Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1869-10-06


Factory near Nnrembufg,
We first enter a largo basement.
room containing two rows of huge
vats placed 10 a deeccndiLg series,
like steps One row 10 devoted TO The
puridcation Of the graphite, the other
70 that Of the clay, aud tc process is
The same for both substances. Tho
raw material is thrown into the first
vat end a quantity Of water added
the mixture isthen thoroughly stirred
aud afterwards allowed to settle,
when the valuable ingredients rise to
tho top, or rcmain in succeeding
strata, while the earth and stones
sink TO the bottom. A plug is then
withdrawn about midway IN the vat,
and the thickly impregnatcd water
falls into the second receptacle, whilo
the mass of mud remains in the first.
In this manner the material passes.
through water five times, when il has
become sufficiently pure to be poured
into bag OF thick cloth, which is
subjected To a heavy press until tho
water is drained away, and the lead
or clay is leit in a solid mass, when it
is placed in iron pans and dried in a
furnace After the lead aud clay
have been dried and mixed in suitable
proportions, water is added ard tho
mass is put into mill consisting Of
separate stones, occupying the whole
length Of large apartment, and con-
necled with the steam engine by
hands running along the upper wall.
Under each milestone is u tub to col
lect the mass which slowly escapes
from the tremendous pressure, and
falls in thick gray drops from the
wooden trough beneath the stone.
This process is repeated ten or twelve
times, when the mass is again dried
in the oven. Afterwards ii is laid
upon fiat surface and hammered for
considerable time, then shaped into
a cake and sent TO the second press,
from beneath which il falls in spirals
of difieren. sizes corresponding to the
apertures through which it is pressed.
Those long sprals are collected and
handed TO operators, who sit before a
table and busy themselves in straight
ening the still flexible cords by lay
ing them into boards grooved TO a
corresponding size. The boards, when
filled, are laid upon shelves just below
the ceiling where the warm air of the
room will have most effect After u
day or two the leads are placed in
other hands to be cut for the length
required Tor pencils, and carefully
assorted the perfect specimens are
then laid in boxes and sent to another
room, where they are enclosed in large
boxes of iron Theoretically sealed, and
subjected to the intense heat Of fur
mace fire for five hours, when the lead
is sufficiently tempered for writing
purposes, aud passes into the care Of
the workmen who furnish the wooden
enclosure, though il must first bear
the scrutiny of the faithful proprietor.
who personally makes trial OF
specimen of the contents of each box
before he allows il 10 20 forth under
the stamp Of his honest name.
The refuse ends and broken pieces
of leads are sent back to the press,
where they become incorporated with
a fresh mass, so that there is no waste
of the precious material.
We may now leave the lead manu-
factory and enter the long building
appropriated to the workmen in cedar.
As we ascend the stairs the air is heavy
with the spicy perfume, and great
blocks and slabs Of the pink and white
wood, just as they were hewn in their
native American forests, are lying in
the passage. On opening the door
which leads into the first work-room,
we fiud ourselves in cloud of dust
and amidst heaps Of soft shavings, the
work Of the many fine saws which are
revolving so rapidly in their frames
as to appear stationary, while tho
hoarse growl of the machinery below
is exchanged for a sharp buzz, as
though gigantic bees and flies were
endeavoring to escape from spider
webs as strong us ships cable
Here We see the whole process of
cutting the wood for pencils; one
workman holds the block undera saw
which works with frightful force and
prepares the slabs for q moro dill
cate machine which saws them TO
the proper thickness; another set Of
tools, also worked by steam, gives the
requisite angels TO each half Of the
form; another makes the grooves for
the lead The next room is furnished
with tables, around which the work.
men sit, each performing special tax
according to a systematized division
of labor, and then giving what he has
finished TO another until il thus passes
from hand TO hand through the sue
ccssive stages Of development; one
lays the lead into its groove, another
CLUES it over, the third applies the
cover of wood and CLUES the halves
together.
In the room devoted to the final
processes-the polishing, coloring,
gliding, stamping, arranging and
packing of the penoils--only women
aud girls are employed it is the old
story of Vulcan and Venus. though
the harmonious union Of the useful
and beautiful is perhaps better exem-'
plified in the Workmanship than in
the workers Hours az Home.
TRAvELiNG ny Boar" Halo, there,
Captingw said brother Jonathan to
a captain Of a canal packet boat, on
the Erie Canal, "what 90 you charge
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