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The cost of a furnace when built in 1893 was approximately $1400, not including the chimney; but with the increased cost of material the present expense would probably be about $2000. Notwithstanding the light construction of the furnaces, repairs were never a large item. Once a month a furnace was idle about 24 hours while the throat was being cleaned out, and every two months some repairing, such as relining the fire-boxes, etc., was required. If repairs had to be made on the inside of the furnace, two days would be lost while it was cooling sufficiently for the men to enter. In refiring a furnace, from 8 to 12 hours was required to raise it to the proper temperature. Out of the 365 days of the year, a furnace would lose from 20 to 25 days, for cleaning the throat and making repairs to the fire-box, arch, etc.

When a furnace was run with two shifts the schedule of operation was as follows:

Drop charge 4 a.m. Begin work 7 a.m. Begin firing down 11 a.m. Begin first tapping 1 p.m. Rake out slag 2.30 p.m. Begin second tapping 3 p.m. Drop charge 4 p.m. Begin working 5.30 p.m. Begin firing down 11 p.m. Begin first tapping 1 a.m. Rake out slag 2.30 a.m. Begin second tapping 3 p.m.

With three shifts on a furnace, the schedule was as follows: