufacturing iron from the native material. Many experienced iron men thought it a rash undertaking. The site of the furnace was three miles from a rail- road. It would be expensive to get the product of his furnace to market. But Mr. Baird knew "his business." He built the furnace on an entirely new plan. The stack was placed against the hill. The coal was mined a few rods back of it and the track from the mine led to the top of the stack. The na- tive ore was taken from the hills and the Maxville and Zoar limes were used as flux. It was asserted that pig-iron could be manufactured here cheaper than any place in the world. It was doubted. In January, 1876, the American Manufac- turer contained a description of this furnace and the following estimate of the cost of a ton of iron, Two and three-fourths tons of coal, at 50 cents. $1,375, say....................... $1 40 Two and three-fourths tons of ore, at $2.25... 6 00 Three-fourths ton of limestone, at $1.30, or $1.05, say .............................. 1 10 Labor ..................................... 3 00 Repairs .................................... 1 00 Interest and discount. ....................... 50 Total .................................. $13 00 It is said that the iron trade at the time of the building of Baird Furnace was in a depressed state, but the price of stone-coal pig in the markets ranged 120

from $21 to $31 per ton. This still left a large margin for profits. After one year's experience, Mr. Baird further astonished the iron men with another state- ment, as follows: Ore from furnace land......................... $3 85 Ore, if purchased ...................... $6 00 Coal ........................................... 1 60 1 60 Limestone .................................. 1 00 1 00 Labor, repairs and interest......... 4 40 5 40 _____ _____ Totals ................................. $13 00 $11 85 The cost of the furnace was $45,000. After con- structing the road over which the iron was hauled by oxen and counting the cost of construction as current expense, the net profits of the first year's work was $25,000 or 55 per cent of the original cost of the furnace. It is not surprising that other furnaces soon fol- lowed. Gen. Thomas built one at Gore just across the county line. Another one, Winona, was erected a few rods from the Perry line on Little Mondaycreek. Moss and Marshall built the Bessie Furnace near Straitsville. This Furnace is yet running. It produces a peculiar grade of iron which is in great demand. Three Furnaces were built in Shawnee. They were the Fannie, the XX and the New York. The latter is the only one now running. At Moxahala, another was operated until removed to Columbus. Some of these furnaces have been entirely taken away while others are falling into ruins from disuse. The discovery of larger mineral fields and the decline in the price of iron has been the cause of the abandon- ment of the extensive manufacture of iron in our county. 121

Next Chapter