Vermont farmer. [volume] (Newport, Orleans County, Vt.) 1870-1877, 1876-10-20
Philadelphia Letter.
Machinery Hall.

comes first to the German exhibit and stops
to examine the great Krupp guns, of which
so much has been said and written. The
largest Of these pieces is twenty.six feet
long with bore OF twenty-five feet, and
weighs, with its carriage. about 81 tons. 1t
carries a charge which will penetrate six
inch armor plate at distance Of a mile,
and has a range Of about eight miss.
Passing on through this aisle, by many
things of interest, the great Corlss engine
stops tho way at the center Of the building.
Though it is an immense machine, it is dis
appointment to many who had expected to
be almost overpowered by the sight of its
greatness. So well does it harmonic with
its surroundings, and SO quietly and easily
does it do its work that one can hardly be.
lievc that when it stops all the whirr and
crash of machinery which pervades the great
building will cease as if by magic. How
ever, when the noon hour comes and the
great wheel slackens its speed and
finally stops, the visitors are almost
alarmed at the sound of their own voices, SO
loudly have they been talking to be heard
above the noise, now suddenly stillod. Tho
engine makes little over two thousand rev.
olutions an hour, or about thirty.four MN
ute, which is pretty lively work for so large
a machine.
AT the south of the engine is the pump
annex, containing tank 80 feet wide by
l2O feet long, from which pumps all sizes
and patterns are drawing streams of dirty
water, which disport themselves in the air aud
fall back to be again and again taken up and
disgorged by the voracious machines, whose
thirst is never satisfied. At the farther end
is cataract thirty feet high and forty feet
wide, kept at work by the pumps below. AT
one side of the tank are number OF elbow
ing machines" which cause great deal oil
amusement in the way Of blowing off hats
and other loose articles Of apparel. The
lorce Of the air blown from some Of these
machines is so great that one cannot hold his
hand over the current, and banners hung
over it are torn to tatters. BY many Of
these machines is placed a small mode
showing the inside working a great
convenience to the inquisitive Yankee
who always wants to know "how the thing
works"
Leaving the pump annex and passing
toward tho west end Of the building visitors
are sure to be interested by the "MohawE
Dutchmap," as he calls himself, with hi
grotesque costume, curious head gear, and
funny sayings. They find him a first elias:
artist in his line, which is fine scroll-sawing
BY the way this business Of scroll-sawing is
quite an industry here, the different sawyer
of which there are many-making various
fancy articles which they sell 10 great NUN
bers and at exorbitant prices as mementoei
the exhibition.
The south side and center of the west end
of the building is mostly occupied by steam
engines and motors OF various kinds anC
sizes. A machine for printing wall paper
stands nearest the end on the north side
The paper goes into the machine from I
continuous white roll and passes around q
cylinder about ten feet in diameter, alon,
the circumference of which are arranget
smaller cylinders as many in number as tn
colOrs which are to DO printed upon the pa
per aud each printing its own color as tn
paper passes under it. AS the paper Gomez
from the machine all printed it is hung upoI
frame which carries it about 300 feet, owe
a system Of steam pipes, by means of whicl
the colors are dried and it is ready to b
pat up in rolls.
Just beyond this is the paper mill, whict
battles description but is well worth examin
ing. The mandatory Of rubber good
comes next and would be very interesting
if it were not for the smell of burning rub
Der which always surrounds it.
About halfway between the center Of tn
building and the west end, and not far from
the north side, are the exhibits OF diiferen
scale manufacturers, among which the Fail
banks takes the lead, occupying about 4 90
feet Of space and showing $50 different pat
terms, ranging from the largest railroad seal
TO the most delicate balance used. In til
center Of the exhibit stands beautiful ma
bic statue of Justice hold the balance in GU
stretched hand. The mechanical parts of
platform scale of their manufacture whiC
had been in constant use and had weighe
with accuracy for forty years, are show
proving the justice Of all claims Of the
, scales to superiority in the way of durabilit
and accuracy. The standards of foreig
nations, to which they give special attention
ere shown across the aisle from the main 81
hibit.
The group of locomotives, the cotton an
wooden carding and spinning machinery, Il
great cotton "mule" carrying 4SO spindle
the different looms, weaving sails, sheeting
y corsets, suspenders, silks, plaids, giugham
: carpets, shawls, etc., the Waltham watt
works, with much other curious aud interes
: ing machinery are located near the center
= the building B.PP.
j. Philadelphia, october, 70.
v
d Fridays cash admissions to the Center
l. NAL exhibition were 81 COG. 1t is estimat,