060 



COTTON FACTORY 



To drive the mulos in the uppermost story, a horizontal shaft k (see longitudinal and 

 cross sections, as well as ground plan) runs through the middle line of the building, 

 and receives motion from bevel wheels placed on the main upright shaft, d, imme- 

 diately beneath the ceiling of the uppermost story. From that horizontal shaft, k, at 

 every second mule, a slender upright shaft, I, passing through both stories, is driven 

 (see both sections). Upon these upright branch shafts are pulleys in each story, one 

 of which serves for two mules, standing back to back against each other. To the 

 single mules at the ends of the rooms, the motions are given by still slenderer up- 

 right shafts, which stand upon the head stocks, and drive them by wheel-work, the 

 steps (top bearings) of the shafts being fixed to brackets in the ceiling. 



In the attic, a horizontal shaft m m, runs lengthwise near the middle of the roof, 

 and is driven by wheel-work from the upright shaft. This shaft, m, gives motion to 

 the warping mills and dressing machines. 



In Great Britain and throughout the greater part of the European continent the 

 motive power used in cotton factories is derived almost entirely from steam ; but in 

 the United States and in Switzerland the large amount of available river fall is so 

 great that water-power is extensively employed in the manufacture of cotton : the 

 proportion in the United States being 2'1 horse-power of water to 1 horse-power of 

 steam, and in Switzerland 3'4 of water to 1 of steam. A further peculiarity in the 

 construction of American cotton mills is that the motion is communicated from the 

 steam-engine or turbine or water-wheel, as the case may be, not through the medium 

 of wheels and shafting as shown in our illustrations, but by means of huge leather 

 belts and drums or pulleys. This plan, originating, no doubt, in the formerly very 

 high price of iron in the United States, is stated to bo more effective and economical 

 than the European method already described. 



The latest complete return of the number and extent of the cotton factories of the 

 United Kingdom was presented to Parliament in 1871. From this return we give the 

 following particulars : 



Cotton Factories in Great Britain and Ireland. 



Number of cotton factories . . . 2,483 



carding engines .... 65,960 

 combing machines . . . 1,906 



spinning spindles . . . 34.695,221 

 doubling spindles . . . 3,523,537 

 power looms .... 440,676 

 power loom weavers . . . 165,341 



Amount of steam-power (horse-power) . " . 300,480 

 water-power ,, . . 8,390 



Total number of persons employed . . 449,087 



The growth during recent years of the cotton manufacture in the United Kingdom 

 may be pretty accurately gauged by the comparison of a few particulars from the last 

 four Parliamentary returns, those of 1856, 1861, 1868, and 1871. Thus : 



In the United States the progress of the cotton manufacture has been since 1860 

 relatively much more rapid than in this country. From the Census returns of 1860 

 and 1870, the only complete and official statistics bearing upon this subject, wo tako 

 the annexed figures : 



Cotton Factories in the United States. 



Number of spindles 



,, power looms 



,, persons employed 



I860 



5,235,727 

 126,313 

 122,028 



1870 



7, 132,41, 5 

 157,310 

 135,369 



The following estimate, based upon official returns or upon a comparison of the best 

 accessible information, of the number of cotton spinning spindles and the weight of 

 cotton consumed in each of the manufacturing countries in Europe and America will 

 furnish an approximately correct idea of the relative importance of the cotton industry 

 in each at the present time (1874) : 



