Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1850-05-14

dipped ends till they become thoroughl,
i"osenedh In the best matches the process:
of sulphur dipping and dusting is repeat
ed They have now to be plunged into
preparation OF phosphorus or chlorate o
potash, according TO tie quality Of the
match. The phosphorus produces tie
pale, noiselcss fire the chorate of potash
the sharp cracking illumination. After
this application Of the more infammabe
substance, the matches are separated, and
dried in racks. Thoroughly dried, they
are gathered up again into bundles of the
same quantity, and are taken to the bows
who cut them for the reader will have
observed that the bundles have been dip
ped at each end. There are few things
more remarkable in manufactures than
the extraordinary rapidity of this cutting
process, and that which is connected with
1t. The boy stands before bench, the
bundle on his right hand, pile of half
opened empty boxes on his left, which
have been manufactured at another diyis-
ion of the establishment. These boxes
are formed of scale-board, that is, thin sli-
ces of wood, planed or scaled off plank
! The box itself is a marvel of neatness and
cheapnesS. 1t consists of an inner box
without 4 top, in which the matches are
placed, and of an outer case. open at each
end into which the first box slides. The
matches. then, are to he cut and the emp
ty boxes filled, by one boy. A bundle is
opened, he seizes a portion, knowing by
long habit the required number with sul-
ticient CXactness puts them rapidly into
sort of frame, knocks the ends evenly
together, confines them with strap which
he tighlens with his foot, and cuts them
in two parts with a knife on hinge,
which he brings down with strong lev
erage the halves lie projecting over each
end of the frame: he grasps the left por-
hon and thrusts il into half open box,
which he instantly closes, and repeats the
process with rapidiry almost uneXam-
| IpIed for in ibis way, two hundred lhou-
sand matches are cut, and TWO thousand
boxes filled IN day. by one boy, at the
wages Of three half pence per grocc of
boxes. Each dozen boxes are then pa
pcred up. and they are ready for the re-
taller. The number Of boxes daily filled
at this factory is from fifty to sixty gGocr,
Tie wholesale pnre per dozen boxes
of the best matches, j., lourpcncc, Of the
second quality lhrcePrnce,
There are about Ten Luci(cr Match man
ulactorirs in London. There are others
in large provincial towns. The whole
sale business is chiefly confined to tie
supply Of metropolis and immediate neigh
borhood, by the London makers for the
railroad carriers refuse to receive the arti-
Gle, which is considered dangerous in
transit. But we must not therefore as
sumo that the metropolitan population
consume the metropolitan matches. Ia
king the population at upward ottwo mil
| lions, and the inhabited houses at about
three hundred thousand, let us endeavor
to estimate lie distribution OF these little
articles of domestic comfort.
At the manufactorv at Wiskcr's Gar,
dens there are fifty groce, or seven thous-
and two hundred boxes, turned out daily,
made from two hundred bundles. which
will produce seven hundred and twenty
thousand matches. Taking three hun
drcd working days in tie year, tins VIII
give for one factory, two hundrCG ana
sixteen millions of matches annually, or
two millions one hundred and Sky thou
sand boxes. being a box OF ono hundred
matches for every individual OF the Lon
don population, But there are ten other
T.uciter manufactures which are cStiina-
ted TO produce abcUt four or five times as
many more. London certainly cannot ah-
sorb ten millions of Luciter boxes annual
| w. which would be at the rate OF thirty
three boxes 20 every inhabited house.
London perhaps demands third OF the
supnlv for It's own consumption; and al
his rate the annual retail cost for each
house is eightpence, averaging those box
es sold al hall-penny, and those at a
penny. The manufacturer sells ms ar
ticle. produced with such care as we have
described, at one larlhing and fraction
per boX.
And thus, for the retail expenditure of
three farlhings, per month, every house
in London, from the highest to The low
lest. may secure the iuesumable blessing
of constant ire at all seasons, and al all
hours. London buys this for ten thous~
and pounds annually.
The excessive cheapncs is produced by
the extension of the demand, enforcing
the factory division Of labor, and the most
ex.c, Of saving material. The scientific
discovery was the foundation OF the
cheapness. But, connected with his gen
eral principle of cheapness, there are one
or two remarkable points which deserve
attention. H.. Lo
Ills . law Of this manufacture that the
Jomard is greater in the Summer than IN
. ri,Lo ,ll match maker, aS