The Portland daily press., 1870-10-27

growth and prosperity Of the city. All that is
true, but very little seems to be done about it,
have been recently in many towns in Mas
sachusetts, where the people are active and en-
terprising in introducing variety of manu-
features. There is no place in New England
where so much of this is done as in Worces-
ter, except Providence. Portland is much bet
ter fitted for a manufacturing town than the |
former, because there all raw materials, in |
Gliding fuel and food, must be transported by |
railway, while here, everything is water-borne.
There are now going tup in Worcester several
great establishments for manufactures in met
als-which can be carried out to much better
advantage in this tity.
have now in mind one manufacture that
might be introduced here, on moderate scale,
at first, viz: small castings in iron and BRASS
and the working Of many of them up into the
finished articles now so largely used here IN
water and gas fixtures. Great quantities OF
these castings are purchased by Portland peo-
pie every year, which could be made on the
spot cheaper than in the inland town where
we obtain them.
Great quantities CT cordage, lines and Irvine
are consumed and sold in this city, but they
are made in other places. Formerly we had at
at least five large cordage factories and two for
lines and twine; but at present, not one. Why
not?
Immense quantities OF cart and carriage
axles and carriage trimmings (of metal) are
consumed in this city and State, which could
be better and more conveniently supplied from
Portland than from any other place. A great
variety Of manufactures could as easily be in
troduced here as that of boots and shoes, now
carried on extensively, employing great many
people. This business has grown up entirely
in Portland, within a few years. Within the
State it is already very large, producing all we
require for our own consumption, with great
amount for expectation. Thirty years ago all
our boots and shoes were brought from Massa-
chusetts; and the most of them were obtained
there as late as twenty years ago, think.
Heavy goods manufactured along our water
front can be produced cheaper than those
which are burdened with the cost of land
transportation. So we find that in many
places, like Fall RIVER, for example, the saving
in this matter is much more than the extra cost
of steam power over that of water. All the
factories in that town, in Providence and Wor-
cester are driven by steam, because they have
no other power.
In Portland it would be well worth our while
to inquire whether we cannot combine all the
cbeapness of water power with all the advan-
tages Of steam. At four miles from town we
have set Of water falls, over which is pour
ed all the waters Of the Presumpscot, a large
and never-fsiling stream. Even in the ex-
cessiye drought OF last summer there was
water enough there. Cheap but strong water
wheels possibly might be established there for
condensS air. which might be conducted in
to town in pipe, like water Or gas and dis
trbuted in larger or smaller quantities, to
large or small factories, precisely in the mode
adopted for water and gas
10 not say positively that this can be done
practically and economically, but only that it
is worthy Of Investigation. My opinion is that it
would be both practical and very economical,
at any rate, there is nothing within the PROV
ince of mechanical engineering .more easily
determined before striking blow to accom-
pish it.
Compressed air is in every respect as man
agable and convenient as steam, and far safer;
tue only question between the two, is one of
cheapness. Compressed air can be applied to
al ordinary steam engine precisely like steam
If an air pipe were now to pass under any
street in this .city near steam engine the
main could be tapped and the compressed
air let out to start up the works in the mora
ing, and in every respect the machinery
would run precisely as it did the day before
with steam.
Portland is particularly well situated for tue
or off "a 4
cheap. 1t would not be matter of doubt or
experiment, but simply one of figures. There
are the water wheels set and ready to run,
costing SO much; the air pumps ready to run
would cost SO much; the main for power of
six hundred horses would cost, all ready to
run, about eighteen thousand dollars mile:
twelve hundred horses about one half more
we have four miles of main to lay-call it five
and that is the whole off The compressed
air in any quantity will cost only so much, like
water, after the main is laid-and not like
gas, every foot of which costs something, in
addition to the cost of the works and the main.
In working steam engine, there is the con-
slant and heavy cost of the fuel and large
and unavoidable loss by condemnation. There
IS nothing OF that in the use Of compressed air.
1t may be let on and shut off, precisely as
steam is at an engine, never requiring to be
"got up" as that is, but always realty 1t has
every advantage of the best water power, with
this in addition-that the Mills lin Portland)
may be placed in any desirable spot, and the
motive power be- brought cheaply to them, and
the cost for repairs will be very small
The most costly and troublesome part of
steam enginery is the boiler, which is not
wanted in using compressed air. and all the
danger Of steam lies in that and the chief cost
ofrepairs. The practicability of using air in this
way is not matter of experiment, for that
has long been settled, the only question about
it is what Twill be the cost of delivering COM
pressed air, per horse power in Portland, and
how much will be wanted at price sufficient
ly above the cost, to induce the enterprise to
be undertaken. All the elements of this calctl-
lation are as simple as those of the cost If five
miles OF railway, SO many yards of gravel i'cut''
so many yards of ''hii"-and so many "ties''
and SO many tons of rail.
have BOT a penny of interest ia this, ex-
cept that which every citizen has in the geper-
nj .IrTAx