The western Democrat. [volume] (Charlotte, N.C.) 1852-1870, 1867-01-15
ROCK ISLAND WOODEN MILLS.

claim for it, one of the best Wool Factories in
the South, if not in the United States. We found
1t perfect in all its parts and the several apart
ments SO admirably arranged that the whole works
like the machinery of clock.
The goods produced in this establishment are
| of very superior order. SO much 80 that the
Northern Commission Merchants say they are too
honestly made to come in competition with the
New England fabrics, or large proportion of
! imported goods. The Company will be compelled
| to look to the South for support. and culpably
guilty will our people be If such enterprises are
not fostered and encouraged. We have examined
the goods and can truly say. that they are the
best we ever saw made, and our people ought to
wear them; and we respectfully insist on South
ern Merchants placing the productions of this
Factory upon their counters, and giving the con-
sumers an opportunity of testing their qualities.
This is al! the Company ask, and they feel salts
fed that when the durability of these goods is
tried, that the enterprise is beyond failure.
We will endeavor to give description of this
mammoth establishment, but feel that we shall
fall far short of conveying correct idea of its
proportions. 1t must be seen to be appreciated.
The Factory IS situated Immediately on the
North Carolina Railroad and almost in the heart
of thriving little city. 1t is four stories high,
each Of which is filled to its utmost capacity with
machinery. The ground floor of the building is
84xlO0 feet, divided into three apartments. The
first, 5OxlOO feet, is allotted exclusively to the
finishing of the goods. We there saw machinery
at work that requires good mechanic to appre-
ciate. The second apartment of the ground floor,
20xl00 feet, is used for drying purposes, which
is done entirely by steam. The third is for dye
ing Here we found large watts for this purpose.
SO arranged that water can be heated to any
temperature, and regulated with as much pre-
cison it is possible for anything of the kind to
be done. The manner in which the heating is
done will speak of more particularly hereafter.
The second floor is divided into two apartments.
The first, 5OxlOO feet, is filled with looms for
weaving; and here for the first time, we witnessed
the manufacture of fancy goods, but to describe
the manner will not even attempt, for it is be-
yond our comprehension-those large and mag
nifcent looms working like creatures of intelli
gence, throwing up first one color, then another,
and with such mathematical precision that it is
almost impossible to make mistake. The Sc
cond apartment of this story is used for warping.
beanng and sizing the warps; all Of which is
done by machinery of the latest and most inn
proved patterns.
The third floor is counterpart of the second.
divided into two apartments. but used for very
different purposes. The first, 5OxlOO feet con-
tains six sets of cards. three in sett, making
eighteen cards, and two wool pickers. We have
often in childhood sat in wonder at the use of the
old hand card and thought it the height of
perfection; but who can visit this room and see
these cards at work but will forever lose sight of
the old hand cards and wonder that they ever
we're used. We witnessed the entire operation
of cardng from the feeding of the wool on the
first breaker, until it passed through the second
breaker and fnsher; it is then spread upon an
apron that works upon the principle of AL endless
II, oil E
burrs and other impurities, thence and through
the cards. until it is combed off and passes on to
a roll, from which it is conveyed to the 'second
breaker" and is taken from it in similar man
ner; from thence it passes to the third card or
fnisher, from which it is taken off on q spool and
is ready for spinning. All Of this operation we
witnessed with much pleasure. The second apart
ment on this floor is divided off into bins for the
reception of the wool it comes from the pickers
We could have spent hours in this apartment
where We only spent minutes, and left it with re-
luctance but soon found ourselves amply repaid
by ascending to
The fourth story, 50x100 feet. where we in
spected the spinning operation. When we heard
the humming noise our thoughts ran back to
childhood but when viewed the workings of
the spinning machinery technically called by
manufacturers, "Mules'' and Jacks" (of which
there were seven in number.) our mind naturally
H.
These seven Mules and Jacks have about
two thousand two hundred spindes, and were
informed that they could perform what would be
equivalent to the labor of at least four thousand
females, and do it great deal better. Here
could have stood for hours, but our guide beck
oned Is to return aud examine the motive power
which moves this vast quantity of machinery.
To do this, we had to descend to the ground floor
and were taken into the engine and boiler rooms.
The Engine works as beautifully as any we
ever saw, and looks almost as bright as when it
was pronounced ''complete" by the maker. The
boiler is certainly curiosity, it being composed
of succession Of cast iron globes, each of which
holds about one gallon of water. and each globe
is wrapt in fiery flames. thus giving more heat
and generating steam faster than the old style
boiler. This boiler, of one hundred horse capac-
ity. furnishes the steam for the Engine, for the
dye watts, for the dry room and for heating the
entire building. No fire is allowed inside, and
the heating arrangement is certainly very perfect.
There is also pump constantly at work while
the Engine is in motion, which throws water into
all the rooms of the Factory, thus supplying the
operatives with water to drink aud also safe
guard in case of accident by fire. We have
never spent an hour more proftably than did
in looking through this magnificent establishment.
The establishment works about ninety hands.
and gives support to not less than two hundred
and fifty persons. all Of whom dependent upon
the success of the Company for subsistence 1t
is managed by Gen. John A. Young as President,
and James Earnshaw, Superintendent. Gen.
Young has been closely identified with the manu-
facture of wooden goods for the last eighteen
years; indeed he is of the original founders of
Rock Island" and we may say the father of the
enterprise. AS for Mr. Earnshaw, his labors
speak for themselves. Who can look at those