The Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1877-1885, 1884-05-23


days, is found: thence it goes to No. 2,
where it finds ware burnt five days ago,
and cooling since that time, and so on to
No. 6, which department was fired yes
terday. AS the ware comes to warmer
air at every step. it becomes gradually
heated, and in the last still red hot CO.
partment, No. 6, it of course becomes red
hot. In this state of the highest heat it
supports combustion in No. 2, and in
creases its effect in an astonishing degree
In No. the air gives its oxygen to the
fire, and the gas produced by the combus-
ton. goes to No. s, where the ware has
been smoked, warmed and heated for five
days, and where it will be heated to red
ness by the red hot gas. After No. has
been on regular fire for twenty four hours,
from No. 8 this gas goes to No. 9, and
so on to No. 12, in which department it
finds the last set ware; thence it goes
through the open fue to the smoke gath
ering chamber, to the stack, bnt as, since
| it left No. s. it has passed through
cooler departments, it gave off more and
more heat to the ware in these eopart-
ments and arrives at the stack well cooled
and mixed with vapors of water taken
from the last set ware to ascend to the
atmospheric air. No visible smoke is
rising from the stack, the combustion
being perfect one ON account of the red
hot air supporting it, and when the last
set ware is perfectly smoked out and dry,
the stack does not show whether the kiln
is in operation or not. The Oldest ware
in the kiln, No. 1, is now taken out and
replaced by unburnt ware, which at the
usual rate of working, should be done
once in twenty four hours. After this has
been done, the slide is placed between
Nos. l and 2; door No. and flue 12 are
close, and door No. 2 and flue No are
opened. In the meantime apartment No
is sufficiently warmed and the fire is
advanced to No 8. Thus the operation
has advanced one copratment, and in the
same manner it advances every day with.
out interruption, though the kiln may be
worked fastar or slower according to the
desire to burn more or less ware. It'll
easily seen that this has important advan
tages over the working of the different
kinds of old kilns. There is a complete
exhaustion of fuel in Hoffman's kiln, as
the heat once developed in the kiln i:
used again and again, only that part is
lost, and has to be replaced, which fol
the purpose Of supplying the draft goes
through the chimney into the air, and
that which is lost by the radiation of the
walls of the oven which cannot be retain
ed. The saving of fuel has proved to b.
from two thirds to three fourths of TIT
amount used in other kilns.
The four small kilns, are of the com
mon kind, and will hold about 30, 600 feet
of three inch tile apiece. When the ware
is finished, it is necessary to shut of tn
fires 20 cool off the kilns so the ware cal
DO taken out.
ls SIDE WALK TILE.
Mr.. Lee prides himself greatly on tn
sidewalk tile which is manufactured a
the Argillo works. This tile is made il
blocks of 10 by IS inches and q inche
thick. They are of dark straw color
hard burned and perfect in form. Whel
laying them for walks no cement or NOR
tar is used, but they are simply laid il
four or five inches of sand Whereve
this sidewalk tile has been used it give
the best of satisfaction. They are boun
to be popular, and are being introduce,
in every city in the country. The block
arc sold at IL cents, and their cheapnes
; and durability recommends them to all
MINOR NOTES.
The engine room is nicely arranged, an
a very powerful engine is used to run tn
+ machinery. There are two large pump
in this room, one of which supplies til
| boiler, and the other furnishes water 70
| general use. A trap located over tn
4 engine takes the condensed steam from
= the hot floors, and takes the water moist
1 IRE back to the boiler by pipes.
? Brick and tile are manufactured in a
s sizes and shapes. Among the specialize
2 is sectional culvert pipe
$ be used for railroad, WACO
: and street culverts, and an engin
s fire brick of large size. A car load o
these bricks are furnished monthly TO th
Union Pacific road alone for their el
gines, and this is only small proportio
of the amount shipped. From eight
twelve car loads are shipped daily to a
parts of the United States, and the O
ders for ware are constantly increasing.
The buildings which comprise ii
works covers about five acres. The be-
of order prevails in all apartments, an
Mr.. Lee engages none but sober and CON
petent men, and they all live in Carbo
Cliff. .uI ,-.
The smoke stack to the Argillo WorE
are one of the finest we have ever seel
Ii is firmly built, is IS feet high, and
does not contain flaw.
There is an old oak tree standing mes
:, the office door, which Mr.. Lee say
greatly resembles the famous charter oal
There is large cavity in the base of tt
trunk, precisely as the charter oak.
The blacksmith shop connected with Il
works is presided over by Mr.. Stephe
Eiker.
Thanking Mr.. Lee for his courtesy an
y hospitality the scribe withdrew, being Ell