Wichita eagle., 1886-12-21
MD SOAP AND STARCH.
WASHING AND IRONING CLOTHES
BY MECHANICAL MEANS.

Improvements in Laundry Work During
the Last Twenty Tears--Semi-SuGoc
tion IN the Wash Eoom--yYhirling IN
CyIinders--Centrifugal Powcr--Polish.
There is an expression current that the na-
tions using tbs most perfunerv use the least
soap. Carrying out this inference to indi-
viduals would be, perhaps, going too far, but
there may be something in the soap question
when applied 20 laundry work that viii be
Of interest without being personal. The
growth Of Improvements IL methods OF
laundrying during the last twenty years has
been marked. Indeed, it Is the opinion Of
some that the real laundry work proper dates
from about ten years ago. Surprising eli are
faIniliaT-at least by observation, if not by
e1pcrience-with the wash dag appliances Of
the kitchen let US take & look into one OF
these modern laundiies, and see what
marked change there IS il methods, If not II
results.
On entering the wash room q sense Of semi
slffocatiOn comes to the nowc0npor, dae to the
great change in the atmosphere from tho
dryer air without, though this soon passes
away The clothes aS they come in soiiei are
taken from the packages, carefully marked
ard then separated ard put to whirling in
immense wood-lined cylinders, which arc
kept revolving first in one direction, then in
another. Those cylinders are supplied with
soap, and tho clothes are cleaDS9d by the
movement back ard forth From one OF
these cylinders the clothes ara changed 20 q
similar ono full Of fOanling soap sues, and
then 20 the wringer, or more properly, sex
tractor" This consists OF a hollow vat or
tub OF metal, the sides Of which are pune
turcd with holes, the whole being on q pivot
and placed inside Of another tub or case.
CENTRIFUGAL POWER.
The wet clothes are dumped into this &c
ceptacle and i IS set to WhTling Gt the rate
of, 290rcvolutiOns a minute. Tie centrifugal
power thus generated sends the water flying
out of tas clothes and nicely fits them for the
driving process. This latter consists OF long
bars on rollers, which are filed with clothes
and run into a place supplied with many
steam cells that give rapid ard thorough dry
ing When tho water has disappeared, out
como the garments and they begin their iron
ing Journey The smaller articles Ike hand
kcrchicfs, arc put between cloth covered
sylinders-all The machinery practically be-
ing run by stea,n-aul the collars and cuffs
are subjected to high polishing pressure. The
starclinz Is done il q cylinder similar il con-
struotion 70 the w3sl-,s, though smaller
Tho shirt fronts-ani wba5 man doesn't like
a shining one whether It's seen or n0tz-aro
not subjected to the Old fashioned, h.ud-iron-
ing process, but are stretched upon q fiat iron
about two feet long by one wide, slightly
bevelcd and covered with cloth, and then, by
aid OF a lever, the shirt is raised UD on the
iros until it reaches and IS run over by q
slowly revolving cylinder, heated By gas on
its inside. The result IS a beautiful gloss
Care has to he taken, however, 10 keep
cyQsything moving just right, IS the roller
is kept so hot it would easily burn the shirt
front if left upon it any length Of time. The
cellars come out CT the cylinders polished
properly and then, il case it is d turn down, p"
neat little machine runs a moistanet roller
along whore the bend IS to be, and thus, il
proper care is exercised tho collar IS bent TO
shape and IS not cracked. Starch and pepper
are two supplies much used, and tho former
comes in by the barrel lots, while tho paper
comes by The Ger load, and goes out il small
quantities tied up around your weekly laun-
dry PACKAGE The work is largely done by
girls, Who are paid from s. to 80 p-r week,
ard their wcri, and the hot ali they ara
obliged to stay in much Of the time cItitlo
them 10 all they get. Fans are used, how
cveT, to keep the rooms e. pure Is possible
Pioneer Pres.