The evening Argus. [volume] (Rock Island, Ill.) 1861-1871, 1867-12-30

sizes, capacities, and purposes. We hrst
visited the mammoth kiln, occupying the
interior of two story building of a circular
form, l20 feet in diameter with circumfer-
ance three times that number of feet, of course,
and known as the Hoffman kiln, the plan
having been devised by Prussian Of that
name, some five years ago. This Is SAID to
be the only one ofthe kipa in operation in
America, though sevsral hundred have been
erected in Eurape. Like the building which
enclcses il ats form is circular, and also
archea At its side is smoke stack 80
f-st high, Its middle diameter is 20 feet
inner width feet, and height, feet In
tersecting it, at regular distances apart, and
furnished with doors at the outside, are
twelve passages or fues which extend rad
tally toward the smoke chamber, where the
openings of the fues can be closed at pleas
ure by means of cast iron cones. In these
passages, the ware, in clay state.is deposit
ed for burning. To separate the different
passages, are movable sheet iron slides,
eight feet by nine, which can be let down at
will, and fitting closely in crevices in the
wall, completely prevent the escape or
spread of heat. except as desired. The fire
is fed by means of openings in the root of
the kiln, into which but few hsndsful of
coal are thrown at a time. Upon the hearth
are number of apertures which give the
fro fraa r,loy fhroprb Al l.,
kept burning in but one of these passages at
time. the wares not being burnt at one
time like brick, as many people imagine, but
being subjected to regular process, to give
detailed account of which would be quite
unnecessary, if not uninteresting. In each
passage is differently graded state of heat.
While the ware in half of them is gradually
being cooled, that in the other half is being
gradually heated. Among the
advantages of this kiln, is the great saving
in fuel, which is fully three-fourths of that
used IN the ordinary manner, the same heat
being used over and over again until
entirely exhausted. The ware is also
burnt in thoroughly uniform man
ner, thus preventing the great waste
unavoidably incurred by the old system
When in operation, no visible smoke issues
from the stack, the combustion being so
complete. To satisfy our curiosity we visit
ed one of the passages, where fire had not
been kindled for long time past, but were
Immediately driven out by the heat, and the
gases which were almost overpowering.
We then visited the building where the
ware is manufactured and prepared for burn
ing, which is thirty by one hundred feet in
size, attached to which is a smaller one
twenty BY ninety, where twenty horse pow
er engine is located. In the larger building
are the mills used for grinding up the glaze
required in finishing the ware; crushers for
grinding burnt clay largely used in the man
ufacture of ali good fire brick and also the
machinery for turning out brick and drain
tile. The fire brick manufactured here are
of superior quality, and having won
high reputation, are being widely introduced
throughout the Northwest. Wherever used,
they have given entire satisfaction, and by
good judges are considered the equal of any
ever put upon the market. In fact, the Ar
gillo works enjoy monopoly of the home
trade in this line-a very suggestive fact
In regard to the drain tiles, little need be
said. These have been found to work so
satisfactorily that no farmer with low land
would think of doing without them.
IN tho 20
quite surprised to find SO many really beau
tiful, tasty, and useful articles produced
from Illinois clay. The chimney tops, capa-
BILE of so much utility, are also gotten up in
style ornamental in the highest degree and
to any tasty cottage would prove valuable
additions. In the line of cheap and attract
i've garden ornaments, the managers of the
Arglllo Works have aimed to contribute not
little to the finer tastes of our people
We were shown fine collection Of statuary.
pedestals, garden bases, casolets, flower pots,
hanging vases &c. &C., warranted to survive
any weather, and well adapted to ordinary
garden purposes. Such articles as dishes
and pitchers cannot be made by machinery,
and are accordingly turned out by hand with
the aid of plaster moulds. For this depart
ment a three story building is used, twenty
by fifty feet in size. The articles when prop
erly shaped, are allowed to dry, and are then
neatly and carefully trimmed, after which
they are ready for burning.
The remaining building is two and half
stories high, and thirty five by eighty feet in
size, being mostly filled with machinery of
various kinds. The clay is transported to
this building, when taken from the banks.
Ordinary workmen are not employed in ex-
cavating the clay, as great deal of practice
and judgment is necessary to distinguish
and assert the various kinds. A blunder
would result in considerable loss to the
company. In one portion of this building
the clay is beaten up, strained, cleaned, and
otherwise prepared for use. On the second |
moor, milk pans, bowls, and other such ar.
ticles aremanufactured by means of centri-
fugal force
An adjoining building, forty By one hun
dred feet contai's an office, store-room, and
ware-room. Coniacted with the company's
works IS capacloush boarding house for the |
single men Employed and also dwelling
houses for men of familis. The eompany
has lately made arrangemeAs for a novelty |