Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-05-24
SILK THROWING BEGUN.
ANOTHER INDUSTRY STARTED ITS
WHEELS THIS MORNING.

tion-Brief Description of tho New
Factory and Its Work.
A new departure in the industrial life
of Freeland opened this morning with
the commencement of operations at the
silk mill. The people of this region,
who have so long considered the coal
supply as the only source of support for
the town, and who have become accus-
toned to looking upon that with a
mingled feeling of hopelessness and in
difference, can scarcely be brought to
realize that another industry has sprung
up in their midst which seems destined
to contribute to the Advancement of the
town, as well as provide an opening for
a class of female labor which heretofore
has had no outlet. Nearly year ago
the overall factory began operations and
was the first manufacturing industry to
give employment to female labor. 1t
now has over eighty girls on its pay-rolls.
What the overall factory has done in
providing employment for the female
workers of town, the silk mill company
expects to duplicate within the same
period of time.
The silk mill was the first of the in
dependent industries projected before
the Board Of Trade, but was not so
quick as the overall factory in becoming
realization. 1t has, however, been
pushed to completion rapidly within the
past six months and stands today one of
the finest factory buildings in the state.
The mill occupies an admirable location
close to the electric light plant fronting
on Birkbeck street, with its rear facing
the branch of the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road. 1t is three-story brick structure
and has admirable facilities for light
and ventilation. A space of several feet
on each side of the property is left
vacant to preserve these latter advant-
ages, and more desirable place could
scarcely be devised for girls to work in.
The second floor has been fitted up
with machinery of the very latest make,
consisting of winding, doubling and
twisting machines and a large reel.
All of the machinery is the most i'm
proved on the market, and is made
double, thus occupying only half the
floor space heretofore required for ma
chimes of equal capacity.
The raw silk, which is imported in
large quantities from Japan and other
Oriental countries, will be received at
the mill in large skeins. The company
will do a commission throwing business
and will receive the raw material from
the great wholesale house in New York,
returning the thrown product to them.
The throwing process has several in
teresting divisions which will admit of
brief description. When the raw ma
terial reaches the mill it is deposited in
vat of water heated to S5 or 80 degrees,
and is allowed to remain in the vat over
night. The water contains mixture of
fine soap and the soaking has the effect
making the silk soft After being re-
moved from the vat the water is extract
ed and the skeins are placed in the
winding machine. The silk is then
wound on bobbins and is taken to an
obuoi mdCHlue huOWu as tHe DODDln
shaft, where it is rewound. The bob
bins on the latter machine make 10000
revolutions minute. The silk is then
steamed, after that process is completed
it goes to the doubling machine, thence
to the twisting machine, and is again
put through secret process of treat
ment. The silk is then reeed and made
into bundles of about 20 pounds each,
and is ready for shipping.
Silk making is an intricate and deli
cate process and the work has many
divisions, throwing being only one of
them Before the silk which is handled
here can become ready for the market,
it must be sent to the dye factory, thence
to the weaving mill and finally to the
finishing factory.
The mill will have capacity of about
100 pounds day with its present equip
ment and will give employment to 40 or so
hands. Only one of the three floors has
yet been equipped with machines. Ad-
ditions, however, will gradually be made
as the business increases, and in time
the entire building will be filled with
machinery and workers.
A fine 1875 horsepower Imperial engine
OF modern type drives the machinery.
Steam for the same is received from the
electric light plant, thereby lessening
the danger and cost of maintaining set
of boilers.
The company operating the mill is
composed mainly of local capitalists.
Frank Frigerio, an experienced silk
maker, is the superintendent. Mr.. Fri
gerio has had charge of silk making es-
adjustments in different parts of France.
America and other countries, and has a
thorough knowledge of the work. He
is a careful and painstaking manager.
and under his supervision there is every
prospect of the mill being successfully
and profitably conducted
Fatal Accident in a DistiIlery.
A distressing accident occurred in