The Union and eastern journal. [volume] (Biddeford [Me.]) 1854-1858, 1856-09-26
How Limo Is Made.

A correspondent Of the Rockland Gazette
gives the following description Of the pro-
cess
"0ur lime-kilns are constructed with
four walls Of solid masonry, cfabout fifteen
feet in height, and enclose space Of about
sixteen feet in length, by seven in width,
turning out, when the limestone is well
burned, about GOO casks OF lime. The back
wall Of a lime kiln is often built against o
hill, or rather against the bank, but where
the banks slopes gradually to the shore, this
cannot be done, and the space in the rear
of the kiln is filed up with earth, stone or
other material, to afford facility for bring
ing to the kiln. The front wall is perfora-
ted with three arches, two Of which are
about four feet in height and two in width.
The other is between these, and is o gothic
arch of about six feet in height and four in
width. This is called the doorway" as
through ii the lime is taken from the kiln;
and when the kiln is filed this arch is re-
duced to corresponding size with the 9TH
ers, by an inside I" setting" Of limestone
In filling the kiln, these arches are first cx-
tended to within foot or two of the back
of the kiln, by making corresponding arch
es in the limestone with which ii is filed
This is called "setting the kiln" aad the
limestone with which this work is done is
taken through the doorway" The kiln
is then filled up from above, and the top
rounded up slightly above the walls of the
kiln; the stone being thrown in compactly,
the fragments being broken with a sledgc
when too large to be slowed closely. When
the limestone is sufficiently burned, (Which
is known by its appearance at tho top Of
the kiln, and in tho archcs,) and after it
has cooled, the lime is "filled OUT" or in
other words put in casks ready for shipment.
First, the partially burned limestone at the
top of the kiln is taken of, and the lime is
separated from the stone inside, by knock
ing off the surface with hammers. This
process is called picking the core" at the
top of the kiln. The " setting" Of limestone
(now limc) in the large central arch is then
removed, in order to obtain access to the
lime within the kiln. This process is called
in the language of the craft, stalking down
the doorway In "fllins out" the lime,
several men are employed, in unloading the
casks, in raking down the lime to the "door-
way" in shoveling the lime into the casks,
and in heading up the full casks, &c. each
takin: his turn at these several branches of
the labor, and changing as often as ten
casks are filed. Each cask of lime must be
inspected, and bear the inspectors brand
and the name of the manufacturer. About
thirty cords of wood are usually consumed
in the process Of manufacturing q kiln OF
of lime. A General Inspector Of lime and
Casks isappointed by the State Government,
who appoints numerous deputies, and re-
ceives ono mill per cask for all lime inspect
oil by them. Rockland, undoubtedly man
uiactures more lime than any other place in
the world, and about three years since, there
was manufactured in this city, in one year,
one million casks.
The extensive quarries which produce the
Immense quantities of limestone requisite
for the continued manufacture of our
"starlc commodity" ARE situated about two
miles from the business centre of the city,
and must be an object of curiosity and in
terest to the stranger.