The Kansas herald of freedom., 1859-09-24
.AWRENcE, KANSAS. SEPTEMBER "a, 1859
Utilizing Small Things.

A correspondent of the Philadelphia
North Ameyican Gazette alludes to the saw
ing of what is called "waste' at the AL
toona maehine-shOps Of the Pennsylvania
Railroad as follows "Waste is cotton
shreds and rags used for cleaning locomo.
tives and other machinery. 1t soon be.
comes saturated with oil and dirt, and in
that condition is useless. This article,
seeming like small item, adds, neverthe-
less, some eight thousand dollars to the
expense account of the road. Some in
genious Yankee proposed washing this
waste by steam, using soda or some other
cleansing compound, afterwards drying it
in centrifugal drying machine. 1t was
tried and proved that, by renewing, this
item of expense can be reduced at least
one-half. The degree of attention paid
to these minutie in. detail, will, at any
time, upon SO extensive an undertaking,
make the difference between a dividend
or non-dividend paying road.''
It is surprising to what an extent SEEM
ingly useless articles are utilized in the
manufacturing arts. We will present a
few examples to illustrate this point
The prussiate of potash is made in large
quantities in Cincinnati; from hoofs; horns
aud other refuse of slaughtered grunters.
Cow hair taken from the hides in tan
neries, is employed for making plastering
morter, to give it sort Of fibrous quail
ity.
Saw-dust is daily sold in our streets for
sprihkling the floors of markets it is al
so used for packing ice for shipment.
The rags Of worn-out shirting, calico
dresses, and the waste of cotton factories,
are employed to make the paper upon
which these lines are printed.
Old ropes are converted into fine note
paper, and the waste paper itself which is
picked up in the cutters of our streets, is
again re-converted into broad, white
sheets, and thus does duty in revolving
stages. .....
The parings of skins and hides, and the
ears of cows, calves and sheep are care
fully collected and converted into Peter
Cooper's famous glue, made out at "Old
Bushwick.'' ........ ..
The finer qualities of gelatine are made
from ivory raspings-the bones and ten
dons of animals.
Bones converted into charcoal by roast
ing in retorts are afterwards employed for
purifying the white sugar with which we
sweeten our coffee. DC.
The ammonia obtained from the distil-
latlon of coal. in making gas, is employed
for saturating orchil and cudbear, in max
ing the beautiful lilac colors that are dyed
ON silk and fine woolen goods.
Carbolic acid, obtained in the distilla-
ton of coal-tar, is employed, with other
acids, to produce beautiful yellow colors
on silk and wool.
The shavings of cedar wood used in
making pencils, are distilled to obtain the
otto of cedar wood.
Brass filings and old brass kettles are
re-meited and employed to make the
brass work of printing presses and pumps
Old copper scraps are used in the con-
struction of splendid bronze chandeliers
for illuminating our churches and the
mansions of the wealthy. ia
Old horseshoe nails are employed to
make the famous steel and twist barrels
of fowling-pieces.
Coal tar is burned and made into lamp
black, used for printers ink, common
black paint and backing for shoes, &c.
The cast-off gauze dresses of Parisiar
bellies are purchased for mere song, anC
sent to the West India Islands; wher'
they perform a second duty in decorating
the sable daughters of the tropics.
Oyster shells are burned in kilns ant
afterwards used in making cements, thei
base being pure lime.-ScientJfc Ameri
car.