Sidebilder
PDF
ePub

Mine, Grand, Osage, Chariton, Kansas, Nishnabatona, Platte, or Nebraska, the Sioux, James, Poncah, or Niobrarah, the Yellowstone, &c.

The tributaries of the Ohio deserve, also, a more extended description. The Wabash, the Cumberland and the Tennessee especially, are streams of great value and interest.

It is difficult to embrace, in a single chapter, a proper view of the vast regions drained by the Mississippi and its tributaries. The physical geography and topography of the country, would fill an ample volume with interesting details. We may remark, in general terms, that it is a world in itself, capable of sustaining almost incomprehensible numbers of inhabitants, and of supplying their wants with the productions of the frigid and the tropical zones, of the east and the west, of highland and lowland: with the results of agriculture, of mining, of forests and fisheries, and of the various manufacturing arts.

Who are the people dwelling upon these streams, what the nature and extent of their pursuits, and what their relations with the government under which they live, will be subjects to be concisely treated of hereafter.

ART. VII.-JENKS AND THOMAS' BAGGING FACTORY.

AMONG the many manufacturing establishments of various kinds, which have been commenced in St. Louis within the last few years, there is, perhaps, no one upon a more respectable footing, or which is calculated to prove more beneficial to the farming interest of Missouri, than the Bagging Factory of Messrs. Jenks and Thomas.

There is an admirable system of economy developed in the plan of this establishment, that is highly creditable to the proprietors. While the hackling establishment prepares the hemp for market, the tow, which, without this process would be of little or no value if sold with the hemp, is converted into sacking; and is calculated to save a large amount of money which is annually paid for a foreign article. This is as it should be.

The following communication shows the nature and extent of the business done here:

НЕМР.

"The amount of hemp received at this port during the past year, shows an increase of some 20,000 bales, over the amount of previous year-which increase, we suppose, may be attributed to the fact, that the crop of 1845 was not all received during '46; but from 2,500 to 3,000 tons was held over, and brought out by the high prices of last year. The quality of the staple, last year, would not generally compare, however, with the previous crop. The growers of this crop, we do not think, usually understand what is for their interest, as well as for the

interest of the manufacturers. The general impression seems to be, that the larger and ranker the growth of the hemp, the better their crop-while such is not the case. If the planters would put from one to two bushels more seed to the acre, they would find their crop not only improved in quality, but increased in quantity. The more stalks grown upon a given space of ground, although the growth is not so large, produces more lint and less stalk, than the thinner and large growth. The demand for Missouri hemp is increasing, and our State will soon be looked to for the principal supplies of both water and dew-rotted. Already have manufacturers commenced locating here. As yet we have but one steam factory in our State, and this is in its infancy. The Bagging Factory of Messrs. Jenks & Thomas commenced operations about eighteen months since, in the northern part of our city, and large quantities of hemp are daily received, and discharged in the form of dressed hemp, bagging and sacking, from their establishment. Their manner of working, or rather, using the staple, is new, not only in the west, but, comparatively speaking, in the country. The hemp, as it reaches them, is in a bad state, (being directly from the brake,) both for shipping and manufacturing; and their first operation is to dress, or hackle the same, which is done by means of large machine dressers, which perform their work nearly or quite as well as the old mode of hand hackling, and with great rapidity, and leaves the hemp in a beautiful condition, being entirely cleared from tow and shives. From the dressers it is received by the press, which is large and powerful, where it is baled, covered, branded, &c., and is then ready for the eastern markets and cordage manufacturers. This room alone requires from three to four tons daily, to keep the machines and operatives employed. The tow taken from the hemp, after passing through the hackling, preparation, and spinning rooms, we at last see converted into sacking and bagging, in the weaving room, where nought is heard but the flying shuttle. By their mode of working, a much better article is produced, than by the old mode of working hemp. Of these finer qualities they turn out twelve hundred yards daily, and arrangements are now making to greatly increase the quantity. During the five months ending September 1st, they had passed through their dressers, 425 tons hemp, and manufactured 180,000 yards of bagging. They have 130 operatives, male and female, and work eleven hours per day. They occupy with their buildings, about 150 square feet, and the machinery is driven by an engine of about fifty horse power. Were it not for this establishment, the amount of bagging sent from this port would be very limited, as our receipts from hand looms on the Missouri and Mississippi are rapidly falling off. Received last year, 145,000 yards, while in 1845 our receipts were 422,000."

We are unacquainted with the culture and management of hemp, but the source whence we received the foregoing communication, entitles the observations of the writer upon that point, to the consideration of the hemp growers of the west.

MINES AND MINING.

MINERAL RESOURCES OF WASHINGTON COUNTY, MISSOURI.

We extract from the St. Louis New Era the following communication from FREDERICK WOOLFORD, Esq., of Washington County, Missouri:

Mr. Editor-Much has been said and written about the mineral wealth of Southern Missouri, but I have never seen or heard any observations on the val-uable clays and materials which enter into the composition of China or Porcelain wares-necessaries for which we are dependent upon foreign countries exclusively. I desire to call the attention of the public, and of capitalists, through the medium of your useful paper, to the fact that in this county, and in this immediate neighborhood, all the requisite materials necessary for the manufacture of the most beautiful and substantial articles of China, Granite and common, or Liverpool ware, are to be found in the greatest abundance. About three years ago I commenced experimenting, in a small way, with a white ware establishment, assisted by two Englishmen, which I have since given up, as I could not produce the article desired. The clay which was first brought to the factory was so impregnated with iron, which oxydized in a high heat, and appeared on the surface of the ware, and produced a cream-colored ware with fine texture. Prosecuting my researches for a more pure and unadulterated clay, I have at length found, in the more primitive regions of our country, an abundance of pure Kaolin or China clay, of the whitest and finest possible kind, and another species known by potters as the Blue Ball or Pipe Clay. The China clay is found on the south side of the Ozark mountains, among the feldspar rocks; it is found there in every state of decomposition. The pipe clay is decomposing from a bluish-white flint in the mountainous districts. I have subjected them to a severe test by fire, after moulding them as thin as the most delicate article of China ware; and they have stood the strongest test I could expose them to-burning perfectly white and transparent, without crack or flaw; and furnishing a ware that will advantageously compare in whiteness and strength of texture with that brought from any other country

I have found an abundance of Steatite or Soap Stone, which is a sub-species of Mica. I have also found a Pot Stone that will make China ware, in the southern edge of Franklin county, (which is an adjoining county,) without any other mixture.

Feldspar of a good quality, and China Clay, have been discovered in Ste. Genevieve county, as also in this. Silex, Mica, Magnesia and Cobalt have been so repeatedly noticed as abounding in this county, that it is hardly necessary for me to say that they can be had here in any reasonable quantity for the purpose of manufacturing. Some of them are already prepared, and have become an article of exportation from our State. I am satisfied that I can show, in the mountains that surround our valley, all the materials requisite to prepare the best and finest

articles of China, Granite and Delft wares; and the water powers of this country are known to be numerous, affording the greatest facility for the erection of mills to grind and prepare the materials; with the abundance of material with which we are surrounded, why should we be dependent on foreign supply? From the experiments that I have made, I am satisfied that profitable investments of capital can be made in this business, the want of which alone has prevented me from engaging extensively in this branch of manufactory. My object is to invite experience and capital to unite with me in the enterprize, with a full persuasion that it may be made useful and profitable. In making this communication, it is not my object to sell lands or to speculate, but solely with the view of making the business useful and profitable to those who may engage in it.

The specimens of earths and minerals, with the wares produced from them, can be seen at my establishment near Caledonia, Missouri, and every information I possess will be freely communicated to any gentleman who may wish to engage in such business.

Any communication post-paid will be attended to.

FREDERICK WOOLFORD.

[We would suggest to our correspondent that it might be useful to him, and promote his views, if he would send to St. Louis the specimens, samples, &c., which he mentions. We shall be happy to aid him in promoting such objects as he proposes.-Ed. Era.]

ARKANSAS LEAD.

We received a few days ago, by the hand of Mr. Wood, a fine specimen of lead ore from the mines now worked by Mr. Moulton. A few days previous, we had the pleasure of conversing with Mr. M., himself, who, evidently, is a practical miner; and lately from the Galena country. Mr. Moulton is of opinion that the prospects for mining here are even better than in the Upper Mississippi region, embracing what has ever been regarded one the richest mineral districts in the known world.. The mine worked by Mr. M. is ten miles from town, and one of the greatest advantages in his estimation in these mines is, their contiguity to navigation. But there is another advantage which should not be overlooked-the ore has been analyzed, and has been ascertained to be worth about $70 per ton for the silver, alone, which it contains. It may therefore be regarded as the true Argentine ore of lead. The ore, then, instead of being smelted in the ordinary way, should undergo the process of smelting. While we are upon this subject, we remark that this is not the only locality of lead in our State; this metal is known to abound in several sections.-Little Rock (Ark.) Gazette.

DISCOVERY OF A GOLD MINE IN MICHIGAN.

A gold mine has just been found near Tecumseh, Michigan. A correspondent of the Buffalo Courier says the mine is situated in the east bank of the river, but a few feet above the water, the bank rising to the height of twenty-five or thirty feet, and so precipitously that the mine cannot be reached from above, but only by crossing the river. The gold is found principally in ore mixed, though it is said to be very rich, and many suppose it will yield 35 per cent. of the pure article. A few lumps have been found, weighing from half an ounce to an ounce and a half, which has been pronounced pure. It is stated that a company has been organized to work it, Messrs. Blanchard, Hewitt, and Blood acting as directors, and that quite a gold mania has sprung up in that section of country.

ore.

BRITISH NORTH AMERICAN MINING COMPANY.

The silver mine of the British North American Mining Company, known as Colonel Prince's Location, is attracting considerable notice at present, in consequence of the ascertained extent of the vein, and the exceeding richness of the The American Mining Journal states, on what is deemed good authority, that the "vein has been distinctly traced for more than three miles on the north shore of Lake Superior, opposite Spar Island; and that the metalliferous portion is from three to five feet in width. The captain of the mine has sunk a shaft into the silver bearing portion several feet, with increased richness of the ore as he descended; and it would really seem, from the developments already made, that the mine of this company is the richest silver mine in the world. The depth of the vein cannot, of course, be determined; but if the experience of those who have worked silver mines elsewhere can have any application to this mine, the extent of its wealth cannot be well overrated.

We have just seen a number of specimens of ore taken from this mine, which are said to be a fair average of several barrels recently forwarded to the office of the company, in Montreal. They are very rich, containing, we should judge, near twelve per cent. silver. We also saw a bar of pure silver weighing about five pounds, smelted from the ore, and about forty pounds of the ore, which had been roasted and pulverized preparatory to smelting. There is a large force now at work on the mine, and it is the intention of this company to have one hundred tons of ore ready for shipment on the opening of navigation in the spring. A considerable quantity is now on its way to Montreal, where it is daily expected. The annual report of this company was published in the ninth number of the Mining Journal.

« ForrigeFortsett »