A SEARCH FOR IDEAS
Later on the Harrises spent considerable time in London staying at the
Grand Hotel which occupies the site of the old Northumberland House on
Trafalgar Square. They soon learned that the English matrons are devoted
mothers, that they take long walks, dress their children simply, and that
their daughters have fair complexions, are modest in manner, and are the
pictures of health.
Many of the English women find time to study national questions, to
organize "Primrose" and "Liberal Leagues," and to vote on municipal
affairs. Miss Helen Taylor and other cultivated women have been elected
members of the London school board, and aided in temperance reform.
While Alfonso, Leo, Lucille, and May were absent studying the artistic
life of the metropolis, Mr. and Mrs. Harris, Gertrude, and George spent
most of the day planning for the future. Reuben Harris and his wife had
repeatedly talked over the Harrisville affair, and their trips in London
where so many generations had lived and passed away had given both
clearer ideas of life.
"At best," thought the colonel, "life seems short indeed." More than once
he admitted to his wife that his early privations had made his life in
Harrisville selfish and inconsiderate, that the questions of higher
civilization were involved in the vigorous efforts of humanity for a
closer brotherhood, and that if God permitted him he would lend a helping
hand.
Mrs. Harris, naturally proud, was slow to respond to the colonel's new
ideas, but he felt that under Gertrude's generous influences his wife
would prove a help rather than a hindrance. Mrs. Harris knew that
Gertrude and George, who had received a broad education, were ambitious
to do good, and besides she trusted and loved them both.
It was clear to George and Gertrude that little or no hindrance would be
offered to wise plans of usefulness. It was finally agreed that Colonel
Harris and George should spend a week or two visiting some of the great
industrial centers of Europe, and that Alfonso and Leo should accompany
the ladies to Paris, and then visit the haunts of the old portrait
painters of the Netherlands.
It was also decided by George and Gertrude that they would be married in
Paris. This made the two lovers happy; for soon the two diamonds and ruby
would be advanced to the ring finger, as promised by Gertrude on Mt.
Holyoke. Each felt that an inexpensive marriage in Paris would be a
fortunate escape from possible criticisms at home. Colonel Harris had
promised Gertrude a special gift of a thousand dollars for the
approaching nuptials, she to do what she desired with the money. So she
decided to use only one-fourth of the gift for herself, to send one-half
of it to the Relief Society, and the balance to two ladies' benevolent
societies of Harrisville.
The discussion of these plans made the last night in London a happy one.
Happiness comes when we warm the hearts near us. When selfishness leaves
the heart, the dove of peace enters. Early next morning at the Victoria
Station, Colonel Harris and George saw their friends off for Paris. The
route taken was the one via the London, Chatham & Dover Railway, an
hour's run to Dover, thence in the twin steamer "Calais-Dover," an hour
and a half's ride across the English Channel to Calais, and from Calais
via railway to Paris, capital of the French Republic.
Then Reuben Harris and George Ingram left Victoria Station to pay their
respects to Henry Bessemer, civil engineer, who lived at Denmark Hill
south of London. They desired to study the conditions which make the
British people powerful. Both were aware that England was richly stored
with the most serviceable of all minerals, coal and iron, in convenient
proximity; that her large flocks of sheep supplied both wool and leather;
that Ireland had been encouraged in the cultivation of flax; that the
convenience of intercourse between mother country and her neighbors,
especially America, had enabled England to engage largely in the
manufacture of the three textile staples, wool, flax, and cotton. But
material resources are only one element in great industrial successes.
Both labor and capital are equally essential.
Englishmen have strength and skill. In delicate and artistic
manipulation, however, the Englishman may be surpassed, but he possesses
in a rare degree great capacity for physical application to work, also
tremendous mental energy and perseverance. Most of the world's valuable
and great inventions, as successfully applied to the leading industries,
were made by the English.
Though England has neither gold nor silver mines, yet for centuries she
has commanded vast capital. Her trading enterprise, which has made the
Englishman conspicuous round the world, existed long before the Norman
conquest. Helpful and consistent legislation has also favored British
industries. Besides, England enjoyed a good start in the race with
foreigners. Surplus English capital of late has been employed in
promoting foreign industry, and the interests of England as a rival
may suffer.
Reaching the station at Denmark Hill, the colonel and George drove at
once to Bessemer's home. It is doubtful if England has forty acres, owned
by a private citizen, more tastefully laid out and adorned, with forests,
lawns, and flowers.
Henry Bessemer was tall and well formed, and looked the ideal Englishman,
as he gave cordial welcome, in his large drawing room, to Colonel Harris
and George Ingram. Evidences of his constructive skill and exquisite
taste were seen on every hand, notably in his billiard room,
conservatory, and astronomical observatory. The last contained a
reflector telescope of his own design, that rivals the world-famed
telescope of Lord Rosse. Both were soon charmed with Bessemer's manners
and conversation.
George had read of this wonderful man who was born in 1813; between 1838
and 1875 he had taken out 113 patents, and the drawings of his own work
made seven thick volumes. This record of Bessemer indicates an almost
unrivalled degree of mental activity and versatility as keen observer,
original thinker, and clever inventor.
His drawings showed patents in connection with improvements in engines,
cars, wheels, axles, tires, brakes, and rails. Fifteen patents for
improvements in sugar manufacture, patents for motors and hydraulic
apparatus, for the manufacture of iron and steel, the shaping, embossing,
shearing, and cutting of metals, for marine artillery, ordnance,
projectiles, ammunition, armor plates, screw propellers, anchors,
silvering glass, casting of type, patents for bronze powder, gold paint,
oils, varnishes, asphalt pavements, waterproof fabrics, lenses, etc.
Mr. Bessemer's greatest invention, announced to the British Association
at Cheltenham, in 1856, is his method of the manufacture of iron and
steel without fuel, which started a new era in the iron trade. His name
will be forever associated with the rapid conversion of pig iron into
malleable iron and steel. By this process the price of steel per ton has
been reduced from $160 to $25, a price less than was formerly paid for
iron. Mr. Bessemer received the Telford and Albert gold medals and honors
from sovereigns and societies round the world.
George said to Mr. Bessemer that he thought Lord Palmerston's definition,
"dirt was matter out of place," was especially applicable to the
undesirable elements in ores.
"Very true," replied Mr. Bessemer, "and the man who can clean the dirt
from our ores, and produce the most desirable steel, at the least cost,
is a great benefactor of humanity."
Mr. Bessemer's own story of his most important invention was very
interesting. Practical iron men had said that it was an impossible feat
to convert molten pig iron in a few minutes into fluid malleable iron,
and then into available steel, and all this without additional fuel. But
the genius and perseverance of Mr. Bessemer, aided by his practical
knowledge of chemistry and mechanics, did it. It had long been known
that, if a horseshoe nail were tied to a cord and the point heated to
whiteness, the iron nail could be made to burn in common air by being
whirled in a circle. The ring of sparks proved a combustion. Mr. Bessemer
was the first however to show that if air was forced, not upon the
surface, but into and amongst the particles of molten iron, the same
sort of combustion took place.
Pig iron, which is highly carbonized iron from the blast furnace, was
laboriously converted into malleable iron by the old process of the
puddling furnace. Bessemer conceived the process of forcing air among the
particles of molten iron, and by a single operation, combining the use of
air in the double purpose of increasing temperature, and removing the
carbon. The carbon of the iron has a greater affinity for the oxygen of
the air than for the iron. When all the carbon is removed, then exactly
enough carbon is added by introducing molten spiegeleisen to produce
steel of any desired temper with the utmost certainty.
With the ordinary kinds of pig iron early in use, Bessemer's process
was powerless. The old puddling process was more capable of removing
phosphorus and sulphur. But with pig iron produced from the red hematite
ores, practically free from phosphorus, Bessemer's process was a
surprising success.
At once exploration began to open vast fields of hematite ores in the
counties of Cumberland and Lancashire of England, in Spain, in the Lake
Superior regions of North America, and in other countries. Bessemer
wisely made his royalty very low, five dollars per ton; capital rapidly
flowed into this new industry, and Bessemer won a fortune. Mushroom towns
and cities sprung up everywhere and fortunes were made by many.
Mr. Bessemer himself vividly described his process in action: "When the
molten pig iron is poured into mortar-like converters, supported on
trunions like a cannon, the process is brought into full activity. The
blast is admitted through holes in the bottom, when small powerful jets
of air spring upward through the boiling fluid mass, and the whole
apparatus trembles violently. Suddenly a volcano-like eruption of flames
and red-hot cinders or sparks occurs. The roaring flames, rushing from
the mouth of the converter, changes its violet color to orange and
finally to pure white. The large sparks change to hissing points, which
gradually become specks of soft, bluish light as the state of malleable
iron is approached."
This very brilliant process, which includes the introduction and mixture
of the spiegeleisen, may occupy fifteen minutes, when the moulds are
filled, and the steel ingots can be hammered or rolled the same as blooms
from a puddling furnace.
Mr. Bessemer explained many things, and offered many valuable
suggestions. A remark of Mr. Bessemer to George Ingram led the latter
to tell Bessemer a story which he heard in the smoking-room of the S.S.
"Campania."
"Two Irishmen once tried to sleep, but could not for Jersey mosquitoes
had entered their bedroom. Earnest effort drove the mosquitoes out, and
the light was again extinguished. Soon Mike saw a luminous insect, a big
fire-fly approaching. Quickly he roused his companion saying, 'Pat, wake
up! Quick! Let's be going! It's no use trying to get more sleep here,
there comes another Jersey mosquito hunting us with a lantern.'"
Mr. Bessemer was amused, and he ventured the assertion that when
electricity could be as cheaply produced directly from coal as the light
by the fire-fly, and successfully delivered in our great cities, the
smoke nuisance would be effectually abated, all freight charges on coal
would be saved, and coal operators could utilize all their slack at the
mines.
"Do you think this possible?" inquired Colonel Harris.
"Oh, yes, quite possible," answered Bessemer, "our necessities beget our
inventions and discoveries. Thorough investigation in the near future on
this and kindred lines must be fruitful of astonishing results in the
interests of a higher civilization." The colonel and George took their
leave. Truly the fire-fly, like the whirling hot nail, is suggestive of
great possibilities, thought George.
That evening it was planned to visit on the morrow the extensive
telegraphic works of Siemens Brothers & Co., Limited. George retired to
sleep, but his mind was never more active. On warm summer evenings he had
often held in his hand glow-worms and studied them as they emitted bright
phosphorescent light. He had learned that this faculty was confined to
the female which has no wings, and that the light is supposed to serve
as a beacon to attract and guide the male. The light proceeds from the
abdomen, and its intensity seems to vary at will. He had also read of
a winged, luminous insect of South America, which emits very brilliant
light from various parts of its body.
When George reflected that under even the most favorable conditions there
was realized in mechanical work of the energy stored in coal only 10%, he
was convinced that the extravagant waste of 90% of energy was in itself
sufficient argument against the present method as being the best
possible. Ever since his graduation, he had believed that the greatest of
all technical problems was the production of cheaper power. That it was
the great desideratum in cities in the production of food, and in food
transportation from farms to trunk lines, on railways and on the ocean.
While in America he had discussed the matter of cheaper power with
Edison, Thompson, Tesla, and others.
George and his father, James Ingram, experimenting with chemical energy,
had already discovered a galvanic element which enabled them to furnish
electrical energy direct from coal and the oxygen of the air, but this
important discovery was kept a secret. The chief object of George
Ingram's visit abroad was to follow the footsteps of other great
scientists and manufacturers to the edge or frontier of their discoveries
and practical workings.
It was two o'clock that night before George could close his eyes, but
promptly at 6:30 o'clock next morning he was ready for his bath and
shave, and later he and the colonel ate the usual European breakfast
of eggs, rolls, and coffee. The eight o'clock train was taken for the
great works of Siemens Brothers & Co., Limited, which are located at
Woolwich, down the Thames.
This firm, the pioneers of ship lighting by electricity, has already
fitted out hundreds of vessels with electric lights. They also
manufacture submarine and land telegraphs in vast quantities, having
aided largely in enclosing the globe in a network of cables. All the
Siemens brothers have shown much ability. Charles William was born at
Lenthe, Hanover, in 1823, and has received high scientific honors. The
world recognizes the valuable services that Dr. Siemens has rendered to
the iron and steel trade by his important investigations and inventions.
Dr. Siemens, like Mr. Bessemer, labored to make iron and steel direct
from the ores. By the invention of his regenerative gas furnace, which
makes the high grade and uniform steel so desirable in the construction
of ships, boilers, and all kinds of machines, Dr. Siemens has rendered
signal service. This visit at Siemens Brothers & Co.'s works was of great
interest, and many valuable ideas were gained.
Several days were next spent in Birmingham, and at the centers of steel
making in northwest England. Birmingham is called the "Toy Shop of the
World" for there almost everything is manufactured from a cambric needle
to a cannon.
Colonel Harris and George Ingram studied the workings of the English
"Saturday half-holiday," which employees earn by working an extra
half-hour on the five previous days. A visit was made to the Tangye Bros.
Engine Works at Soho, near Birmingham, which absorbed the engine works of
Boulton and Watt. It was Boulton who said to Lord Palmerston visiting
Soho, "Sir, we have here for sale what subjects of his Majesty most
seek, viz., Power."
The Tangyes employ thousands of men, manufacturing engines and other
products. Steam engines of all sizes, in enormous quantities are stored,
ready at a moment's notice to be shipped broadcast. It was the invention
of the powerful Tangye jack-screw that finally enabled the famous
engineer Brunel to launch his "Great Eastern" steamship which he had
built on the Thames, and which had settled on her keel.
Today the Tangye Brothers are fond of saying, "We launched the 'Great
Eastern,' and the 'Great Eastern' launched us." One of the Tangye
Brothers took the two Americans through James Watt's old home, and into
his famous garret, where Watt invented the parallel motion and other
parts of the steam engine. So important were Watt's engine inventions
that he alone should have the honor of inventing the modern engine which
has so elevated the race.
George was greatly interested in what the Tangye Brothers were doing for
their employees. Instructive lectures by capable men were given weekly to
their workmen, while they ate their dinners. Medical aid was furnished
free, and in many ways practical assistance was rendered their working
force.
After a most interesting journey among the steel firms, including Bocklow
& Vaughn of Middleborough, John Brown at Sheffield, and others, Reuben
Harris and George crossed over into busy Belgium, and thence they
journeyed via historic Cologne to Westphalia, Germany. Here are some of
the most productive coal measures on the earth, which extend eastward
from the Rhine for over thirty miles, and here one wonders at the dense
network of railways and manufacturing establishments, unparalleled in
Germany.
At Essen are the far-famed Krupp Works, one of the greatest manufacturing
firms on the globe. These works are the outgrowth of a small old forge,
driven by water power, and established in 1810 by Frederick Krupp. His
short life was a hard struggle, but he discovered the secret of making
cast-steel, and died in 1828. Before his death, however, he revealed his
valuable secret to his son Alfred, then only 14 years of age. After many
years of severe application, Alfred Krupp's first great triumph came in
1851 at the London World's Fair, where he received the highest medal. At
the Paris Exposition of 1855, as well as at Munich the year before, he
also won gold medals.
Abundant orders now flowed in for his breech-loading, cast-steel cannons.
In severe tests which followed, the famous Woolwich guns were driven from
the field. The Krupp guns won great victories over the French cannon at
Sedan, which was an artillery duel. At Gravelotte and Metz the Krupp guns
surpassed all others in range, accuracy, and penetrating power, and Herr
Alfred Krupp became the "Cannon King" of Europe. Americans remember well
his gigantic steel breech-loading guns at the expositions held in
Philadelphia, and Chicago.
Alfred Krupp, however, delighted more in improving the condition of his
army of employees. He provided for them miles of roomy, healthful homes.
He formed a commissariat, where his employees could secure at cost price
all the necessaries of life. He also established schools where the
children of his employees could receive education if desired in
technical, industrial, commercial, and mechanical pursuits, and in
special and classical courses as well. He devised a "Sick and Pension
Fund," for disabled workmen, which scheme Emperor William II. has made a
law of the German Empire. He likewise created life insurance companies,
and widow and orphan funds. The golden rule has been Alfred Krupp's
guiding star. He was always kind and considerate, and never dictatorial.
When asked to accept a title, he answered, "No, I want no title further
than the name of Krupp." Alfred Krupp died July 14, 1887, in the 75th
year of his age. His request was that his funeral should take place, not
from his palatial mansion, but in the little cottage within the works,
where he was born, which is to-day an object of great reverence to the
25,000 workmen who earn their daily bread in the vast Krupp foundries.
Alfred Krupp lived to see Essen, his native village, grow from a
population of 4,000 to a busy city of 70,000, where annually hundreds
of engines and steam hammers produce thousands of tons of steel castings
and forgings. Alfred Krupp built his own monument in the vast mills and
benevolences of Essen, a monument more useful and enduring than marble
or bronze. His son Frederick Alfred Krupp, his successor, married the
beautiful Baroness Margarette von Ende. Colonel Harris and George visited
other great works in Europe, and finally started to rejoin their friends
in Paris.