The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1890-10-17
has sprung up near it, where many neat and
tasty cottages have been built for the opera

has sprung up near it, where many neat and
tasty cottages have been built for the opera
tives.
We cannot close this hasty sketch without
expressing our thanks for the polite atten-
tions of the manager, and for bis warn.-heart-
ed hospitality to our party.
From the paper mill, three Of our party
went down the canal, on a boat loaded with
flint stone, to the flint mills of E. nj. Allen,
Jr., located at the mouth of Deer Creek, one
of our number driving the team thither along
the county road. This sort of travel was
novelty and very much enjoyed, the more SO
as the day was bright and balmy, just one of
those golden autumn days when it is pleas
ure to be abroad. The mill is located at
Stafford, Hartford county. The flint is quar-
ried in the county. some miles above the
mills, and royalty of 10 to so cents a ton
paid to the owner of the land, the price vary
ing according to the distance it is to be haul
ed the quarrying and hauling are both done
by Mr.. Allen. The flint is put into a kiln
and roasted, then crushed on a large stone
base by two large circular stones similar 10
mill stones, but set upon edge and fastened
together like wagon wheels, and turned rap.
idly on the base or neither stone. The flint,
ground to the size of wheat, is then placed in
! circular pans, the bottoms of which are paved
with flint stones, and ground in water with
large stones on revolving arms. This reduces
the whole to milky-looking fluid, which is
drawn off into troughs and allowed to settle.
After the heavier portion Settles the remain
der is drawn off i'll like manner, and allowed
to settle again. and this process is repeated
until the fluid reaches the lowest vat, in the
cellar or basement. Some of the flint is pre-
pared in small particles, two or three of
which are placed between the plates to pre-
| wont tharn from a1 hprinU while thew are hpinO
glazed. All the china in the country is made
| from flint. 1t is not as white as China from
English flint, but easier to work. English
flint contains some chalk, and the deposit
after grinding will not settle. The ground
flint in the soft mass is carried by an elevator
to tie upper story and laid on sheet iron
platforms heated by steam pipes, where it is
dried and then dropped into bin below for
shipment. 1t is sent mostly to Trenton, N.
j., to be manufactured into cups and saucers,
plates and other articles. Some of it goes to
Baltimore and the West. The capacity of the
mill is from 10 to 20 tous per day. Flint costs
| So per ton at the mill The prepared product
is sold at ST. per ton. This mill has fourteen
pans, and is said to be the best flint mill in
the country, the machinery being very heavy
and costly. The water power consists of two
| forty-horse power turbine wheels. Eight
thousand cords of wood are annually consum-
ed in roasting the flint The wood costs from
So to So so per cord. The proprietor is only
"a years of age. He is the son of Ex-senator
Edward M. Allen, of Hartford county, but
has the thoughtful care and business expert
ence of u man of middle age. The main
building is of stone. 1t was formerly mer-
chant Touring MILL built nearly fifty years
ago, and had capacity, with old milling pro-
cesses, of $50 barrels of flour per day. The
proprietor of Stafford Flint Mills. with great
courtesy, conducted us through his entire es
Enlistment and explained its operations to
the satisfaction of his visitors. From this
point we resumed our no neward journey and
reached Bel Air in time for supper, having
travelled some thirty-six or forty miles
through most beautiful and interesting sec
ton of the county, and visited and inspected
two of the most important industries. The
party consisted of F. W. Baker. ESQ, editor
and proprietor of the Bel Air 445gis, Hon. E.
NJ. Allen, John Moores, Esq, and Henry
| Vanderford, Esq, of the Westminster Adco-
cate the first named gentleman being the pro-
jector of the trip, to whose courtesy, as well
as to the urbanity of his other travelling COM
panions, the writer is indebted for one of the
pleasantest and most interesting excursions
it was ever his good fortune to enjoy.