CHESTER, - Delaware County PA History

CIIESTER,
PENr\S\'LVANIA.
stems, stern post, rudder frames, struts, and stern tubes;
ordnance and fortification work. There has been considerable
of the Standard steel used in the construction of the cruisers
now being built for the United States Go\'ernment.
The use of steel in the constl'tlction of large engines and
machinery, and for large castings generally, is of reccnt origin.
It is only within a few years that an attempt has been made to
utilize steel for large castings, on account of the shrinkage and
other difficulties to make them solid, which has been successfully
OVt~rcome by the Standard Steel Casting Company. Thcy
arc well known for the superior quality of their steel castings,
of all dimensions. and shapes, which have shown wonderful
results in the way of tensile strength and ductility.
CIIE.',TER ROLLlr\G MILLS.
The Chestcl' Rolling Mill Company was incorporated in 1874,
with a capital of $300,000, which has since been increased to
$600,000. The plant consists of the rolling mill, blast furnace
and accompanying buildings and steel works, and there are
now in course of erection additional buildings costing $250,000,
for the manufacture of steel blooms, heretofore imported.
\Vhen completed, the entire works will employ a thpusand
hands. In 1887 this Company imported 50,000 tons of iron
are, upon which they paid a duty of $37,500. The steel for
the first four Government cruisers was furnished by these
works, and successfully passed the exacting tests of naval
experts. The mills are located upon the banks of the Delaware,
covering about thirty acres of ground, and have unsurpassed
facilities for shipping both by rail and water. The late
John Roach was the first president of the Company. S. A.
Crozer succeeded him, and C. n. Houston is general manager.
J. :\1. SIIARPLESS & CO:\IPAr\Y-DYE STL'FFS.
The dye works of J. 1\1. Sharpless & Co. were established at
\Vatel'\'iIIe, this county, in 1835, and removed to their present
location, at the foot of Howell Street, on the Delaware, in 1881,
at which time about 18 or 20 hands were employed. The
works have since been greatly enlarged (in 1885), and the
business has so increased that at the present time 90 men are