Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1880-07-09
JorTINus ny TIE MAYsIpE.


PntLADRLPHtA, Pa, June 2S, 1880,
ED, JOURNAL - During another ramble 10
New Jersey made short sojouru at Glass-
boro, town Of 2 500 inhabitants, on the West
Jersey n. r.. eighteen miles from Philadel-
phia.
Here is located, So said, the Oldest glass fac
tory in the United States. II was founded In
i77Sby seven brothers, named Singers, who
failed in 1889, owing to the depreciation in
Continental money. Subsequently Whitney
Brothers purchased the establishment, and il
now is in possession Of the third generation.
As business increased, so were the facilities
for manufacturing, aud now there are four
factories in constant operation. The entire
buildings and yards cover over twelve acres Of
ground, with railroad track extending from
the main line into the yard. The entire busi-
ness is manufacturing bottles, walls and hol.
low ware, giving employment to 400 hands,
including about 100 boys from ten to eighteen
years Of age. To make walls and small bot.
ties the operator thrusls the end Of his blow
pipe into the furnace oi liquid or motion glass
taking out enough to answer bis purpose,
blows lightly in his pipe, and inserts the ga's
in a mould that is operated by boy gives
another blow, aud inserts the end Of his pipe
in the furnace again for more glass for nnoth-
er bottle. The hoy opens the mould, takes out
the bottle, and prepares for another. The ar
ticles are all placed in large ovens that are
kept moderately hot for twelve hours, aud
gradually cooled to tougher the ware. Large
bottles are made by experts without moulds,
giving tho desired shape by blowing aud
working in kettle-shaped vessels. II is an old
saying, " Practice makes perfect" Hence the
operators know, by constant practice, just the
amount Of glass required to make the desired
article. The largest made during my sholt
visit would contain from ! 2 TO 10 gallons. The
amount made per month averages 1000 psck. =.
ages, weighing 525 tons. Monthly pay ment to
the workingmen, ETC., is SIS 900. About 700
tons Of coal aud 800 cords Of wood are con.
sumed per month.
Thinking some Of your readers may b. curl
Gus enough to know what materials are used
to make glass, will say The principal ingre
dent is pure washed sand, Of which 800 tons
is used monthly also 100 tuus soda aah, II sort
of alkali, Is tons Of German and Miss uri
clay, 2 900 bushels of oyster shell lime, and
rs bushels of salt. The last named articles
are used principally tn facilitate the melting
OF tue sand. About 100 900 feet of lumber is
used for making packing boxes. farm con
necled with the estdb lis ment contains 600
acres of land, aud the capital invested is
$500, 900.
Que very interesting fact connected with the
business of the firm is that Lev. Garrett, Of
Philadelphia now Garrett 4 Sun, purchased
BOTTLES of the gtauduther Of the present
Whitney Pros. IN l7Sl- 0s years ago, aud the
trade has continued uubrOken up 10 the pres
ent time, both firms being now composed OF tue
third generation.
These minute details snd figures we're given
me by the kindness Of one OF tue firm, who is
head book keeper. This is not only une of tue
uIjest glass factories in the United States, but
il is one of the largest.
The massive blocks Of marble are being
piled ny. and some time will olapse before the
post Office will be completed in this city. AL
though $3.50 ,000 were appropriated by Cou-
gTess last winter towards the work.
There is now Stnwcd away in the vaults Of
the Philadelphia Mint, thirty two tons OF silver
dollars, representing 81 420 900.
Bishop simpson, Of this city, who stands at
the head Of the NJ. L. Church, left last week
for China, via San Francisco, whence he sails
in the steamer Toxic.
Yours, respectyJ RAMBLER.