The Portland daily press., 1863-11-12
MATTERS ABOUT TOWN.
First Manufacture Of Glass in Maine.

A<coS tudu efA moHtic ASO TIC COlici stoic
Of the first glass mandatory in this State was
laid, on lot of land on Canal street, above
the works Of the Gas Company. Through the
energetic proceedings of the Company, under
the supervision OF Mr.. Eggenton, Superinten-
dent of the Works, the mandatory has been
pushed forward, so that the building has been
completed, all the apparatus put in, and, last
evening the manufacture Of glass commenced
for the first time in this State.
The building is pronounced, by the employ
ees, who have been engaged in glass factories
In other States, as the most convenient and
commodious one in which they have ever been.
They also say that it is the first one they have
been in, where the comfort of the Operatives
was looked TO, in preference to taking up every
foot OF room for some other purpose.
The fires under the furnaces were started
on Monday, and the ingredients for the manu-
facture OF glass, composed OF sand from Berk-
shire County, Mass, pearls, nitro Of soda, salt
petre and oxyde of lead, were placed in the
furnaces. These were in a complete state of
fusion last evening, and at 7 o'clock the manu-
IdttutC VI Eio5S was SchnihSuSSa. lHC uOUIs
of the furnaces were thrown open, disclosing
molten sea of liquid glass. The operatives
were all at their stations. In few moments
they were seen to dip their tubes into the sea
of glass, and, after obtaining sufficient guam
tity of the fusion, to blow it into some regular
form. The manufacture last evening was
confined to lamp globes and chimnies, aud the
expedition in which these were made was
wonderful to those who had never before been
inside of glass works.
The lamp globes after being manufactured
were place in the "lear" or annealing furnace
to be tempered. The chimnies were subject to
no such process, but were turned out as they
came from the hands of the operatives. This
annealing furnace is well worth looking into.
Over the articles placed in it there is perfect
wave of fire, as beautiful rs one ever witness
ed, rolling like the waves of the sea, which
tempers and coots the glass manufactures
which are placed in the furnace
The first operation Of the Company was
decided success. There were some old opera
tives from other establishments in the country,
and they all testified their acknowledgment
of the superiority of this establishment over
any in which they had been engaged
Mr.. Eggenton the Superintendent, has had
much experience in the manufacture of glass,
and he has brought all his experience to bear
upon making the most modern improvements,
besides many suggestions ofhis own experience
ed mind, in the erection of this mandatory.
The operations Of last evening were perfectly
satisfactory, not only to him but to the stock
holders, who were present. There was 10
break or interruption in the proceedings;
every thing went off like clockwork, although
it was the first time Of trying the thing. He
has gathered around him some of the hest
operatives from other glass works. and we
doubt not the Portland Glass Works will be
a complete success. aa
An opportunity was given to the stockhold-
srs and members Of the press present to try
their skill in blowing, which was done amid
much merriment from the operatives. The
editor of the Argus and ourself tried our
skill. What We manufactured is not for sale,
Next week the company expect their presses
and moulds, when the manufacture of cut
glass ware will commence; and they will turn
out all the varieties needed.
To the worthy Superintendent we are un-
der obligations for Information and facilities
rendered to US last evening, and also for some
specimens Of the first glass manufactures in
Maine.
The company at present employ about fifty
hands. They work six hours on and six hours
of during the twenty-four hours of the day,
excepting Sunday, on which day no work is
done. As the business of the establishment
progresses, hands will be employed