Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-10-06

substance which nourshes the huge arm OF de-
fence. The time the spear will be mbedded in
the dispositions of ivory. Bumenbach more
than fifty years ago Investigated this very sub
jcct, and reported upon a spear head found in
the solid ivory, and very truly accounts for its
position there. and in addition to proper testi-
mony, says, 't is very clear that no human
strength could drive such body (spear) through
the side of solid ivory. .tusk."
The growth of elephants teeth may be de-
termincd after the same manner as the growth
Of tree. and that their owners do live to rather
an autc-deluvian age, when not hunted down
for ivory. is corroborated 10y reliable history.
Under the guidance of Mr.. Bush and Mr..
W. VI. Pratt, took great interest in watching
the making an ivory comb from the saving out
Of the piece TO tho packing in paper loxes.
Every one of the twelve stages Of manufacture
is thing Of machinery, with the exception of
the bleaching and packing. Some of these
machines are truly wonderful and give the
Merdcn establishment the advantage of all
others in the world. For instance, to plane
down the edge. formerly required the work of
eight men the machine, and one man to at
tend it, now does the same work.
One little machine which occupies the space
of one foot square scrapes in eleven hours the
ivory which, before its invention, required ten
men to do the same. 1t scrapcs or planes off
$500 in the time mentioned. The sorting of
the pieces for the combs was formerly very inn
perfectly done by three individuals who placed
the cut ivory on end, and selected according to
sight Now kind of movable railway is load
ed with the nice white bits suitable for varions
sized combs. The rails move round, but widen
every three inches at the rate of one hundred
and twentieth part of an inch. Beneath are
little boxes three inches wide, and the pieces of
ivory fall into these according TO size. Thus
one woman can feed the railway, and can per-
lectly sort 900 pieces in day. The cutting
uf the teeth, tone side at an opcraton) by cir
cular saws is not the least part of the business,
for the thinnc>s of a saw cutting 2l2 teeth to
an inch is something truly extraordinary. How
ever the finest combs in practical use have but
~ teeth to the inch.
More piano and melodeon keys are prepared
here than elsewhere. No part of the tusk is
lost Certain pieces not used for combs and
dressing comb teeth, whites of d0minoes, ivory
pencil holders, measuring rules, &c. The saw
dust of the ivory makes from 300 to 400 bushels
of manure for which farmers pay 40 cents per
bushel. The scraps and shayings are purchased
at 30 cents per bushel for hardening steel, so
that great is the gain from elephants teeth. l
can say nothing about the bleaching houses two
stories high having combined length of ZOO
feet--where the sun is made to perform most
purifying work. And | can only add that in
coming from investigating an establishment
where 80 much nice work and perfect machinery
is to be seen, together with quiet operatives and
genllemanly proprietors, | could not help feel
ing proud of my countrymen and their inven-
tions Journal of Commerce.