The use of coal as fuel in glass-making
brought a decided change. Previously the industry had been a
wandering one, moving from place to place as the need for fresh
fuel arose. The use of coal made possible steady development
at one place.
O'Hara and Craig
established at Pittsburgh in 1797 the first window glass plant to
use coal.
The first really successful window glass
factory in the United States was that of the Boston Crown Glass
Company of Boston, Massachusetts. Chartered in 1787, it began
operations in 1792, under very favorable conditions, being greatly
assisted by the liberal action of the state legislature.
The legislature exempted the company from
taxes and their workmen from military duty. It also gave them
exclusive rights for fifteen years to manufacture window glass in
Massachusetts.
In 1798, records show that this company
produced window glass to the value of $82,000.
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