The Works Of Messrs. Schneider And Co.

XVIII.—THE CONSTRUCTION DEPARTMENT. Historical.—When in 1836 Mr. Eugène Schneider acquired the then relatively small works of Creusot, they comprised a few shops for the construction of engines. The foundry was the most important of these shops ; it was laid out to make eastings not only for the engines built in Creusot. but also other eastings, such as roils, for which a demand came from many small forges which then existed in France. Next in importance were the boiler-shops, in which were made a great many of the low-pressure bollers then in use. Small-power engines for coal mines, for supplying air to blast-furnaces, for rolling milis, &c., were erected in the fitting-shops, which were small and scantily supplied with machine- tools, though sufficient, nevertheless, for the requirements of the period. At that time the question of railways and steam naviga- tion had been scarcely raised in France. French industrials, however, soon discovered the advantages that might be gained by their development, and lost no time in their endeavours to co-operate with each other, for the construc- tion of railways and the use of steam for the propulsion of ships. Mi*. Eugène Schneider quickly saw the importance he could give to the Creusot Works by manufacturing these new types of engines, and he laid out a well-equipped plant accordingly. In 1837 Messrs. Schneider and Co. put in hånd their first locomotive, followed in 1838 by their first marine engine, and they continuously maintained their efforts to inerease the means of production, in order to be prepared for further demands which, they could foresee, would soon arise. The French Government asked them to construct the engines for two steam corvettes ; they undertook the commission witliout hésitation. In these same works Messrs. Schneider and Co. con- structed, between 1837 and 1850, a large amount of machinery of many kinds, locomotives, marine engines, stationary engines for all purposes, steam hammers, rolling- mill plant, &c. In 1850 they decided still further to inerease the power of production ; the existing shops were pulled down one after the other, and replaced by new ones adapted for larger machinery. One shop, however, still exista that dates as far back as 1840. An important feature of Messrs. Schneider and Co.’s construction works at the present time is their exception- ally comprehensive character, comprising as they do all the industries that contribute to the building of steam engines, such as the production of iron and brass eastings ; the manufacture of iron and steel forgings ; the fitting- and erecting of all these products, and the manufacture of complété bollers of all types. The Creusot Works are not limited to one single brauch of engine construction, such as either marine or fixed eno'ines, or locomotives. Messrs. Schneider and Co. were the first engineers in France to construct complété the whole of these types, constantly developing their plant so as to maintain it at the ever advancing standard of the varions markets. The general arrangement of the Construction works, as they exist at the present time, is shown on plan, Figs. 252 and 253, pages 96 and 97, in which the following references are given; it should be explained that these two figures together complété the plan, which had to be divided from exigencies of space. A. General offices of the depart- ment. B. Iron foundries. C. Brass foundry. D. Sand-preparing shop. E. Chipping shop for eastings. F. Sinithy. G. Tempering and annealing plant. H. Iron and steel boiler works. I. Copper boiler works. J. Dépôt of eopper and copper pipes. K. Marine engine fitting and ei'ect- ing shops. L. Locomotive engine fitting and erecting shops. M. Milling and grinding shop. N. Painting-room for locomotives and tenders. O. Shop for delieate work and the manufacture of tools. P. Pattern-making. Q. Wood dépôt. R. Pattern dépôt. S. Packing and delivery shed. The following is a general description of this important départaient of the Creusot Works. General Offices.—The estimating and drawing offices employ 100 engineers and draughtsmen ; these have charge of all estimâtes and the préparation of working drawings. Two large rooms are set apart for this purpose; under- neath are the archives. These are of considérable import- ance and interest, as they contain all the plans and tracings which have accumulated during 60 years ; the files have been re-classified recently, in perfect order, so that informa- tion about previous work done, can be quickly and accurately obtained. The engineers have also at their disposai a well- supplied technieal library. These offices are supplementet! by a printing, engraving, photographing, and copying department, for the préparation of albums of machinery, &c. The personnel for the management of the work in progress, and for the general account - keeping of the department, occupy offices in the same building. Foundries.—There are three iron foundries. Each is fitted with steam crânes, cupolas, and drying stoves, and is entirely independent of the two others, as regards the making of moulds and eastings. The préparation of sand