Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1832-10-03
WEDNESDAY. OCTOBER 8, 1892.
&spism.

~, &c. in Great Britain. France. and Holland
by Zach. Allen: Q vols 12mo Providence, K
l., A. s. Beckwith: Boston, Richardson LORD q
Holbrook, and Carter & Hendee. Travels. IN
all regions. by all classes, and by both sexes are
nov 40 common, that one might be thence led to
doubt whether aught yet remains untold. 10
those entertaining such doubts, the Practical
Tourist" will prove. that much which before had
been little noticed remained to be be described.
The Tour before us is not. to be sure. very re-
cent. having been undertaken IN 1926, but 1t VIII
scarcely lose any interest on that account; Tor
the object Of the writer OF 1t was'-not 10 give
bird. eve view Of the then actual state Of soc'e'
~. which, with the lapse of years, would neces-
sarly losr its immediate interest,-but to exa-
mine into the state Of society generally. anu es'
necialIv in large manufacturing towns, as affect
ed ...by modern Improvements IN machinery. -
Hence "the workshops of Europe" more than
crumbling abbies, or gorgeous palaces lthousn
neither are neglected. occupied the attention OF
the Tourist. give part OF MIR. Aliens VI
yid aud well-wrtten sketch OF
MaSCHESrER.-ln Il nuuliu StaIS w wv o'"oS-
,bare the traveller is aprised Of his approach TO
Manchester, when from the summit ot so'ne hill
nyer which the road may wind. he first behods
=, distance tho dark mass of smoke, which ho-
vsrs like a sooty diadem over this queen OF ma
nurac,uring cities. On approaching nearer he
viaws the numerous tall chlmneys with smoky
I'm. rising hiyh above the roofs of the houses
Ar.mark able elevation is given to the vents OF
the furnaces. for the purpose ct increasing the
drausht to render the combustion OF the fuel
more complete. and also 10 discharge the smoke
into the air far above the windows OF the houses
Not outstanding these precautions, the inhaol
,.,,s of thu region below live amid sulpherous
vapors and the very walls Of the houses are .iai
- a.. .--.-G-ssA ...'"' dnu "ihoy weather,
Manchester might be deemed pleasan, place
fur a residence But, at other times, and parti-
cula,ly on calm mornings in the early part of
spring, whilst a bright sun cheers the adjacent
country. il displays To the inhabitants of Man.
chester its broad red disk, scarcely affecting the
fepblrst eve which gazes upon it through the
du.ky vapors. by which il is ob,cured During
the frequent foggy days in winter, an artificial
twilight so completely shrouds the place, that at
times the use of the gas lights becomes necessa
nv. even at mid day. for certain nice operations
in manufactures. For the same reason, the lights
in the large cotton mills are not extinguished
til nine o'clock in the morning and are re-kind-
led 10 form a brilliant illumination, as early as
about halt past three in the afternoon. Most Of
the labor at such periods is performed by the aid
of artificial light. Nearly one half Of the sur
face Of the exterior walls Of the manufac tories
composed Of spacious glazed sashes. which are
arranged in proiusinn to admit all the scanty
light which naturally hazv atmosphere. render
ed-sfill more obscure by smoke. will transmit
When a slight breeze arises. this dark cloud Is
nut IN motion, and il borne away over the cOun-
try IN an unbroken murky volume, perceptible
at the distance of twenty thirty m,e., like the
Iong' train Of smoke which s,eams from the Chin
new Of steamboat, and leaves dusky line ex-
tended Gar over the waters and shores. ltis only
when fresh supply of fuel is added to the furnace
fires tina, ,hepa pableblack smoke spouts upwards.
On a calm morning IL affords amusement for a
few minutes to watch these columns ascending
perpeudicularv several hundred feet. like gi-
rantic tree sproutins upward and expanding its
dimensions, until the Ruling masses, represen-
ting spreading foliage, meet each other from adj
iacent chimney tops and become interminsle d.
When the kindled fuel burns clear on the CRATES,
the trunk Of this ideal tree appears to be cut off
from its apparent resting place on the chimney
ton. and thus detached To foat off into the air.
1t has been stated that IN 1881, there were
nearly 4OO- steam r.nStues tn operation IN Man.
chester aud in the adjacent suburbs, besides nu.
merous forges. bl-achrr,es, print works, and
foundr,es. Taking the average Of these 400
Steam Engines, at Ia horse power each. and the
average consumption of Goals per hour at Is
mounds for each horse power. it will appear that
the quantity # GAL consumed bv them in each
hour exceeds 7O.OOOlbs; and If the quantity con.
sumed in me foundriss, bleacheries. and in 9TH
er processes of manufactures, and by the inhabi.
tants in their dwelling houses. be computed at
as much more, the whole consumption of coal in
Manchester will not fall much short Of lao. O0Obs
during each hour OF the day.
The price Of this Important article OF tuel. coal,
on the abundant supply Of which the prosperity
of Manchester IS so essentially dependant. varies
from eight sh,liings to ten ,hillinss sterling per
ton. delivered on the banks of the canal. With
the rate Of exchange at 10 Pc cent premium,
this price is equal to uenrly two dollars, and
two and half dollars a ton, or about one third
OF tie price OF the same fuel on the seaboard of
the United States
Even at this low rate Of the price OF Goals.