The Cairo daily bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1870-1872, 1871-05-27
clear. To any Of our readers, who, like
Horatio, are ready to exclaim--

OF mine own eyes"
we would say, that we We had the "occular
proof The hardest piece of seasoned
oak that could be found in the shop was
hlled with perfectly mortised holes in our
presence, and so perfectly and smoothly
does this machine do its work, that parti-
. tions no thicker than sheet of paper
we're left between them. Two Of these
machines are used on opposite sides in
mortising the hub, so that only seven
drives OF the machine are required, to
mortse the largest hubs, requiring on an
average, only thirty seconds to do the
whole.
This wonderful machine was originally
, invented and patented by Mr.. l.. Eames
, of Kalamazoo, Mich, but has been great Y
improved by his son, the efficient Super
intendent of the Cairo Works, ard in cv-
cry way tested by several years practical
, operation. A large part of the business Of
the concern, will be the manufacture of
these machines, for sash and blind facto-
ries and car works.
Some idea may be had, OF what the hub
factory will be able to do, when we state,
that, all the various machines used are
lperfectly automatic in their movements,
the only labor required in their operation
being in making the changes from one
machine to the other, and with five or six
men to do this, two hubs a minute can
easily be made from the rough block.
| sTAvE AND BARREL WORKS.
| Those of our st. Louis readers, especial
ly interested in this branch of manufac-
ture, will remember that at our last State
Fair, Mr.. Ii. Fish was the successful ex-
hibitor, who bore Off both the first and
second premiums over thirteen COMPETE
tors, for the best -four barrel slaves. This
same Mr.. Fish has lately formed part
nership with the enterprising firm Of Par
son & Davis, of this place, for carrying on
the stave and barrel business here on a
large scale. Mr.. Fish will personally SUI
perintend the mechanical duties Of the
concern, while the other gentlemen will
attend to the financial matters.
The immense quantities of lumber suit
able to their purposes, in close proximity
to Cairo, make it desirable point for the
extensive works this firm will soon have in
operation. They have secured a large
three story building formerly used as an
elevator, situated on the bank of the river
so that their lumber can be foated to the
very doors of the factory.
A full line of new machinery of the best |
patterns, is being rapidly put in place,
and work will begin in II few days. This |
machinery was selected by Mr.. Fish in
person, in Eastern markets, and has all |
the latest improvements, which, together
with the life long practical experience of |
the Superintendent of these works, is
sufficient guarantee of the superior quality
of the products this factory will soon be
turning out. They will manufacture all
grades of slaves, besides running an extern
sive cooper shop. Their capacity will be
twenty to twenty-five thousand slaves and
a proportunate amount of heading per
day. We consider this one of the most
valuable acquisitions to the manufactur-
ing industries of Cairo.
CAIRO BOX AND BASKET COMPANY.
Who hns not wandered where all the
boxes came from, in which the endless
quantities Of small fruit are yearly sold
on our markets? Well, last year, one
million five hundred thousand of the
quart boxes came from the Cairo Bor and
Basket Compdny's Works, together with
thousands of crates, peach baskets of all
sizes, cigar and candle box material, etc.
On looking through their extensive es-
tablishment the other day, we at last dis
cerned the secret of how boxes can be
made so cheaply, that, in the sale of
quart of strawberries, the box seems to be
Of no account, but can be given away
with the fruit.
Let us follow poplar log, in its tran
stion from raft in the river, into boxes
ready for the market First it is cross !
cut into sections of from two to three feet |
in length. These sections are then placed |
in large steam chests, having a capacity
nF to- avl Il
twelve hours they become thoroughly |
saturated with the hot vapor. From this |
chest the sections, one by one, are swung |
by a crane into the embrace of a veneer
ing lathe, one Of those ingenious machines,
that can, in few minutes change one of
these steamed sections into continuous
ribbon of wood, no thicker than paper
or into candle box material nearly half an
| inch in thickness-or into several hun
dred fruit boxes, all grooved and mortised
ready to be put together IN an instant,
and held by single tack-or into mil
lion toothpicks, sharpened for use-or into
as many cigar tapers, and each taper hav-
ing the cabalistc 5. T.-1S60-X prin ted
upon it, if Mr.. Drake so elects.
Yet like all wonderful machines this is
very simple one. Tho cylindrical sec |
tion is made to revolve rapidly against n |
cylinder so furnished with knives as to |
cut into the solid wood just the lengths
and widths required, while on the opposite
side is IA long sharp knife, shaving OF. the
outside at the requisite thickness.
One of these machines will make so, 900 |
quart boxes in a day. Messrs. +. +. Pee |
bles and j. w. Leslie are the proprietors |
of this concern, and though their product
of boxes and baskets last year. was count
ed by the millions, their trade extending
into sixteen States and Territories, yet the
demand continues so to increase that they
will more than double their capacity this !
season.
ST. CHARLES HOTEL.
Any notice of Cairo would be imper- |
feet without mention of this one of the |
largest and most commodious hotels in |
Southern Illinois. 1t is of brick, with |
brown stone trimmings SOxl00 feet in size |
and four stories high besides basement
and garret. The rooms are large anu well
ventilated, and all the appointments of the
building are convenient and comfortable.
Its cost was over 100000. This hotel has
recently been leased by f. ID. Rexfordi,
late of Chicago, and under his snpervi-