Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-04-03
local anD State Nems.
The Sprague Industy I'm Augusta.
THE Factory IN OPERATION.

WI. Jdmes ID. Moore, we Wefe IeSehhy
shown through the manufacturing works of
Messrs. Sprague, in this city, and the various
branches of the business clearly and compre-
hensively explained.
As is well known, the old cotton factory has
been enlarged, by the addition of one story,
entirely renovated, supplied with the latest
Improved machinery, and is now partially in
operation. We will enter the basement story
land take hasty survey of the premises.
This story is devoted to the uses of the ma
chine and repair shops, and even now in its I'M
finished condition, presents an agreeable con-
frast to the old machine shop when the property
WAS in the hands Of the old proprietors, under
/ heir live-or- die, 'let alone" policy 1t con-
fains many novelties in the mechanical line,
|hnd the best of facilities for doing all the re-
pairs that are constantly needed about man
|ifacturing establishment The iron work for
he new mill, north of the old one, is being
finished here. In the north end of the base
nent there is large room used for the pur-
pose of storage.
MANUFACTURE OF CLOTH FOR PRINTS.
The cotton in its crude state is first taken
n bales weighing from three to five hundred
pounds each, to room called the ''pcking
foom,' where it is made to pass through the
willow" machines, opening the cotton and
transferring it from a compact form to light,
leecy flakes. 1t is then passed by "blower"
through an attachment TO the machine into
tnother room, down one flight of stairs, TO the
breakers" and "finishcrs" TThe raw ma
|crial, we may remark here, is purchased by
contracting agents in the South The break
frs" and 'fnishcrs" divest the cotton of a
portion of its seed and the dirt which has ac-
fumulated in the process of gathering and
farrying, and prepare it in large rolls called
| laps, with a wooden centre piece The ma
|erial then goes to the card room, where it is
thoroughly cleaned of all remaining foreign
|ubstances, and taken by means of patent
appliance to the drawing frames. From thence
Pie staple product passes to the ''slubber,"
fhich gives ii more finished appearance and
congresses it into more attenuated form.
iere the ely frames" are ready to receive it,
nd when taken in their grasp, the new ma
|hinery, which is of modern pattern, per
|orms the labor of at least six Of the old style
hachines. Great accurateness has been at
Rined in this department in giving the exact
mount of cotton requisite for each yard of
he proposed fabric. After passing through
he ''fy frames" the material goes into the
lpinning room, where it is spun, and then
foes through process called ''warping. and
fterwards passed through huge machine
allied the 'slasher," where it is finished,
|ized, dried by steam, and mad> ready Cor the
|arp. The filling is made from what is
nown as the growing" which is prepared in
he mule spinning room. The ''slasher," al
ided to above, is an English machine of Won
erful construction and power, and is capable
| performing in one day as much work as
ne old "dressers" formerly performed in
toek's time, and saves the labor of five or six
! ands.
After the work of the ''slasher' has been
reformed, the beams on which the thread has
cen wound are passed to the dressing room,
here each thread must be drawn, not by
lachinery, but by hand, into the harnesses
nd ''reeds." This of course requires patience
nd tact, and is performed by females. Three
ours are consumed in drawing the ends on
ne beam into these appliances. After this it
ready for the looms.
In the upper weave room we found ll2
poms in operation, occupying about one half
he space in the room, the balance of the
Dom being filled with mules and other ma
hinery. The lower weave room contains at
resent "a looms in operation and there is
lrge space for other looms that have been
manufactured and are now being shipped.
When the whole room is filled it will contain
90 looms. Here the cloth is manufactured
nd passed to the cloth room, where it is sub
eeted to thorough inspection, measured,
ressed into bales by means of hydraulic
ress, and made ready for shipping to the
rint works of the Spragues in Cranston, II.
Six thousand yards of cloth per day are
manufactured and but about one half of the
poms are working. These are run day and
ight, with separate crews. The mill is now
evoted exclusively to the manufacture of
rint goods. One hundred and seventy Ave
peratives are now employed.
PREcAUTIoN AGAINST FIRE.
The facilities for conveying water to all
arts of the building in case of fire, deserve
special mention. In the basement are sew
raj large cistcrns, supplied with water direct
rom the canals, from which the water is
breed through pipes running to every part of
le building, with hydrants in each story and
servceable and lengthy hose attached, ready
Or immediate action. In the willow and
ECKER rooms, where there is great danger to
c apprehended from the communication of
re, perforated pipes extend across the cell
lg, so that in case of fire these rooms can he
asily flooded in few minutes. Should there
G failure on the part of the pumps to perform
heir part, there is a large tank in the upper