The south-western. [volume] (Shreveport, La.) 1852-1870, 1854-12-27

coluInn. lne Dlspatch says.
We were met at the door BY Mr.. S. Perkins,
one of the firm and manager Of the works. He
conducted us first to the engine room, which
contains very superior fifty horse power en-
gine, and a pair of boilers, each forty feet long
The next room is devoted to various operations
in wood work. One very ingenious machine
we noticed particularly 1t was invented by
Mr.. Perkins, and is called choking machine"
1t is intended for boring the hub, in order to
receive the ''box." It performs its functions
in less time than we take to describe it, and
that, too, in perfectly true manner. 1t will
do the work of four men. A great variety of
saving cutting, and turning machinery is also
in operation in this room, all driven by steam
power. Feloes, spokes, shafts and all irregu-
lar shaped pieces of wood, needed in the differ
ent branches of the business, are sawed, cut or
turned out here. The hubs are bored and NOR
tccd to receive the spokes in one operation
Here the inventive mechanical genius of Mr..
Perkins again supplied a deficiency. A hollow
chisel of the exact size of the spoke is firmly
fastened in frame; inside this on auger is made
to revove with great velocity; the auger opens
the way; while the chisel, entering the wood at
almost the same moment, cuts the orifc as clean
as can be desired. We were much pleased
with the operation of this machine, and think
it reflects the highest credit upon the skill of
the inventor The felloes for the wheels of
wheelbarrows are cut by one operation of a
machine which is almost terrific to look upon
while in motion. The large quantity of paint
used in the establishment is all ground by tho
steam engine which also supplies current of
air for the use of the forge fres this is done by
means of a huge fan. We noticed an improve
ment in the gearing of a circular saw in the
establishment This is also the invention of
Mr.. Perkins, and the saw is intended for cross
cutting heavy timber. In the usual method
the timber is placed upon frame, which moves
towards the saw, but in this instance the saw
itself moves, thus saving much heavy lifting of
unwieldly pieces of timber. It is certainly an
ingenious contrivancc. In the blacksmith shop
we found large number of men, who were all
busily employed in making the various iron
parts of wagons, carts, DC. The upper apart
ments of the building are used as vanishing,
painting and trimming rooms. These are kept
scrupulously clean, and the best order pervades
the whole establishment. The firm has sever
al omnibuses nearly completed, and when they
are finished, we think all who examine them
will agree with us that proprietors of omnibus
eastern cities for their supply of these vehicles.
to their utmost capacity. 1t being an indis-
pensible consideration in this business to have
we'll seasoned lumber, (of which the firm uses
over 200, 600 feet annually,) all the timber is
kept on hand two years, is then roughed out
into spokes, fel'oes, &C. and piled up and allow
ed to remain for another year before it is used.
a., ~, -;
in southern markets, is that they use nothing
butlocust for making hubs. This wood is very
scarce in the east, while there is comparative
abundance oft in this region and for the pur
poses for which it is used, it is vastly superior
to oak, gum, or any substitute which has yet
been tried. Locust will, when properly sea-
soned neither shrink nor swell, and in the
swamps of the south especially this is a very
desirable qualification for the hub of wagon
or cart wheel. The principal part of the
heavy work manufactured by the firm is in
tended for the south. They have warehouse
No. 1O4 Carondelet street, New Orleans, to
which city large quantities of eastern made
wagon work is sent, They have on hand large
quantities of cane wagons, plantation, wood,
brick and canal barrows, cane, cotton and rail-
road carts, trucks, timber wheels, &C., Co.,
We noticed one pair oftimber- wheels in partic-
ular, twelve feet in diameter, and intended for
the swamps of the south, which are impassa-
bic to any other kind of vehicle. They manu-
facture every thing in the shape of wheeled
vehicles, from light trotting sulky to the most
pcnderous timber wheels, and from the aristo-
cratic carriage of the city gentleman to the
more homely but useful wheelbarrow. The
sales last year amounted to $4,000. The
establishment employs about one hundred and
forty men. blacksmiths, wheelrights, trimmers,
painters, DC, &c. Most of them reside in the
immediate neighborhood Of the works, and
many of them, by their industry, have acquir
ed the houses IN which they live, while several
have considerable other property.
The first American who discharged his shot
on the day of the battle of Lexington, was
Ebenezer Lock, who died at Deering, n. H..
about fifty years ago. He resided at Lexington
in 1775. The British regulars, at the order
of major Pitcairn. having fired upon a few
frebels'' on the green in front of the meeting
house, killing some, and woundng others, it
was the signal for war ''The citizens" writes
one, ''might be seen coming from all directions,
in the roads, over the fields, and through the
with his rifle in his hand his pow
der horn sung to his side, and his pockets
provided with bullets. Among the number was
Ebenezer Lock. The British had posted re-
serve of infantry mile in the rear, in the d.
'ecton of Boston. This was in the immediate
1eighborhood of Mr.. Lock, who, instead of
Fastening to join the party at the green, placed
himself in an old cellar, at convenient distance
or doing execution" portion Of the reserve
we're standing on the bridge, and Mr.. Lock COM
nenced firing at them, though there were no
other Americans in sight. He worked valiantly
or some minutes, bringing down one of the
enemy at nearly every shot. Up to this time
lot gun had been fred elsewhere by the re-
'els. The British greatly disturbed at losing
20 many men by the random firing of an un-
een enemy, were not long in discovering the
nan in the cellar, and discharged a volley of
bullets, which lodged in the wall opposite. Mr..
Lock within-remained unhurt-continued to
Dad and fire with the precision Of finished
narksman. He was driven to such close quar-
orc bouoror hv tho Prti u, IN bic r,rbt nn5