Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-03-02
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.
A NEW ENTERPRISE.

A MIL fer the Manufacture of Excelsior
Established In this City.
a few days ago San Francisco papers,
which, by the way, are always crying down
Sacramento, published statement that ex-
tensive railroad works were to be estab-
lished at Los Angeles, which, if they did
not cripple the shops in Sacramento, would
prevent their enlargement. This has been
found 10 be entirely without foundation.
Shops for making repairs will be con-
tinued in the south, but will in
no way affect the works in this city.
The shops here will be enlarged during
the coming season, as the present capacity
for the construction of new work is en-
tirely inadequate TO the demand. The ca.
pacity OF the railroad works in this city
will be doubled in many months, and their
pay roll increased from 1900 laborers to
upwards of 1000.
NEW INDUSTRY.
Some months ago George +. Hart of
Union, New Hampshire, came to this CITY
for the purpose of establishing an excelsior
mandatory. He purchased lot near the
corner of Sixth and H, and has erected
large building. S0x40, two stories in hight,
made of corrugated iron. w. ]. Renfro
was the architect, contractor and builder,
and has constructed a strong, durable and
well appointed building. What is excel
sior? is asked by many. 1t is the wooden
hair of commerce. 1t is used in the man.
ufacture of mattresses, in upholstering
furniture and cheap carriage work, in pack
ing glassware, and for numerous other pur-
poses. 1t was first manufactured some
twelve years ago, and Mr.. Hart and his
brothers own some of the most valuable
patents on the machines used in its manu-
facture. 1t is strong, clean, durable, very
flexible. and in many respects superior to
hair. The principal mapufactories of the
article are in the New England States,
where the wood is white poplar. The
COTTONWOOD, SYCAMORE AND WILLOW
OF California are in every way equal to the
poplar OF the East, and Mr.. Hart proposes
to manufacture enough at his Sacramento
mill to supply the entire trade of the coast.
A reporter called at the mill yesterday and
found it in full blast. The machinery is
very simple, not liable to get out of order,
and those who have never witnessed
machinery of this character in operation
will be well repaid for making the mill
visit. The machinery consists of fourteen
upright single acting shaving machines, a
cross-cut saw, a rip-saw, and baling press,
all run by 10O-horse power engine. The
WOOD Is cut up into l6-lnch lengths and
looks like stove wood. 1t is then placed
in the jaws of one of the machines and
large knife passed upon and down over its
face with great rapidity and power Just
in front of the knife are about forty little
scratch avis, very sharp, that sink into the
wood about sixteenth of an inch. The
knife follows and takes off shaving, which
falls to the floor
CURLED MASS OF HAIR
A small stick of stove-wood will make as
much loose excelsior as a man can gather
up in hSis arms. 1t is pressed into bales i'm
media, waiter being made, when it is
ready for market. The capacity of this mill,
which will shortly be doubled, is five tons
per day, and it sells readily at two cents
per pound. The cottonwood makes the
best-looking hair, it being nearly white
Willow and sycamore, while they make
equally as good an article, is not so sal
able, on account of being reddish in color.
Mr.. Hart says visitors will be admitted up
TO the 10th of the month, and after that
date the doors will be closed against all ex-
cept the employees.