Knoxville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1870-1875, 1870-05-25
PHiLADR1pn1A, May 10, 1850.

According to previous arrangements, we, this
morning, took the ferry boat, and after a plea
SAINT run of forty-ive minutes, found ourselves
at the Gloucester Landings and at once proceed
cd to visit some OF the large manufacturing es
adjustments in that vicinity. Gloucester is q
pleasant village in New Jersey, situated Il few
miles below Philadelphia, on the left bank
of the Delaware River First, we entered
the works of the Washington Manufacturing
Company, one of the largest cotton factories in
all this country, and operated with as much
skill and success as any other Mr.. III. f. West,
the Superintendent, received us kindly and ac-
companied us through the works. affording eve
ry facility for a satisfactory view of the ma
chinery and its operations which was possible in
the short space of time allotted for our stay. We
spent one hour here, and, of course could only
have n bird s-eye view of the vast establishment.
We visited the room where the cotton is taken
in its raw state, and whore, by the most inn
proved machinery, il is subjected to a cleansing
process, coming through machine after machine
in rapid succession, until every particle of dust
is removed. Then it is placed in carding ma
chimes and manipulated through number of
courses, until the fibre is Strengthened, when the
rolls are formed, and the drawing and doubling
process begins. This process soon brings out u
fine beautiful thread, ready for the weaver's
loom. Then the thread is subjected TO the Curl
Gus processes of sizing, warping, Nc, and soon
comes out, ready for USE splendid sheeting or
finer fabrics, as the case may he. We would not
attempt description of the various manipula-
tons which the cotton goes through from the
time it is placed in the Rip Van Wrinkle cleaner
until it comes out already measured for the job
Der, every process being performed BY machin-
cry of the most improved style This hour was
one of the most entertaining of our life, and
served to impress us much more profoundly
with the high character of man Inventive ge-
Mus. The capacity of this concern is 1000
spndles and 800 looms, propelled by an Inn
nense 325-horse power engine, which is kept as
bright and highly polished as the gold-ring up
on lady's finger. Ten millions of yards of cot
tom cloth are manufactured here annually. con-
Stunning two million pounds of cotton. About
l-seyen hundred hands are required 10 operate
the works, a large proportion being women,
| boys and girls. We have never seen anything
on so large a scale, whore such absolute ccanli-
ness is observed. The yards are covered over
with beautiful grass-plats and tastefully laid
out in avenues and walks, and not particle of
filth is to be found in them. The floors and STAIR
ways are neatly polished and perfectly clean.
| BY an arrangement for the purpose, the dust in
| most of the rooms is carried away, never annoy
| ing the worll-hands. An air ofcomfort pervades
| the entire establishments ,.'--@---s.-...
| After spending all the time We could here, we
preceded near by othe Gloucester Print Works
| another mammoth establishment with wide
reputation. These prints class amongst the first
| OF the country, and are in universal use. We
were introduced to Mr.. Schofold the Stlperin-
! tendent, who accompanied us through the yari-
| Gus departments of the concern. which covers
four or five acres. We first visited the room where
| the cloth is brought from the manufactures
Here it is unpacked, and the separate bolts run
! through machine for the purpose Of smoothing
! the surface, all loose threads and .aetes being
removed. Then it is subjected to a singing pro-
cess being drawn rapidly over red-hot cylin-
! ders, by means of machinery, which removes
| the mapping from its surface. Then the bolts
| are sewed together at the ends forming a con-
| tinuous line Of cloth for miles in length Mr.
| Brown, one of the proprietors of the Works
suggested that they had pa, ID enough through
| their works in that way to reach many times
! around the globe Being thus sewed together
the bleaching process commences Being first
packed in o large vat filed with lime, Il then
passes through number Of similar watts, con-
tanning chemical preparations for whitening the
cloth at last coming out white rs snow. While
! going through this process the cloth becomes
slightly twisted, but by the use of machinery
| for the purpose, one hand readily straightens Il
out, and IL is then dried by being passed sue
| cessively over number of cylinders which are
! heated by steam 1t is now ready for the prin-
! ter. The printing Is done by means of copper
! cylinders upon which are engraved the designs
! TO be transferred 70 the cloth The color to be
| placed upon the cloth in printing Il varied ae-
| cording 70 taste. After passing through the
printing process, it is suffered TO lay some days
| in room subjected to a constant temperature
/ Of about s2' Fahrenheit IN order To prepare It
! for reception in the dyeng department Here
! II again passes through number Of acids and
! other chemical processes in large watts, and
finally through the watts containing the madder