National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-11-11
LMPRO HEMENTS.
THE WASHINGTON BRICK MACHINE
COMPANY.

THE WASHINGTON BRICK MACHINE
COMPANY.
Satisfied that the seat Of government will re-
main where It was placed by the united voice Of
the statesmen whose memory and names the
DEMOCRACY are so fond Of invoking; feeling as
sured that the spirit Of progress and improve
ment inaugurated and carried out by the late
Board Of Public Works cannot halt; unterrifed
by the repeated cries Of "Ring" as each new
movement Of enterprise was made, certain public
spirited citizens OF the District have recently
started with all proper facilities a company for
With iustihable pride at the success Of their
endeaYor in its inepiency, they yesterday invited
men to be present at the works and witness the
almost lightning process of manufacturing. In
response to the invitation the works of the COM
pany were yesterday, about o'clock, filled with
a company Of gentlemen who fairly represented
the several phases Of Washington society, includ-
ing professional men, officials, merchants. and
The works are located at the intersection of H
street and the eastern boundary, of easy access
by the Columbia-street railway, and cover about
ten acres in area, most Of which is fine clay that
may be mined TO a depth Of forty feet. The build
ings, of course are those usually found in like
establishments consisting Of long, low sheds,
with this exception that in the case of this com
pany there is a substantial building erected for
the engine and machine rooms. The kilns are
near by, and between them and the machine
room are now being erected ovens, which will fur
nish artificial heat for drying, and thus relieve
weather
for that most important branch Of their trade.
Necessarily the first object OF interest was the
great machine, with its ponderous wheels and
cogs, as It performed its duty at the command of
the forty-horse power engine. Its simplicity
and labor are wonderful. The loose clay, stones
and all, are thrown by barrows' full into a hop
per, in which are four rollers or crushers, two
feet in diameter There It is pulyerized and drops
into the mixing cylinder, where 1t is tempered
with steam; thence into vat, from which 1t is
seooped by relay Of buckets on an endless Delt,
each Of which carries Just enough for one brick.
As the bucket reaches the end of its Journey
the contents fall into the prepared receptacle,
OF perfect mould. 1t is there caught on a broad,
endless belt running parallel some two hundred
feet, and at proper distances men stationed to
take them Oh, place them on barrows, and wheel
them to the drying room preparatory to being
placed in the kiln.
The process is certainly pretty one, aud its
utility may be judged from the fact that the COM
pany, with a force Of tWenty-three men and new
machinery, are turning out forty thousand brick
daily, and assert that with the same manual
labor, II the demand jusllles 1t, they can make
sixty thousand in q day. The machine is Ora
hams patent, and was introduced in this city by
Mr.. 3. Z. Haskin, representing the National
Brick Machine Company, Of New Jersey, who re-
NAMED to sec itin successful operation. The com
pany is organized under the general incorpora-
ton act, with an ample capital and the following
Hell-knoWn gentlemen as officers: y. F. Peck,
president; Henry A. Willard, vice president;
Lewis Clephane, secretary and general manager;
DR.. VIM. p. Johnston, treasurer; trustees. o. F.
Peck, H. A. Willard, q. b. Church, ]. 3. Evans
w. II. Phillip, X. /. Fleming, John Fraser, DR.
W: Z. Johnston, Lewis Clephane.
Alter the work in all its stages had been wit
messed, admired and compared with that In other
cities the guests were invited to accept the hospi-
tality OF the company in the shape Of q most ex-
eeilent Mneh with proper accomplishments, spread
on long tables In one Of the spacious sheds The
Invitation was duly accepted, the lunch disposed
ol-that is, All they could eat-and thenthe party
separated with hearty concentrations OF the en- |
teTprise and good wishes for the success Of the |
STOCKHOLDERS and managers.