The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1854-02-22

Marea4tfs sttey3 Leipn ma Jache0n Wree34. md
at Bacon Quarter Branch, has been sick for several
days consequently patrons in thst district have
not received their paper regularly We will en-
deavor to remedy the evil ct once. s.'.S..
BARREL MAsUFAoroRY.- The number Of
ourmills in city, and thelaree amount of wheat
annually ground up and shipped, has created de-
mand for empty barrels. that could not have been
anticipated twenty years ago, by the most sanguine
enthusiasts of the manufacturing capacities OF the
city of Richmond. To supply this great demand
for barrels, several new coopering establishments
have gone into operation within very short time
and yet the n!lers find 1t almost impossible to pro-
cure an adequate amount of hoops, slaves, and
heading neatly done up, TO answer their purposes.
We paid visit yesterday to the barrel manufac-
tory of Messrs. WEED Il HowE, on Byrd street,
between 10th and llth. and were really surprised,
al well as gratified to see the modas o2eyaRdi By
which they get up their work. These gentlemen
have erected two large houses for their business,
and have Just made fair start in their new en-
terprise The building ON the corner OF 18th st. lie
used for cooper shop: and that 10th ct for get
ting out slaves, haadings and hoops.
We understand that these gentlemen have pur-
chased four hundred of forest growth timber
ON the Richmond g. Danyille Railroad; aud that on
this tract they have mill, driven by thirty
horse power engine, where the timber Is sawed to
proper lengths. blocked out. and then broue down
the road to the nianufactory, where all the machine
"
at the shop, the blocks are placed in a kiln and
softened by being brought into contact with theex
baust steam from the engine, conducted To the
kiln by iron pipes This process being completed,
a large rotary stave knife is set in melton the
blocks placed to it, and rough slaves are cut out as
fast a man can count. They are then taken to
rotary jointer, in the room, and as quick as
thought almost, are jointed with great accuracy
The next process s to pack them in layers at prop
er distances apart, on cars kept tor the purpose,
and these cars then drawn along rail track
into drying room, where the heat of the furnace
ALTERNATING been used to generate steam is let in by
sheet-iron fues, and in the course of twelve hours
time, the slaves are perfectly seasoned and ready
for the coopers' use.
The machinery for preparing the headings is no
less novel and efficient than that used the slaves
The blocks which have been cut to proper length
first sawed into boards by circular saw. They
are next passed through rotary planning machine
and last OF ALL taken to the rounding knife where
three pieces of boards put and speedily
out handsomely rounded off and ready for use.
The Proprietors of this factory use rotary ma
chimes entirely, and say they make from five
hundred to one thousand barrels per day.
We have never examined more complete esta
blishment than that OF Messrs. WEED & HOWE
and feel assured that most of urreaders would be
delighted to see it in operation. These gentlemen
have now in their employ, about sixty men, andif
they succeed as they doubtless must do, will pro-
baby be compelled to increase their force in avery
short time, to double its present number.
The barrels turned out from this establishment,
are of superior order--not only strong but well
finished-and command a ready sale at the Gallego
and HaxaIl mills, at $50 per hundred But for the
1abor-saving machines now in use in the cooperng
business it would be next to impossible to supply
our millers with sufficient number OF barrels in
which TO pack their -FOUR and as those made at this
factory appear to be unusually dry and wellsea
soned, we suppose they are mostly for the foreign
trade.