The Homestead Strike of 1892
By:
Industrial Relations
Homestead is located on the Monogahela River eight miles from Pittsburgh. In 1892 the town had a population of about 12,000 people. In 1880 it had a population of about 600 people. The town evolved around the Carnegie mills. With out the steel mill the town would have little existence. The mill property covered 600 acres of the 600 acres 37 of that is covered with varies buildings. The mills facilities were lighted by electricity which allowed the mills to run day and night. The steel was used to produce boiler and armor plates, beams and structural iron. Homestead was the main supplier for the United States Navy in armor plates. Homestead had the best technology in steel mills at that time. The mill employed around 4,000 men. The town and the mills were controlled by Andrew Carnegie and Henry Clay Frick.
Andrew Carnegie
Andrew Carnegie was a self made entrepreneur he had a monopoly on the steel industry. Carnegie was born the son of a poor weaver in Bunfermline, Scotland. In 1845 he immigrated to the United States with his parents. He was 12 years old when he came to America. Carnegie and his parents settled in Pittsburgh Pennsylvania. His first job was with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. He eventually worked his way up to superintendent of Pittsburgh office and manager of its telegraph lines. At this time he invested in the sleeping car with the inventor Woodruff. The venture made Carnegie a wealthy man. He was still working for the railroad and got promoted to superintendent of the Pittsburgh division. After the Civil War Carnegie saw the potential in the steel industry. He could ...