Cambria County Pioneers, 1910, by James L. Swank, Cambria County, PA - John Fritz, Ironmaster Copyright 2004. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/pa/cambria/ ________________________________________________ CAMBRIA COUNTY PIONEERS HON. CYRUS L. PERSHING A Collection of Brief Biographical and other Sketches Relating to the Early History of Cambria County, Pennsylvania. by JAMES M. SWANK PHILADELPHIA: No. 261 SOUTH FOURTH STREET, 1910. JOHN FRITZ, IRONMASTER. 131 JOHN FRITZ, IRONMASTER. READ AT THE DINNER TO MR. FRITZ, ON NOVEMBER 17, 1910, BY THE MANUFACTURERS OF PHILADELPHIA. MY acquaintance with Mr. Fritz began in 1855, fifty-five years ago, when he came to Johnstown as the general superintendent of the Cambria Iron Works, which had been leased on May 15 of that year for a term of five years by the firm of Wood, Morrell & Co. These works had been built in 1853 and 1854 by the Cambria Iron Company as an iron rail mill, with several blast furnaces. They made their first rail on July 27, 1854. Only iron rails were made in this country for several years afterwards. The lease was extended in 1860 for one year and terminated in 1861. A great problem confronted Mr. Fritz. He had to so manage the works as to make them a financial as well as a mechanical success. He succeeded in both undertakings. In 1856, the year following his assumption of this difficult task, the Cambria Iron Works rolled 13,206 tons of rails, and their annual production was thereafter increased under Mr. Fritz's management. The production in 1856 was only 5,386 tons less than the largest production of any rail mill in the country in that year - the mill of the Phoenix Iron Company rolling 18,592 tons. Those were the days of comparatively small outputs at iron and steel works. When Mr. Fritz took charge of the Cambria Iron Works he soon discovered that good rails could not be made from pig iron that had been made entirely from Cambria ores; so, after much tribulation, he introduced a mixture of Cambria and other pig iron which worked well and produced good results. But Mr. Fritz was not satisfied with the results he was accomplishing. The Cambria rail mill was equipped with two-high rolls, and as these could not be operated as satisfactorily as was desirable, and besides often invited acci- 132 CAMBRIA COUNTY PIONEERS. dents, Mr. Fritz conceived the idea of introducing three-high rolls, which had never before been used in any country in the manufacture of rails. This was done, and on July 3, 1857, the innovation proved to be a great success. Mr. Fritz had conspicuously shown his skill as an engineer. Soon there were three- high trains of rolls in all the rail mills of the country. But a great trial came to Mr. Fritz the day after his successful use of three- high rolls. On July 4 the Cambria Iron Works burned down. We well remember that catastrophe. All but the stoutest hearts were appalled. But Mr. Fritz was equal to the emergency. He infused courage into the breasts of all his men, and at once began the work of clearing away the debris and rebuilding the works. In precisely four weeks the new works were running, and they made 30,000 tons of rails before any interruption occurred from any cause whatever. Mr. Fritz was surrounded at Johnstown by a remarkably bright collection of engineers and mechanics, all young men, who gave him loyal support but who also learned much from him. They were long known as John Fritz's "boys." We can mention only a few of them: Jacob M. Campbell, Alexander Hamilton, George Fritz, William R. Jones, Daniel N. Jones, William Canam, James Bell, and Thomas H. Lapsley. They are all gone. Robert W. Hunt, the first chemist of the Cambria Iron Works, who is with us to-night, came to Johnstown just as Mr. Fritz left for Bethlehem. Mr. Fritz's connection with the Cambria Iron Works continued until July, 1860, when he resigned to superintend the erection and operation of the Bethlehem Iron Works, to embrace a number of blast furnaces and a rolling mill to roll iron rails. The rolling mill was successfully started in 1863. In 1873 Mr. Fritz introduced at these works the manufacture of Bessemer steel and Bessemer steel rails, and in 1890 he made for the Navy Department at the works of the Bethlehem Steel Company the first heavy armor plate that had ever been made in this country. The armor plate plant of this company had been built under Mr. Fritz's direction. A few years ago Mr. Fritz retired from all active par- JOHN FRITZ, IRONMASTER. 133 ticipation in the management of iron and steel works, after more than fifty years of unbroken success, which success has brought him many honors. Included in these honors we may mention honorary membership in the British Iron and Steel Institute, which has conferred upon Mr. Fritz the Bessemer gold medal. We may also mention a magnificent banquet which was tendered to Mr. Fritz by a large number of prominent engineers and iron and steel manufacturers at the Waldorf- Astoria in New York in October, 1902, in celebration of his 80th birthday anniversary. But we feel sure that no honor that has ever come to Mr. Fritz has given him more heartfelt pleasure than the testimonial which he received at Johnstown on July 4, 1860, immediately prior to his departure for his new field of labor at Bethlehem. On that day a superb set of silverware was presented to Mr. Fritz at the rolling mill of the Cambria Iron Works by the employes of Wood, Morrell & Co. Between 1,500 and 2,000 persons were present at the presentation, including many ladies. The presence of this army of workmen and citizens testified to the esteem in which Mr. Fritz was held by the whole community. The set of silverware included a remarkably handsome water pitcher. On it were inscribed these words: "To John Fritz, Esq., General Superintendent of the Cambria Iron Works, as a Testimonial, by the Employees. July 4, 1860." This pitcher was exhibited at the New York crystal palace during the World's Fair in 1853, and it took the first premium as the finest piece of silverware among many specimens that had been collected from all parts of the world. Several addresses were delivered, Mr. Fritz thanking the donors, as the Cambria Tribune said, "in a very feeling, frank, and earnest speech." The Tribune devoted much space to an account of the testimonial to Mr. Fritz, remarking at the close of the account that "the gift is but properly in keeping with the measure of the man," and that "in Mr. Fritz the company and this community lose a man and citizen whose place is not easily filled." Mr. Fritz was then 38 years old. He had been general superintendent of the Cambria Iron Works for five years. He was succeeded by his brother, George Fritz. 134 CAMBRIA COUNTY PIONEERS. There is one trait in Mr. Fritz's character which does him especial honor - his readiness on all occasions to give credit to the thousands of men subject to his orders who have contributed by their skill and loyalty to his remarkable success. In an address by Mr. Fritz on the 75th anniversary of the Franklin Institute of Philadelphia on October 4, 1899, he said: "Here I wish to say that I should commit an act of ingratitude should I fail to give credit to the brave and noble workmen who throughout my long connection with the business have ever stood ready to meet any emergency, no matter what the danger or difficulty might be. For the kind and generous manner in which I was always treated by them they ever have a green spot in my memory." This is a gracious compliment from Mr. Fritz to his old companions in many a bitter struggle with engineering and mechanical problems that tested the skill and manhood of all of them, and it is most gracefully expressed. In the same address, embodying a note of strenuous personal experience, Mr. Fritz also said: "How little do the younger men who have charge of the great iron and steel industries know or even think of the severe mental strain, the great amount of bodily labor, the vexation, the surprises, and the disappointments that the men in charge experienced during the perfecting and erection of these vast establishments that are now engaged in the manufacture of iron and steel." We are all glad to see Mr. Fritz looking so well tonight. He has hosts of absent friends who would share this pleasure if they were here.* I know of no man in the iron trade who has been so universally respected and loved as John Fritz. His personal qualities have been as lovable as his engineering achievements have been notable. _____ * In a letter to the president of the Manufacturers' Club expressing his regret that he could not participate in the testimonial to his old friend Mr. Carnegie said: "Pray convey to dear Uncle John my warmest regards and congratulations upon his honored old age. Many are the men who on this occasion would join in giving three cheers for Uncle John! I am sure he has not an enemy in the world and he has given to all of us a noble example."