The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1885-04-11
Correspondence Baltimore County Union.
LETTER FROM CHICAGO.
A Baltimore Countian in the Great City of
The West


CHICAGO April 6, 1885.
| Messrs. Editors Il have just returned to Chi
cago, after absence of six weeks very pleasant
| ly spent at Racine, Wisconsin, which is about so
miles from Chicago, on Lake Michigan. Much
of the machinery with which the Baltimore coun-
ty farmers familiar, is manufactured at Ra
cine. The Mitchell wagon, which is SO extensive
y used, is being turned out at a rapid rate by
Messrs. Mitchell, Lewis q Co., who are making
a large quantity for the spring trade. Every
part of the wagon is made by machinery, and so
nicely that each part fits exactly to its place.
Then there is the J. /. Case ThreshiEg Machine
Works, which occupy several acres and said
to be the largest Of the Kind In the country.
These machines in great demand in the west,
but have not so great sale east.
Tanning mills are made by several firms and
just now all are pretty busy making them.
There are number of other factories, repre-
sentng different industries in this town, which is
essentially manufacturing community.
One of the most interesting factories to visit at
Racine is the Hardware Manufacturing Compa-
ny's, which, judging by its title, imagined was
chiefly devoted to the manufacture of iron or met
al goods; but on visiting the works, found this
was only part of the many things which are
there made. School and Office furniture of va
rious kinds, wood flooring or carpeting, row boats
small steam yatehs, veneer seats for chairs veneer
canoes, &c. The chair seats are made of thin
boards, three OF which are glued together the
grain OF the centre piece running opposite to that
OF the two outside boards, each piece being first
run between rollers over which the melted glue
runs in a continuous stream, then they are put
together and placed in large screw press, which
holds several layers of these three ply boards and
left to dry They are pressed into shape at the
same time The veneer boats are made in the
same manner, the press having mould of the
required size and shape.
Perhaps your readers will be interested to know
something regarding the making of the fat stave-
baskets which are so cheap and durable. In or
der to satisfy my own curiosity, visited the Ra-
cine Basket Factory, of which Mr.. ]. Gorton is
the principal owner. Mr.. ]. Gorton, Jr., very
kindly showed me around. There is not much
machinery used in making these baskets, except
ing for cutting the wood, which is done by steam
power. Blocks of wood about four feet long, two
inches wide and six inches thick, are put in the
machine which planes off splints one sixteenth of
an inch thick; these sorted as they come from
the machine; the defective ones are thrown out
and the others placed in piles. These splnts are
then put IN a large steam-box and thoroughly
moistened so that they will bend easily. They
then go to the weavers who weave them into sort
OF square mats which are placed ON a mold, the
shape OF the basket, and pressed into shape. Two
boys work together at this. They place a hoop
on the mold to form the inside top edge of the
basket, press lever which forces the splints up
1870 sHSh "HOtueI HOOp OTiFeu up on the
outside edge. The boys, with cheeks full of tacks
on one side and perhaps quid of tobacco on the
other, tack the hoops on tight, and so rapid can
they do this that they merely appear to walk around
the form as they drive the tacks. From them the
baskets go to the trimmers, who, with sharp knife,
trim off the rough edges, nail on the handles and
the baskets, being tied up in dozens, are ready to
ship. These are the common small sized market
baskets. The corn baskets are made in a mold
the right shape and finished in a similar manner
to the others. great many styles are made,
from small dinner basket to the two bushel corn
basket. They are shipped to all parts of the
country. Over hundred hands are now work
ing in this factory.
Racine has a population of between 20, 900 and
25,0OO. Its streets are lighted with gas and cleo
trio lights. 1t has street line, and is live
ly, social and progressive little city.
spent day in Milwaukee, the metropolis of
Wisconsin. The inhabitants of this city are large
ly German descent and financially well to do. The
residences are generally very handsome and at
tractive and the stores show great enterprise in
business. One of their public schools which
visited is as fine building as any school in the
west. Each room is supplied with water, towels
soap, &C., for the use of the children. The cell
ings and portion of the walls are finished in
hard wood and the building is feated by steam.
The court house is not very striking either for its
beauty or the reverse, and the exposition build
ing, which is avery fine large one, is now used las
a roller skating rink. KNARF.