The news and herald. (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1877-1900, 1880-10-07
The w,nam,Il. Of Rhode 1,lapd. :,

One Of the many pleasing objects pre-.
sehtlng Themselves to tine eye in the
numerous fine drives from Newport to
The other two towns--Mtddletow to
Portsmouth on the same island, are the
"ld-fashioned windmills. They NAV
truly be called old-fashioned, not only
On account Of the antiquity OF this
method ofglinding grain, but also be-
cause OF the venerable age of the struc-
lures themselves. Most prominent
among these is the Old Stone Mill.
built two hundred years ago by Cover
nor Arnold, which has 80 aDsurdly
been made " do duty as a relic OF the
legendary visit OF the Northmen to
Newport. The Governor mentions
This structure III u deed OF land adjoin-
ing It's site, and he evidently built it
after the model which he had seen near
hls own birthplace In England, which
IS still In active working order. Doubt
less many grist vas, in years gone
by, ground within this rootiess relic.
The lack Of running streams, tidal or
otherwise, on the island, compelled
the first English occupants Of it to have
recourse to this method of manufacture
ing their breadstutfs. 1t offers pretty
fairly balanced comparison of facilities
and costs with the use of water power.
There are eight of these windmills on
the island besides Arnold's, seven of
them doing active duty when the cle-
ments are favorable to their operation
the view of them in motion is very
agreeable, though horses are very apt
to be frightened by the sight Of their
expanded wings. The one neal est to
Newport Is OH the edge Of Aliddlctown,
to the west Of Paradise road. This was
built and originally set up at Tiverton
more than a hundred and twenty-five
years ago. Its substantial oaken tim
Ders, which OF course, have been often
recovered, are rs hard as iron. Such a
structure needs to be very strong, or
else the wracking which Il stiff wind
gave to its sails would soon tear it to
pieces. The main timbcrs and cross
timbers are firmly stayed, so as to allow
nothing more than that apparent work.
ing which Is felt on miG-ocean In the
best built wooden, or even iron ships.
The neither milestone Is set about eight
feet from the floor, so thoroughly Sc
cured as not to be started in It's posi-
tion. a windlass arrangement draws
up supply Of corn to feed the hopper,
and flights of steps 60 to the top to
facilitate the oiltng OF the machinery
aud the regulation of the movement
Another external wheel sets the sails
or fans to the wind, the sails being cX-
Panded or drawn in by rope gearing.
The horizontal revolving shaft Is con-
nected with a perpendicular one, to
which is firmly attached the upper
millstone. or course the power ana
capacity of the mill for work depend
upon the force OF the wind. If this be
tempcstuous and gusty, it is not safe
to allow It's operation. A force OF at
least ten or twelve horsepower is re-
quisitc for grinding hard Indian corn
into fine meal, but feed may be munu-
facturcd with somewhat less force.
Twenty-Five bushels Of fine meal Is
fair product of the mill for one day.
Seen at a little distance, the huge fans
turn gracefully in apparent silence, as
if in harmony with the zephyrs. But
when one Sands Immediately Mndcr
the shadow Of the structure there Is q
majestic sweep In them attended with
corresponding sound, not exactly
noise, and one is made to imagine what
wOulI be the effect on hjc hoa, ~,
skull, if he stood in the way. Yet the
required momentum seems to be less
than than that of machinery moved by
steam or water power.