The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1849-12-13

daughters. He therefore wound his pieces
Of calico round smooth wooden rollers
which were placed under the box, and that
being drawn backwards and forwards by
means Of the rope round the upper roller,
the winch soon gave the requisite smooth
ness TO the new work. This in truth was
the mangle now used for domestic purposes,
BY which many poor woman gains live
lihood
It was afterwards superseded by superb
or machinery worked on more complex but
not more scientific principles. Bot it an
swered the purpose admirably. The far
mer worked %; his goods were readily
bought, and he was much sought after, for
the cautious fellow kept bis knowledge to
himself. And SO he went on, step by step,
till he became the head Of one Of the larg-
est houses in the country. His eldest son
joined him in business, nndthe tide of afflu-
ence flowed fast and constantly upon the
firm. With the wealth thus acquired, at
time Of great national emergency, the son
raised at his own expense regiment of
horse for the general defence, and the gov
ernment made him baronet. His son,
whose name, like his own and his fathers,
was Robert, he brought up well and sent
TO college, where tho young man, by good
abilities and diligence. obtained great dis
,inction. He afterwards obtained seat
10 parliament, lived to sway senates by his
word, and ultimately became the prime
minister Of an empire whose power never
was excelIed, and the extent Of which new
er was equa!led.
The name Of the humble farmer Of Black
burn, the seIf-,aught calico printer, the in
ventor Of the mangle, the founder Of a fam.
iIy which in two generations has risen to
an equality with the Oldest nobility in the
Iand-that farmers name was Peel
Mr.. Peel was however not content with
hard labor, even facilitated as il was by his
own inventions, and he accordingly remov-
ed TO place called Brookside, about two
miles from Blackburn, for the sake Of wa
ter, and there, by the assistance ofhs sons,
extended his business very considerably.
10 1913 his eldest son, Robert. who had
always been his chief support, left the con-
Germ and entered into partnership with 4
Mr.. Yates, and his uncle, whose name was
Haworth, and with them carried Oh an eX
tensive business at the town Of Bury
Two other sons entered into partnership
and established their business at place
called Church, and were, like their elder
brother and their father, eminently success
full.
The principle ofblock printing, however,
was found too slow, especially when more
than one color was 10 be used, and cyl lin
ders were again adopted. The pattern to
be printed was engraved on the face Of a
cylinder land to the credi, Of this adoption,
Mr.. Peel appears to be peculiarly entiiled,)
which revolves in connexion with another
Of equal size. The lower cylinder, on
which the pattern was wrought, turns with
| half its circumference ia box which con-
tains co!oring matter, which in the course
Of its progress is shaved off by blade Of
soft steel, except where the pattern is en-
graved. The cloth is passed between the
two cylinders and receives the impression
Of the pattern; il is afterwards passed over
another cylinder filled with hot steam, and
almost instantly dried. Where three or
four colors are to be used, there must be as
mnnv cylinders, and thus piece of calico,
Of twenty EIGHT yards in length, can be
printed, 10 various colors, in about two min
utes-a work which, by hand labor, could
not be performed in less than week.
But another improvement was made
These cylinders had been usually made Of
copper, and they were not only expensive
to engrave, but soon wore out; and it was
therefore an immense advantage 10 the
calico printers when plan was adopted for
reducing lha. expense. This system was,
to engrave very small steel cylinder, Of
two or three inches in length, with the pat
tern desired, when the metal was IN what
is called the decarbonised, or sotiened state,
after which. it was atlempered till i, became
very hard. When it was hardened to the
utmost, it was worked by powerful ma
chinery against Il large cylinder, which,
being duly sottened, received The design,
that also was in its turn hardened, and then
worked against the copper roller, winch
received the impression as originally en-
graved, aud thus was fitted for the printing
process.
AT this point II was that chemistry
that strange and wonderful science, which
more, perhaps, than any other, has unlock
ed the secrets Of natnre--came in to the as
sis,ance Of art. A substance was discos-
cred, called Chlorine, which has the pecu'-
lar property Of dischargng all vegetable
colors, and Thus, with magic exceeding
AL the tales Of romance, bleached the cloth
to fairer and purer white in few hours,
than could BY the old process OF exposure
to the air, on the grass, have been obtain
ed in many months. And this was OF IN
es,imable value, for in order to print the
richest patterns, the most perfect white that
could be obtained was necessary.
But q complaint was made that. howey-
er beautiful, the prints would not rash, and
consequently, when once dir,ied, dress