We now proceed to examine a more interesting topic, viz., the rise and
progress of the flint-glass business in the West. We have shown that
most of the workmen, on the breaking up of the glass-works in
Fredericktown, migrated to Pittsburg, attracted there, doubtless, by
the coal mines. Some of these persons were successful in establishing
the manufacture of window-glass, while a portion of the workmen, in the
spring of the year 1808, attempted to establish a flint-glass
manufactory upon part of the premises now occupied by Bakewell & Pears,
extensive flint-glass manufacturers. The persons engaged in the
enterprise, however, were deficient, both in the requisite knowledge
and capital; the effort proved abortive, the parties quarrelled, and
the establishment, in an incomplete condition, was offered for sale.
In the August following, a Mr. Bakewell and his friend, Mr. Page, being
on a visit to Pittsburg, were induced to purchase the concern, under
the representation of one of the owners that he possessed the
information and skill requisite for the proper pursuit of the business,
having been engaged (as he stated) in the business before he left
England. Mr. Bakewell had scarcely entered upon his new pursuit before
he discovered that the qualification of the person alluded to had been
entirely misrepresented, and that to succeed he must rely upon his own
experience and diligence in the attainment of the peculiar knowledge
indispensable to the success of his undertaking. In this the fortune of
his family and friend were, of course, deeply involved, and he
therefore set himself to the accomplishment of his task most manfully.
Those only who have practical experience of the character of the
undertaking can fully appreciate the various and almost insurmountable
difficulties to be encountered and overcome before success could be
attained.
His first difficulty arose from want of skill in the workmen, and the
inferiority of the materials employed in the manufacture of
flint-glass. So little were the resources of the West developed at that
day, that Mr. Bakewell had to procure his pearlash and red lead from
Philadelphia, the pot clay from Burlington, N.J.,--the whole being
transported over the mountains in wagons to Pittsburg. The only sand
then known was the yellow kind, obtained in the vicinity, and used at
this time only for window-glass. For many years Mr. Bakewell obtained
the saltpetre needed from the caves of Kentucky, in a crude state,
which article he was obliged to purify, until the period of 1815, when
the required supply was obtained from Calcutta.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account