The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1866-11-02

used, with great waste of space and greater loss
Of power and even then 10 was always liable to
accident But William Fairbarn was the first
machinist TO whom it occurred that these diti-
culties might be overcome by substituting iron
tOT wood In 1918 he and his partner set up for
Mcconnell X Kennedy at that time the greatest
cotton spiuners in the world, new mill, in
which this change was in part Effected lt gave
immediate satisfaction, suggested other inn
pIOYements and, alter some ten years OF bait
ung with the preiUdices of older engineers, led
TO an entire revolution i'm the construction OF
mills Tor the manufacture OF cotton and other
textile fabrics. The ten ears were about at an
end when Peter Farbaitn went to Leeds, there
TO put In force and bring 10 further perfection In
the making OF machinery for WoOlen, HaX and
silk mills, The methods introduced by his
brother.
For this his establishment, known as the Wei
lington Foundry, has long been famous. Illus
iralion of his services 10 the mechanical arts
may best be given by enumeration of the pa
tents taken out by hin during the thirty years
OF his most energetic work. The first was IN
1884, ''lor an improved method OF preparing
sliyering or rowing hemp, flax, and other dbrous
substances for spmning.n In 1888 he secured
exclusive rights 'tOr certain improvements in
looms lor weaving ribbons, tapes, and other
laorics,' and "ior certain improvements in ma
chinery for rowing, doubling, and twisting cot
ton, flax WOOL OF other hbrous substances
Another patent was granted him in 1910 FOR
Improvements IN apparatus for hacking, comb
ing, preparing, OF dressing hemp and aaX;n and
we're 'for various improvements in machinery
for hacking, COidlng, drawing, rowing, and
spinning flax, hemp, tow, silk, cotton, and other
hhrous substances; also in constructing and
applying models or patterns Tor moulding, pre-
paratory to casting parts of machinery employed
IN preparing, spinning, and manufacturing
hDrOus substances; and also in certain tools to
be used in making suCn machinery The last
patent taken out by him was i'm August, 1860,
only four months before his death, "fOr improve.
ments in the construction Of rollers used in
machinery for preparing hemp and flax All
The work done in the WcliingtOn Foundry
was noted for its extreme neatness and
thOrOughness; and the establishment has
been famous during more than a quarter
Of century for the order and regularity with
which 1t has been conducted For a long time
its chief productions were connected with eX-
tile manufactures; but during the Crimean war
1t became conspicuous for another branch of
ron work, the construction Of tools to be used
at NOolWlch, Enfield, ana other Government
factories in the making of Armstrong guns and
all sorts of smaller firearms. That led to some
change in the character OF the business. Orders
came in for engineering tools OF all descriptions,
and Just before his death, Peter Falrbatln was
employed in planning alterations of the esta-
blshment in accordance with these new re-
QuiTements.
Memorable chiefly as a man of business Peter
FaTDalrn was IN other ways conspicuous and
useful burgess OF Leeds For several years pre-
vious to 1912 he was a member of the Town
Council and ia that year he excused himself
lOu COnJlnu nuduCe dJ tue posi- Oy paying Vne
usual fine of ESQ. In 1854 he was chosen Alder
man. and in 1857 he was made Mayor of Leeds
In 1858, as Mayor, unlooked-for distinction came
to him, consequent on the opening of the new
Town Hall on the 7th of September.
AT his instlgation the Queen was persuaded to
perform the ceremony, and during her Majesty's
stay in Leeds she was his guest at Woodsley
House. In acknowledgment OF his services he
was knighted by the Queen, and reelected
Mayor by his felowtownsmen. Every plan
calculate d to promote the general welfare and
prosperity of the borough, to make its posi-
ton as the metropolis Of the West Riding more
apparent and decisive ii was said Just alter his
Peter Fairbairn and with a zeal and pecuniary
sacrifice that showed his heart was in the cause.
During his two years mayOralty Leeds gained q
prestige far greater than it had ever previously
occupied He was the first Mayor who mani
tested a thorough appreciation of the value OF a
cordial and friendly unity between the mer-
chants OF Leeds and the gentry OF the country.
Not only IN his official capacity did he show hts
desire TO advance the interests Of the borough,
but as q private individual his sympathy and
| purse were never wanting for anything which
! would promote this end. He was n good sup
| porter of the various scientific, literary, anC
| other useful institutions in the town, and
! generous contributor to the local charities
| Honest and Supplemented in all his dealings
the very perfection ofa self-made man OF business
! Sir Peter Fairbairn died on the I'd of January
! 1861. There are now in Leeds one or two othe
! iron foundres quite as large as, If not large
than, that established by Fairbairn, Just as TN
| town is now famous resort OF other worker
| in wool and flax than Benjamin Gott and JOIN
cially remembered as being, each in bis owl
department leader of one of the three grea
sources OF the wealth and fame OF mOdcr
Leeds. - London Society tor October