Morning journal and courier., 1880-08-17
CORRESPONDENCE.
A Return to Civilization-Arriving Be- hind Time-Dancing Attendance a Private Car-A Description of the Great Washburn Flour Mill.

A Return to CivnIzation-Arrivin Be-
 hind Timc-Dancing Attendance on a
 Private Car-A Description of the Great
 Washburn Flour Mill.
 NIooLLET HOUSE,
 MINNEAPOLIS, Aug. 9.
 To the Editor of the JOURNAL COURIER
 We arrived here yesterday (Sunday) morn ing, over two hours late, having been de- tained at Breckenridge waiting for private car containing the Osborn party. Private cars are fast becoming nuisance, in that they deprive the general public of their just rights After washing of the alkali dirt, and taking a good exhilaratiug sleep, I wit messed at o'clock refreshing shower, the first rain have seen since leaving New Ha- ven A delightful carriage ride through the suburbs of the city in the evening with my friend MT. Burwell, Ca Connecticut boy as sistant cashier of of the leading banks here, closed one of the longest Sabbath days I have ever experienced.
 AS I am to leave on the 11:3O 8. m. train, must pass by many points of interest in order to give you better description of the four milling interest than did in former letter The first object of attraction in Minneapolis sought by visitors is that locality known as the Mill district Minneapolis is second only to St. Louis in the quantity of flour produced, but it far outranks it's rival in the quality, and may safely be called the greatest milling city in the Union. On the first of July, 1879, its mills aggregated 220 run of stone. Since then the Washburn Mill A, which was destroyed by fire and explosion in May, 1878, has been rebuilt. This A mill is built of blue limestone, from plans furnished by Adolph Fischer, the celebrated milling engineer of Buda-Pesth, Hungary. As viewed to-day in it's completeness one can only remark, can there be a more handsome or a more perfect flour mill in the world? Its machinery has been constructed with especial reference to the exacting demands of the four market, and with the intention on the part of the proprietors of turning out a better grade Of flour than any of their competitors. Messrs. Washburn, Crosby < Go. have already accom- plished their object, and to-day the Washburn's Superlative is household word all over the land where high grades of flour are used, and in no State has it better hold than in Connecticut The view of the Washburn A mill that is obtained by passengers over the Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul railroad, while calculated to impress one with its great proportions gives but faint idea of it's real size To get the best impression one must pass around the mill on the Seventh avenue side and take position on the canal platform, and take in it's length, breadth and height. Standing thus on the platform we begin to appreciate the journey that is before us ere a tour of the mill will be made. All the availa- ble space between the canal and Second street is occupied by the vast structure, it's frontage on Seventh avenue south being PA feet, while on the canal front and on Second street there is a frontage of 100 feet. Seven stories of the mill proper and an attic, or in reality another story, with tall cupola on the top of this, (the summit of the latter being 75 feet above the canal platform) make up it's height. Alongside the mill on Seventh avenue south is 8 two-story addition, inde- pendent of the mill however, in which are located the private office of ex-Governor c. c. Washburn the general offices, for book keepers, &c, and back of this the steam heating apparatus for the mill. The offices on both floors are finished elegantly in red oak, while the apartments used by Governor Washburn are fitted up ill an elaborate man ner with Brussels carpets, easy chairs, and all the usual appurtenances of gentleman's s private business apartments. Some idea Of the excellent railroad facilities enjoyed by the mill may be gathered from this point, as we perceive that an arched tunnel extends through the mill for the passage of railway cars. and that it's upper or Second street front, faces the tracks of the Minneapolis & St Louis and Chicago, Milwaukee St. Paul railroads. The exterior having been casually scrutinized, we proceed to enter the center door of the structure, but here our attention is arrested by an inscription on Q large marble tablet over the door, which re- cites the destruction of the former mill on the evening of May 2, 1878, and also gives the names of the employees who were killed upon that occasion. The sentiment, Labor, wide as earth finds it's summit in Heaven,' is fitly traced upon the enduring marble.
 An entrance is now effected, and we per- ceive that we are on the first floor of the mill, where along on the right and extending for 236 feet is the main line of shafting, which, under the impulse afforded by Boy den water wheel under forty foot head, runs the entire machinery in the mill. The iron hurst frames rest on stone and brick founda- tions, and these on the solid primeval lime stone ledge The first floor also holds sub terranean wheat bin, having capacity of SC, ,OOO bushels of wheat, which also extends up into the second story. AS the fine Reedy elevator stands ready to carry us up, we avail ourselves of it's proximity and rise swift Iy to the second or grinding floor Here we perceive that the railroad tunnel, before re- ferred to, reduces the size of the center of the room, but that space is utilized by ten pairs of At feet ending stones, all in motion Occupying the west side we find three rows of granulating wheat rolls, forty-two in num- Der, all noiselessly at work under the eyes of careful attendants. In the east end we find sixteen sno Sth chilled iron rolls (S. M. & +. )
 
 mems of mechanical skill. Ranged upon one side of this room are also ten pairs of French buhrs, surrounded by the most elegant curbs and fixtures that the reporters eye had ever rested upon. The conveyors, the glass lndl- eating receivers and all the woodwork is of the most costly description. The office of the head miller, which is also on this floor, is large, costly furnished apartment, which, however, judging from the activity of that gentleman, is but little used by him as rest ing place. Leading out of the second floor at the north side is stairway, which, if fol lowed downward, uahers visitors into Gov ernor Washburn's office, while on level with the landing are the other offices else where referred to.
 The third or packing floor is one of the busiest in the building, and here we begin to see the result of subjecting wheat to such rolling, grinding, bolting and purifying Here are seven Eureka packers, each rapidly filling clean looking barrels with snow-white flour, and back of these are seven square iron re-