The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1882-12-13
MANUFACTURING SILK.

Still or the wing, Have reached
this place about five days behind
schedule. Have visited the following
places in Orange county, N. Y: Mid
dleton, Otisville and Port Jervis. AT
Otisville we saw the familiar oil tanks.
Hawley is a place of about $500 pop.
ulation lying in the valley Of the Lack.
AWAKEN, on branch Of the New York,
lake Erie g. Western Il. R., 16 miles
from Lackawaxen, where it interscets
with the main line.
After our arrival here we visited,
through courtesy Of Mr.. G. M. Wilson,
a merchant of this place, who intro
duced US to Mr.. Suydam, the Superir@
tendent of the Bellemonte Silk Mil"
who very kindly gave us the freedom
Of the mill, which is located on
stream of water called by the Indian
name of "Wallenpaupack." The
structure is of solid "blue stone,"
built on a rockey precipice sixty feet
above the bed of the stream; the
building is $50 feet long by 45 feet
wide, four stories high atone end and
three at the other, with awing extend
ing from tbs centre 80x23 feet, con-
tanning the offices and packing depart.
ment. There is shaft sunk through
solid rock under the centre Of the
mill sixty feet in depth, and tunnel
from the bottom leading out into the
stream. The wheel furnishing the
power for running the vast machinery
in the manufacture of silk is at the
bottom of the.shaf. We first visited
the basement where the machine shop
is located, it being AScessary to keep q
machinist and two ssAtauts, besides
two mechanics called Gloom fxers" ia
keep things in order. We next visited
the boiler room and wash room, the
building being heated by steam, and
the silk as soon as received here hav'
ing to be washed ia ordert to remove
the gum. The silk is received in
skeins as it is reeled from the cocoon
coming in its original packages from
Milan, Italy. After being washed il
is placed in a perforated cyliuder
which revolves at high rate of speed
throwing the water out through the
perforations and in that way drying
the silk, is then taken to the wind
ing room and placed on "swifts' and
wound on "bobbihs." The bobbin'
are then taken to the doubling room
where it is doubled two, three or four
times, according to the size Of thread
required, and wound on other bobbins
thence to the spinning machines where
it is twisted or spun. From there it j;
taken to the reel room where it J;
reeled from the bobbins into skeins
1t is then packed in boxes and shipped
to Patterson, n. j., to be dyed, theil
facilities for dyeing here not being per
perfected after being dyed it is re
turned to this mill, to be woven into
broad silk, such as dress goods; alsC
ribbons. The grade will compare fla
vorably with any manufactured. They
employ from 375 to 400 operatives
consisting Of young men, ladies anC
children, from 10 years up to %; thu
children being employed in winding
spinning and reeling rooms; th'
young men aud ladies as weavers anC
warp pickers. The mill is Lighted b,
, gas, using 500 burners. would sa,
here that, IL addition the ston
building. there is frame building
, 60xl00 feet, three stories high, two on
ly of which are used in this business
this building being devoted entirely 4
the weaving Of ribbon and winding 0