The national Republican. [volume] (Washington City [D.C.]) 1866-1870, 1869-04-24
the washington city eis.. works.


establishing Q mandatory Of gla - articles
in the city OF Washington was preached
among some Of our enterprlsing business
men. The project was talked over, and az
ter Il had been duly considered q company
was formed and the initial steps, towards
the establishment Of the enter ,rlse was
taken. A lot Of ground was pure hased on
street north, between Twenty-fSurth and
Twenty-nfth streets, fronting 225 feet on n
street with n depth Of 800 feet. On this lot
a large and commodious factory has been
erected with the necessary furn aces, &c.
The entire cost Of the ground and buildings
has been $4,000.
As this enterprise has thus assumed def
mite shape, and the mandatory has COM
menced operations with fair prospect OF
success, we doubt not that our readers will
like to be advised Of the manner In which
glass Is manufactured, and also as to the
great results and benefit which must accrue
10 our citizens from the successful operation
of this new branch Of industry 80 auspicl-
ously begun in Washington.
Glass Is a hard substance, frail and trans
parent, resulting from fusion by fro Of GER
tain mixtures Of silica and oxidos. Il 10
ono Of the most ancient productions of indus
try, and one OF the most useful. Consider
ing the wonderful progress made In science,
physical and chemical, we may well say
that, after iron, no substance has ever been
so useful to man.
The uses to which this production is ap-
piled are many and varied. Entering largely
as 1t does in building operations end domes-
tic uses, Its great worth Is familiar TO all.
Glass manufacturing occupies one OF the
most prominent positions 10 the Industry Of
nations, and In this country has proved very
successful, as can be shown by the evident
prosperity OF the great manufactures OF
Pittsburg, New York and Boston. Never
theless glass Is still imported In very large
quantities, thus proving that the field for It's
manufacture is still open. In Pittsburg
alone there are GO glass-houses, producing
over two million tons Of ware per year, and
yielding over four million dollars. We have
now one mandatory In Washington, which,
II is hoped, will be a nucleus for many more.
VISIT TO THE FACTORY.
The mandatory commenced operations
on Monday last, and when visited by our re-
porter, yesterday, was in full tide OF opera
lion under the superintendence of Mr., John
Peter Colnc, glass worker Of eminence,
who has had long experience In this branch
Of industry In the great manufactures Of
Baccarat, France. The buildings and neces-
sary furnaces have been constructed under
his supervision, aud from the manner In
which he has completed the arrangements
we feel confident that in his hands the enter.
prise will succeed beyond the fondest antici
patlons Its projectors. As yet Mr.. ColnC
has attempted only to manufacture chimneyi
to be used on coal oil lamps; these are nov
being made at the rate OF 100 dozen per day
Of course In the new state of affairs IL /
necessary that experiments should be mad
with the different varieties Of sand to b
found In the neighborhood, to the end tina
the quality of the glass manufactured sha
ia nft To 90 a ahat L.,
such articles as are to DO turned out fror
this factory.
We are happy to state that from the ex
poriments made, Mr.. Colne gives II as hi
opinion that the sand to be found In the i'm
mediate vicinity will make q nrst-rate quail
ity Of glass suitable to be formed into fin
glass tumblers, goblets, shades, decanters
lamp chlmneys and such other articles Al
may be desired to be manufactured for thi
market. At present there are but eigh
.'lass-blowers at work, but as soon as further
ArranL "ments arc completed the force viii
be increased, cutting shop will be fitted-up
and cut glass III all It's forms will be mann
factured. These Arrangements will be com
plcted in the course OF two weeks, and thei
our citizens will have an opportunity of Judg
ing Of the quality of glass manufactured i
Washington. The followingis something O
the modes opcrdndi Of glass making rs see
at the factory.
As white sand Is the principal article use
in the manufacture OF glass, great care an
attention Is necessary to cleanse II from a
impurities, and for this purpose an apparatu
is arranged in the shape of an inclined plan,
On this the sand is placed and over Ii
stream of water Is run, the sand meal
while being stirred about by one OF the work
men. The force of the water washes out al
the grit and dirt from the sand which fall
into a trough placed TO receive 1t. Whel
-. l. aaN4A
placed in large pans and dried by FIRE heat
So pure and clean Is the sand, after hayinl
gone through this process, that II looks an
feels like coarse flour. Pearlash, soda an
other ingredients are mixed with the san
and sometimes broken glass. II is mo-
ready to be melted, and for this purpose
thrown into clay crucibles which are bui
up inside Of q furnace. This furnace al
It's Are requires constant attention, as 1t
necessary to keep the crucibles and the
contents at a white heat all the time. An
having melted and attained thorough viii
heat the glass Is ready TO be manufactures
As lamp chlmneys are the only articles y
being made at the factory, We had only O
opportunity yesterday OF seeing them mani
featured.
How few of our readers when seated wit
their lamp before them have an idea Of win
variety of shapes the glass OF which
chimney Is composed has to go through b
fore II assumes the required form. To ma
one of these chlmneys is the work Of 70
men and boy. And this Is how II Is don
The first workman takes tube OF iron abo
five feet in length, which Is called bio
pipe; this he plunges Into the crucible CO
tanning the melted glass; portion Of I
melted substance adheres TO the metal tul
which is quickly withdrawn, and the wor
men, with dexterous movement Of {
hands, rolls 1t round on Il slab Of iro
rp11 tlp frYtn hos
man seizes the blow.plpe and blows throuI
it, expanding the round ball of glass.
then hands II TO workman number three, W
is seated on bench. He, with a pecull
formed tool, manipulates the hot glass Ia
something of the shape Of a chimney. WI
cutting instrument he clips of the Gu
thus showing at the end of the tube an II
perfectly formed lamp chimney. A b
hastily beats the end of another tube,
taches it TO the end Of the chimney, al
places 1t In small hole in the furnace d
aligned for the purpose. When at red he
II Is withdrawn, aud workman number 70
Is placed in possession. lie is seated on
bench, and upon receiving the hot impC
fectly formed chimney, works with 1t In
sklllful manner, and In few seconds
see laying In box before him perfect Ian
vhimncy ready for market. othe proce
OF making chimnoys progresses, one bell
made complete in about two minutes.
In making nearly all other articles for d
lncstc usc similar form Is necessary, b
Tor such articles the glass ware, as from Il
hands Of the blowers, Is too brittle TO star
much handling. It Is necessary, therefor
that 1t should be auneaIod or tempered, al
Tor TINS purpose a very complete and /
genlous arrangement has been prcnared /
Mr.. Colne. This consists In q long owe
similar to that used by bakers. This ovt
is about thirty feet in length, aud has ire
doors at either end. Through the furnace
sort Of a railway from one end to the 9th
runs. On this railway are number of ir,
wagons about feet long and is inches wild
hot fire Is built In the furnaces on eth
side Of the oven, and when the proper he
ma been attained the glass articles a
PLACED on the iron wagons, started from O.
Chl ana run through the oven. By the tin
they nave reached the end Of the oven opp
site that In which they are started they a
sufficiently anncnlcd and arc ready for Il
market,
OF course the description here given ia in