| Science, technology and natural resources, were the | | | | exploding like a cannon a prodigious discharge of |
| driving force behind the Industrial Revolution in the | | | | star-like pieces of white-hot slag.... Down came the |
| United States. The telephone, the new steel, railroads | | | | vessel, until out of it streamed the smooth flow of |
| and electricity in general led to the shift from a rural | | | | terribly beautiful molten metal. As it ran nearly empty |
| country to a technological and industrial America. | | | | and the ladle swung away, the dropping slag fell to |
| Because of many inconveniences that were posed | | | | the ground exploding, leaping viciously, and the scene |
| upon the American people during the 1800's, such as | | | | became gorgeous beyond belief, with orange and red |
| impractical farming techniques, ample communication, | | | | and green flame." |
| and poor transportation resources, caused great | | | | This mass production of steel stimulated the growth |
| minds and inventors to come together and create | | | | of many other industries, such as the first |
| new materials and methods that aided in the creation | | | | trans-continental railroad which used 165,000 miles of |
| of an industrialized country. | | | | steel. Newly settled urban areas were now showered |
| The Creation of Steel | | | | with towering skyscrapers made of sturdy steel |
| One of the pioneers of the industrialization of | | | | foundations. The new steel created an environment |
| America was Andrew Carnegie. He wasn't skilled in | | | | that attracted people in rural areas to move to urban |
| the process of making steel, but he invested large | | | | areas that looked like promising new worlds to |
| amounts of capital to install Bessemer converters in | | | | former farmers and immigrants leaving their failed |
| factories. The Bessemer converter transformed | | | | attempts at trying to keep up with farming. Steel |
| wrought iron (pig iron) into steel by blowing cold air | | | | was being used in rural agricultural areas for the |
| through the vessels and then through the molten | | | | creation of steel machines that helped farmers do |
| iron, ridding the iron of any impurities which made it | | | | large jobs in half the time it took by hand. In turn, |
| mandible and weak, forming steel. This process was | | | | farming turned into more of an industry than a single |
| a very simple one where unskilled workers were able | | | | man or family operation. The new machines and |
| to operate it with ease. One of the very first | | | | expensive equipment used for farming cost |
| Bessemer converters was installed in Carnegie's own | | | | thousands of dollars, resulting in large debt to farmers |
| Edgar Thompson Steel Works in Braddock P.A. The | | | | who tried to transform their small operations into high |
| factory was able to produce a great amount of steel | | | | product production operations. Only operations which |
| which cost less by the ton. McClure's magazine | | | | had the help of wealthy investors survived. |
| documented the results: | | | | Industrial Crutch |
| "Out of each pot roared alternately a ferocious | | | | What is it that these industries depend on? They |
| geyser of saffron and sapphire flame, streaked with | | | | must have a good transportation system to bring |
| deeper yellow. From it a light streamed -- a light that | | | | them raw materials to factories and to distribute |
| flung violet shadows everywhere and made the gray | | | | finished products. Thus they started building canals |
| outside rain a beautiful blue. A fountain of sparks | | | | between mines and factories, then a road surface, |
| arose, gorgeous as ten thousand rockets, and fell | | | | and finally the rail road industry was developed. |
| with a beautiful curve, like the petals of some | | | | George Stephenson developed the Rocket; the first |
| enormous flower. Overhead the beams were glowing | | | | steam powered locomotive. Also, the American |
| orange in a base of purple. The men were yellow | | | | Engineer Robert Fulton developed a way to use |
| where the light struck them, violet in shadow.... The | | | | steam power for ships. The postal system was also |
| pot began to burn with a whiter flame. Its fluttering, | | | | introduced by the British. The overall success of |
| humming roar silenced all else.... A shout was heard, | | | | these industries depended upon many other sources |
| and a tall crane swung a gigantic ladle under the | | | | besides their own skill, to sell their goods. |
| converting vessel, which then mysteriously up-ended, | | | | |