Article from the Whitehaven News, 4^th December 1902

The Americanising of Weardale Steelworks

The directors of the Weardale Steel, Coal, and Coke Co. (Limited) and Cargo Fleet Company (Ltd), comprising: Sir Christopher Furness, M.P., Chairman, Mr. Walter Scott, Mr. J. P. Rogerson, Mr. H. W. Hollis, Mr. J. S. Barwick, Colonel H. F. Swan, C.B., Mr. E. Lloyd Pease, spent the whole of Thursday at the works of the Cargo Fleet Iron Co. (Limited), inspecting the extensive new works in progress there. These consist of a new coke making plant complete with coal washing and compressing machinery and by-products plant. The furnaces are being equipped on the American system of charging by a skip travelling up an inclined way, and the blast will be provided by gas engines driven by furnace gas.

Molten metal will be taken from the furnaces to the Steel Shop where it will be converted into steel by the Talbot process. From there it will be delivered in the form of ingots to the mills, which will largely consist of machinery removed from the Tudhoe Works, Spennymoor. The details of the Steel melting shops are under the control of Mr. Talbot, and the furnace and mill departments are under the control of Messrs. Julian Kennedy, Sahlin and Co., the American specialists.