Worcester daily spy., 1851-05-03
worcester in its ShIrt-sieeves.
THE COURT MILLS AGRICULTURAL
IMPLEMENT MANDATORY.


tools for the husbandman, has partaken even IN the
rudest ages, ofthe dignity which attaches to that
important branch of industry upon which, more than
any other, mankind depends, for its existence and
comfort.
Old Tabal Cain was man of some consequence
in his day, and though it is hardly probable that he
was familiar with the construction ofhay cutters,
cultivators, sub-soi poughs, and horse-rakes, his
fame has come down to US through long ages, main
y in consequence of what he did for his day and
generation, when tool-making was ia its infancy.
The agriculture of nation one of the truest and
clearest exponens of its progress; and peoples in
ellectual culture may be read well upon the face
oft landscapes, where art has developed the latent
energies of nature in the books of It's scholars or
the laws Of its statesmen.
The census returns of the United States show that
by far the largest portion of our population are en-
gagged in agriculture, and close anal ysis of the pro-
ducts of every branch of industry, illustrates the fact
that first and foremost above ALL the agricultural n-
terest is the most potent element of the nation's
wealth power and prosperity
In agricultural addresses, we have often heard
agriculture spoken of as the "handmaid Of the me-
chanic arts" and the person6caon is perhaps not
altogether inappropriate but we think it more prop
er to reverse the statement, and speak of the me-
chanic arts as the handmads of agricuture for it is
BY their aid and cooperation, that within the past
few years, such an impetus has been given to the
productive capacities Of the soil.
NO occupation III which man employs his labor
has partaken more largely of the benefits of the ar
tzans inventive genius and SKILL than that of the
husbandman; and the revolving year has brought
with it the largest increase of his profits, through the
agency Some of the labor saving Improvements
which modern ingenuity has rendered for its USE
Even the present generation has not outlived the
memory of stub-hoes and wooden pIoughs; many a
good housewife remembers to this day. the fatgues
OF the dairy, when ''thermometer churns' were un-
known; and more than one farmer in Worcester
county, retains vivid recollection of the feelings Of
iron plough for the first time
At present, Worcester is more largely engaged in
the manufacture of agricultural implements than any
other city or town in the United States The inn
mense establishment of Rugglcs, Nourse Mason,
G Co., which occupies the buildings near the Juno.
ton of Union street and Lincoln square, known as
the Court Mills, gives employment, including those
engaged In getting out the lumber, TO nearly two
hundred hands, one hundred and fifty Of whom are
mechanics, who are constantly employed in the va
rious shops connected with the works The mair
building is of brick, 25O feet long, IS wide and fou
stories high. The motive power is supplied in par
by steam and in part by water and is equivalent tc
an engine of 80 horse power.
The first room upon the basement floor, is that in
which the wood work Of the ploughs is finished and
fitted 10 the shares From Is to 20 hands are en-
ployed here almost exclusively upon this department
Of labor The timber is partially shaped by the lum.
bermen in the green state, before ii is brought tc
market which greatly facilitates the work. The
best white oak only is used for this purpose, which
is furnished by Oakham, Paxton, Sterling. and othel
towns in the vicinity. The superintendent of th
department is Mr.. S. J. Brimhall.
We come next to the hay-cutter department. il
which these useful and economical utensils are man
uiactured upon large scale. This room is one q
the most specious in the building, and contains fron
twenty to twenty-five engine lathes, punching ma
chimes and other like apparatus. yrom eighteen ia
twenty hands find constant occupation here, under
the direction of Mr. Salem Copeland, upon the iron
aud steel work alone. The hay cutters find a ready
market in all parts of the United States, and thou
ands are manufactured every year.
The iron castings for the ploughs and other impe
naents, are made in adjoining building, which il
Les feet long and 45 feet in width. The foreman o
he foundry is Mr.. II. Bradway. The average dali,
CONSUMPTION of iron is two and half tons. but a
he present time not less than three tons of iron ar
melted and moulded daily, which gives employment
to some thirty hands, After the castings have bee
sufficiently anneaed, by process of gradual coolin
In dry sand. they are thrown into reservoir Q
vltrioi water, which removes the scales and sand
and other impurities from the surface They are the
carried into the grinding rooms, where are numbe
OF men are employed in polishing the surface of tn
pioughshares, that they may enter the ground will
ease and turn a smooth furow after which the,
are ready to be wooded" A great deal Of smitI
work is required in the manufacture of agriculture
IMPLEMENTS and the bIacksmithing Of the establish
'ment requires the constant labor Of fifteen hands a
the forge and anvil. Mr.. Amasa Howe is the fore
man Of this department
Ia the third story large room is exclusively ar
propdated to the manufacture of Z" Thermomete
sChurns,'' and patent corn-shellers, The wood wor
of which is almost entirely performed by muchiner,
Mr.. A. II. Patch, who was formerly faithful aE