MECHANICS AND USEFUL ARTS. 71 



and by its revolution, raises the oil and distributes it over the bearing. 

 A tight fitting cap covers in the whole bearing, and prevents the access 

 of dust. Bearings of this description, we are assured, will run for 

 more than a twelvemonth with one supply of oil. M. Decoster is 

 replacing all his line shafting with shafting of a much smaller diameter, 

 but running at a higher speed. This arrangement saves great expense 

 in constructing mills, and is attended with no inconvenience, if the 

 system of lubricating just described is adopted. 



T. S.^Minniss, of Meadville, Penn., exhibited at the Crystal Palace, a 

 lubricating box, for the journals and shafts of machinery of a decidedly 

 novel character. The arrangement for vertical shafting is constructed 

 as follows : The foot of the shaft is expanded into a hollow cylinder of 

 sufficient capacity to contain a weight of water equal to the entire 

 weight of the shaft and all resting upon it ; this hollow cylinder is 

 water-tight, and being filled with air it is evident that when plunged 

 in a vessel of water it will support the shaft, and at the same time will 

 be in contact with the water only. Its motion is however made steady 

 by a pivot in the center, and by the water vessel, the size of which is 

 reduced to but a trifle more than the diameter of the sustaining 

 cylinder. 



GIGANTIC MANUFACTURING ESTABLISHMENT. 



The largest single manufacturing establishment in the world, has re- 

 cently been opened at Saltaire, Yorkshire, England, for the manufacture 

 of alpaca cloth. The vastness of this great work will be seen from the 

 following statement, which yet applies to only one department. The 

 weaving shed will contain 1,200 looms. The length of the shafting 

 will be 9,870 feet, or nearly two miles, and weighing between six and 

 seven hundred tons. The steam engines to work these shafts are 

 equal to twelve hundred and fifty horse power, and the looms in this 

 one weaving shed will be capable of producing thirty thousand yards, 

 or nearly eighteen miles of alpaca cloth every day, and an aggregate 

 length of jive thousand six hundred and eighty-eight miles "of cloth 

 annually. The building covers six acres of ground, and the floors in 

 the several buildings, including warehouses and sheds, cover an extent 

 of eleven acres and a half. The south front of the building is exactly 

 the length of St. Paul's, 545 feet. It is six stories high. The top 

 room is unbroken in its length, and is one of the longest in the world. 

 The roof is of iron, and the windows vast squares of plate glass. 

 Around this model mill is growing up the town of Saltaire. The 

 town begins with seven hundred houses, built on the best principles, 

 and including every convenience necessary to the health and comfort 

 of its inhabitants. It will consist of spacious squares and streets, 

 grounds for recreation, schools, a place of worship, baths, and wash- 

 houses. The air is not to be polluted with smoke, or the water to be 

 deteriorated by any impurity. The alpaca wool has been known in 

 England for about forty years ; but its manufacture to a large extent 

 is comparatively recent. It was introduced by Mr. Salt into Brad- 



