The record-union., 1896-09-20

With the SISdleSl DCSSiUlS CApCUAeioiA
which chances to be by the dynamite
route. Within the past year twenty
five worn-out locomotives have been
thus reduced to scrap, and the ruins
carried by the Workmen to the roll
ing mills and foundry, where the iron
is reWorked and once more enters IN
to the construction Of the iron king
proving that here, at least the laws
of evolution maintain
Then the handling and storing OF all
machinery falls to the yard laborer, and
by constant practice he has become equal
to the emergency, and knows just where
each machine belongs. When cabs or
smokeStackS are to be removed from To-
comotives brought into the yard for re-
pairs, the laborers in the yard always
get the job, and when the machine IS
once more fitted for the road it is part
Of their duty to see that both cab and
Smokestack are once more placed in
position.
One would not at first think that the
manufacturing of brick would be neces-
sary in connection with large railway
works, but such is nevertheless the case
Brick is one of the most indispensable
articles used in the construction OF
modern locomotives and steamers. The
bridge walls and arches in the fire
boxes of locomotives and steamers are
constructed with brick, in order to
prevent the flames from concentrating
on one spot thus saving the fireboxes
and flue ends from being burned out by
the tremendous heat generated.
The Southern Pacific Company always
IN the lead in all mechanical inventions
and latest appliances, has found it nee
essary TO establish a brick mill in con-
nection with its imense works in Sac
Iamen1o.
This brick mill is one of the
most interesting features of the shops.
and can be the most easily understood
by the general public, as all the appli-
ances are the simplest, yet of the latest
design.
There are forty different kinds Of
brick manufactured, and the largest
turned out are used on the steamer
Piedmont. These bricks are 90 inches
long, 16 inches in width and 10 inches
thick. The smallest made is the key
brick, which is 10 inches long, 4 inches
in width and inches thick.
The brick clay used in this depart
ment is found in California, being
brought to the shop in cars from Lin
coin, where it is mined. 1t is then un-
loaded and mixed-two-t thirds parts of
old ground brick with one third part
of the new clay.
The old brick, which is shipped in
from all over the entire system, is then
ground in q mill and, with the new clay,
hauled to one of the four mixing mills
and thoroughly mixed. 1t is then rolled
into balls and cast into the molds. The
nodded bricks are then turned out on
an iron slab and set out in the sun to
dry. After being thoroughly dried
they are picked UP and put in the kiln,
where they are burned for seven days
and seven nights, the result being a
Kiln Of the finest firebricks to be found
on the coast. The kiln holds 10000
bricks, and at one burning consumes
eighty-fVe cords of two-foot pine wood,
which has been ordered for that especial
purpose.
And so. year in and year out the men
OF this department do honest, hard
labor, and 50 the work of the entire
shOps goes on and OH, and the money
If the great corporation is distributed
to the citizens of Sacramento in the
fern of wages.
The names Of the men employed in
lie yard follow:
"a. Becker, Foreman.