The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1866-02-24
ARGILLO WORKS.

Five years ago we noticed, in the columns |
of this paper, the commencement and COM
pletion of the manufacture of yellow Rock
ineham ware, &c., at the Argillo Works, SIT |
usted al Carbon Cliff, 10 miles east of this
CITY, on the Chicago & Rock Island Railroad.
Yesterday we again paid them visit, and
we found, to our surprise. that the original
establishment had been entirely lost in the
new and wonderful improvements added since
that time. We are informed. and believe'
that these are the largest works of the kind
in the United States There Is now one build
ing so by 90 fset-three stories high-en-
trely occupied in the manufacture of dishes,
pitchers, and such articles as, by their pecu-
liar shape, cannot be made by machinery
The next building is of stone, 80 by 80 feet,
q stories high. This is entirely filled with
machinery of the latest and most approved
plans, many of the improvements being made
by the proprietors. Here the clay is prepar-
cd by steam ; in short, the clay comes in at
one door in the crude state as it is brought
from the mine, and goes out at another in
the shspe of bowls, milk pans, butter jars,
mugs, &C., &C.. all ready for the kiln, and
this is all done by the help of steam, cranks,
pullevs. belts, SO. We also noticed that this
building was heated by steam, and the clay
was boiled to a proper consistency for work
ing by steam-in fact, steam and machinery
seemed to have sole occupation of this build
ing. and the superintendent informed Us that
said occupants were irreproschably faithful
and reliable.
We next passed to the engine and mill
house, which adoins and is attached to the
last named building. This is 90 by % feet
and occupied by very nsat and substantial
looking engine of thirty horse power. There
are also IN This building glaze mills for grind
ing glaze for the ware, crushers, for grinding
burnt clsy for FIRE brick, drain tile machine,
brick.maohine, pug -mill, &c, &c. Surrroun-
ding this building are about 1000 feet of
shed, used in the manufacture of fire brick.
Next is building 100 by 80 feet, l! stories
high, used for the purpose of manufacturing
stone ware. The ware-room, office and
store room occupy building 100 by 40 feet.
The next structure we entered was round,
100 feet in diameter, $50 feet IN circumfer-
encs. containing Hofmsn's kiln. This kiln
was invented by Mr.. Hoffman, of Berlin,
Prussia, about three years ago, and at the
present time there are about two hundred in
operation in various parts of Europe, this be
ing the first one erected in America. As 1t
is something so entirely different from any
kiln ever before used for burning ware, in
this country or Europe, we will attempt to
l.. - ~ -, q.
It consists OF circular arohed kiln (canal)
of 10 feet middle diameter, 8 feet inner
width and 7 in height, intended to receive
the material for burning. This material is
introduced through twelve doors, which are
in the outside of the walls at equal distances
Twelve fues, corresponding with the doors
lead in rad al direction from the hearth Il
the smoke chamber where the openings o.
the fues can be closed by cast iron bells OIL
cones. The stack is situated at one side o
the kiln, and is 80 feet high 4 movable
slide of sheet iron 9 feet high and 8 fee
wide is let down. Immediately after each CO
partment, in crevices left in the walls for tina
purpose. thus cutting off the section Of tn,
canal, like wall. The fuel falls through ap
ertures in the roof of the kiln and through
kind of bag left in setting the ware, directl.
upon the hearth of the kiln, where nun bel
of fue-lke openings are left to give the frt
free passage through all parts OF the kiln
The working of the kiln ia done in the fol
lowing manner: 1t is, as mentioned before
divided into twelve departments, each o
which has door or flue, and has two GREY
L.
ming of work il these kiins is different from
It's normal operation, and as only the latte
is of Importance, will consider the kiln
filled with ware in all it's twelve department
and in full operation. The slide stands be
tween departments II and ], then the doc
of No. is open, all the rest closed, the FIRE
burns in No. Z, the departments from l to
contain ware already burnt, gradually cool
ing, Nos to IL nnburnt ware gradual,
heating. The atmospheric air enters tn
open door of department No. l, in which thu
oldest wars, burnt6 days previous, consequent
" cooled for six days,is found thence 1t goe
to No. 2, where it finds ware burnt five day
ago. and cooling since that time /; thence II
No. and soon to No. 6, which co-partmen
was fred yesterday. As the ware comes tt
warmer air, at every step it becomes gradual
" heated, and in the last, still red hot CO
partment, No. G, it of course becomes rec
hot In this state of the highest heat it sup
ports combustion in No. and increases it
effects in an astonishing degree. In No.
the air gives its oxygen to the fire and thu
gas produced by the combustion goes to No
z vbaro tho uara has heep epoLad uar.n or