A rolling mill had begun to roll iron; but not a ton of pig metal was made, and not a ton of steel for many a year thereafter.

The pig iron manufacture at first was a total failure because of the lack of proper fuel, although the most valuable deposit of coking coal in the world lay within a few miles, as much undreamt of for coke to smelt ironstone as the stores of natural gas which had for ages lain untouched under the city.
There were at that time not half a dozen "carriage" people in the town; and not for many years after was the attempt made to introduce livery, even for a coachman.

As late as 1861, perhaps, the most notable financial event which had occurred in the annals of Pittsburgh was the retirement from business of Mr.Fahnestock with the enormous sum of $174,000, paid by his partners for his interest.

How great a sum that seemed then and how trifling now! My position as messenger boy soon made me acquainted with the few leading men of the city.

The bar of Pittsburgh was distinguished.
Judge Wilkins was at its head, and he and Judge MacCandless, Judge McClure, Charles Shaler and his partner, Edwin M.Stanton, afterwards the great War Secretary ("Lincoln's right-hand man") were all well known to me--the last-named especially, for he was good enough to take notice of me as a boy.