174 



©!)£ ifarmcv's ittcmtl)lg bisitor. 



growing out of the production of the hard indus- 

 try of a mechanic who lias learnt and well un- 

 derstands his trade, than the gains from specula- 

 tion and usury which grows upon and gloats 

 over the earnings of unfortunate hard lahor ! 



I" com the Eastern Argus. 



THE LARGEST SCYTHE MANUFACTORY IN THE 



WORLD. 



North Wayne, .July 24ih, 1843. 

 Mr. Editor — Few portions of New England 

 present a succession of more beautiful land- 

 scapes than the towns of Mount Vernon, Read- 

 field and Wayne on the western border of old 

 Kenneberk. After passing westwardly the eleva- 

 ted and finely cultivated ridge which separates 

 the tributary waters of Kennebeck from those of 

 the Androscoggin, you arrive at a chain of ponds 

 extending through Mount Vernon, Fayette, and 

 Wayne, which furnish an immense amount of 

 water power, the value of which is only begin- 

 ning to be developed. 



At North Wayne on this chain, sixteen miles 

 from llallowell and Augusta, is situated the 

 Scythe manufacturing establishment of Reuben 

 B. Dunn, Esq. the "largest of the kind in the 

 world. It is a matter of just pride to the citizens 

 of our State that we can boast of such a man 

 and such an enterprise. Your readers may be 

 interested in a brief description of this estab- 

 lishment, which 1 have obtained during a short 

 sojourn at this beautiful village, for the purpose 

 of making certain land surveys. 



The establishment consists, besides ware- 

 houses, finishing shops, &c, of three principal 

 buildings for manufacturing, two of which are 

 one hundred and forty-four feet each in length. 

 In these, and in departments connected with the 

 establishment, are employed about one hundred 

 men, many of whom have families settled at the 

 place. A flourishing village has grown up with- 

 in a few years, and is rapidly increasing. 



Twelve thousand dozen scythes are annually 

 manufactured, to produce which are required 

 450,000 pounds of iron, 75,000 pounds of steel, 

 800 tons of hard coal, 10,000 bushels of char- 

 coal, 100 tons of grindstones, and half a ton of 

 borax. The last article is used in the process of 

 welding. 



The system of division of labor has here been 

 successfully adopted. First the welders mark 

 and cut the bars of iron and steel in portions of 

 suitable length for each scythe. A portion of 

 iron about five inches or more in length is folded 

 over another of steel, when both are heated and 

 drawn to the proper length for a scythe. It then 

 passes into the hands of the pointer, whose 

 business is to harden, draw, and break a small 

 portion of the point, to see that the steel has not 

 been over-heated — that the iron has not been 

 drawn over the steel, and to examine the whole 

 process thus far. The plater then spreads the 

 rod to a proper width, leaving the full thickness 

 at the back. It then passes a process of filing 

 for the machine hammer, when the finisher turns 

 the back and gives its general shape. One fash- 

 ions and finishes the point, another turns and 

 finishes the heel, when it passes the hardening 

 process by a different hand, from whom it is ta- 

 ken to the tempering forge and then into the 

 hands of the grinders. 



An experienced workman does nothing but 

 carefully examine each scythe, and test the cor- 

 rectness of each process thus far, and every im- 

 perfect article is laid aside. After passing the 

 polishing wheel, it goes into the hands of the 

 painter, and finally to those whose business is to 

 Straw the scythes into bundles of a dozen each. 

 The proprietor has been at great pains to 

 manufacture a superior article, and no scythe is 

 permitted to go into the market till it has passed 

 the ordeal of tsvo experienced and careful work- 

 men, besides the examination of the general su- 

 perintendent, whose inspection extends to every 

 part of the establishment. This rare has given 

 to these scythes a celebrity which secures a 

 ready sale for all that can be furnished. Exten- 

 sive orders are now received from all the Western 

 States, Canada, New Brunswick and .Nova Scotia. 

 So great indeed is the demand, that the proprie- 

 tor has not been able thus far to supply bis or- 

 ders. A silver medal was awarded him by the 

 American Institute, for the most perfect speci- 



mens of his art, and he has received the first 

 premium from the New York and other State 

 fairs. 



IVIr. Dunn is erecting additional works in the 

 vicinity, which will soon be completed, when he 

 will be enabled to turn out 17,000 dozen scythes 

 annually. This establishment is now more than 

 double the extent of any other in the world — 

 none even in Europe being found to compete 

 with it. It has rapidly grown to its present gi- 

 gantic size by the indomitable enterprise and 

 energy of its present proprietor, who, from smad 

 beginnings, has attained to wealth and deservell 

 distinction as a public, benefactor. 



Too many and too extensive interests are how- 

 ever now involved in this establishment, to ad- 

 mit of its depending for successful continuance 

 upon the uncertain tenure of the life and health 

 of one individual, and at the suggestion of his 

 friends, Mr. Dunn has wisely determined to put 

 the capital invested into slock, retaining a con- 

 siderable portion of the interest himself, and thus 

 afford an opportunity to others, and especially 

 the operatives, many of whom have already ac- 

 quired capital by their labor in this establish- 

 ment, to make a profitable investment without 

 incurring the disadvantages of commencing a 

 new concern. It will thus be put upon a per- 

 manent basis, not liable to suspension from the 

 death of the present proprietor. For this pur- 

 pose a charter of incorporation has just been 

 obtained from the legislature, and the price at 

 which it is understood Mr. Dunn intends to put 

 it into the corporation, rannoLTail to render it, in 

 the estimation of competent judges, a profitable 

 investment. 



I have been led to this minute and somewhat 

 extended description from the gratification which 

 I feel in common wiih others, in the growing 

 prosperity of my native State. A cursory glance 

 at its swelling hills and fertile valleys, its thou- 

 sand reservoirs of ponds and lakes, its moun- 

 tain streams and water falls, gives evidence that 

 its manufacturing resources are only beginning 

 to be developed. 



The Kennebeck and Androscoggin railroad 

 passes a few miles east of this place, and when 

 completed will afford cheap facilities for trans- 

 portation to and from this beautiful region, and 

 furnish easy and pleasant access to the traveller 

 whose leisure may permit him to explore the re- 

 sources of Nature and the improvements of Art. 

 MOSES SPRINGER. 



Notice. 



The subscribers of the " Farmer's Monthly 

 Visitor " are requested, in all cases of removal, to 

 name both places of residence to the Publisher 

 of the Visitor, as it will save much trouble. No 

 paper discontinued unless all arrearages are 

 promptly paid. 



Concord, N. H., November 30, 18i8. 



i — i 



December 1, the ground in this part of New 

 Hampshire, at one time frozen in depth several 

 inches, is now again opened without rain, from 

 the influences of the sun, so that a large team in 

 sight over the river is breaking up the sward in- 

 tervale. 



Emigrants to Western Virginia. — The 

 Winchester Virginian states that a large number 

 of emigrants have passed through that town 

 within a month past, principally bound for that 

 noble region, Western and Northwestern Vir- 

 ginia. That country is advancing at a giant pace. 

 New towns are rising and old forests are falling 

 in almost every part of it. — Chester (III.) Revelle. 



Pitt's Corn Crusher. 



This valuable invention has recently been in 

 operation in this town. Nine barrels of our 

 greenest corn in the cob went through the mill 

 in the space of thirty minutes grinding. The 

 advantage of the crushed or cut material for 

 feeding hogs and horses is very great over that 

 of grinding between stones. The meal is made 

 with knives as in particles sliced ; and the ani- 

 mals eat it with an appetite and greediness — 

 horses, as well as hogs, and even young calves — 

 such as we had never before witnessed. Colonel 

 Howard of Portsmouth is the agent for disposing 

 of these mills in New Hampshire. The mill is 

 fixed to the gearing of Mr. Lund's saw and shin- 

 gle mills (formerly Dustin's) not very far from 

 the I5ow and Concord line. The value of infe- 

 rior com in the cob (indeed of all corn) is great- 

 ly enhanced for the use of animals by running 

 through Pitt's Corn Crusher. 



A Great Estate. — Some idea of the true 

 cause of the miseries in Ireland may be derived 

 from the following fact: — 



In Galway there is an estate larger than some 

 English counties, and which was mortgaged a 

 few years ago, for the immense sum of two mil- 

 lions of dollars, by its then owner, Mr. Martin, 

 M. P. The entrance gate and lodge are twenty 

 miles from the mansion. 



When such an immense estate has been accu- 

 mulated in the hands of one family for genera- 

 lions, what wonder lhat thousands and tens of 

 thousands of the peasantry are beggars ! Cause 

 and effect, nothing else. 



Show of Animals by the New York State Agri- 

 ricultural Society, and by the Highland Socitty of 

 Scotland. — The number of cattle at the late show 

 at Buffalo, was 360 — of horses 150 — sheep 597 — 

 swine 50— poultry 250. At the late show of the 

 Highland Society at Edinburgh, the number of 

 cattle was 35'2 — horses 141 — sheep 764 — swine 

 58 — poultry 130. There were ninety-two ex- 

 hibitors of implements. — Albany Cultivator. 



Grape Culture in Missouri. — Farms iu the 

 neighborhood of Hermann, Missouri, have risen 

 very much of late, in consequence of the in- 

 creased cultivation of the vine. A Mr. Poeschel, 

 who has a vineyard of not quite one acre, which 

 was planted with Catawba grape in the spring 

 of 1845, made from it this year one thousand 

 gallons of wine, and the value of the whole pro- 

 duce of the vineyard was seventeen hundred 

 dollars. — Exchange paper. 



List of Agents 



NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

 Bradlord, Hon. Sam. Junes 

 Plymouth, A. L. Webster 

 Manchester, W.G. Shepaid 

 Pi^cataquog, F. G. Slark 

 Exeter, Henry F. French 

 Brentwood, Wash. Morrill 

 Barnstead Parade, William 



A. Jenkins 

 Roxbury, A. Lawrence 

 Sullivan, D. W. Wilson 

 Nashua, Thos. J. Robbins 

 So.Deertield, Benj. Jenness 

 Henniker, Jonas Wallace 

 Lancaster, J. W. Weeks 



B. Cross 

 North Charlestown, L. Gil- 

 more 

 Plamtield.L. H. Dow 



W.H. Daniels 

 Troy, D. W. Farrar 

 Amherst, L M. Kimball 

 Shclburne, Maj. J. Osgood 

 Acworth, C. W. Davis 

 Gilsum, Dr G.W.Hammond 

 Swanzey, A. Bailey 

 Keene, Hon. S. Dmsmoor 



H*»n B. Cooke 

 Kingston, Levi J. Bartlett 

 Hampstead, A. W. Jones 

 Atkinson, Henry Noves 

 Oil Mill Village, Weare, 



Harrison Simons 

 Conway, Jona. T. Chase 

 Charlestown,.). W Colburn 

 Hillsboro'. John Gooclale 

 Claremont. G. W. Loihrop 

 Chester, A. G. Quigg 

 Holderncss, B. Hughes: 

 Warner, A. B. Kelley 

 R. Thompson 

 Shaker Village, Canterbu- 

 ry, Levi Stevens 



for the Visitor. 



I Bridgewaler, A. P. Hoit 

 j Greenland, Thos. Brackett 

 i Farmington, G. L. White- 

 house 

 I Hill, M.J Morrill 

 Lebanon, C. Hough 

 Haverhill, John S. Bryant 

 I North " W. S. Cobleigh 

 Loudon Centre, Ira Osgood 

 So. Merrinnck.O. C Smith 

 Ainoslieag, Isaac Flanders 

 Gilford, J. G. Weeks 

 Portsmouth, Wm. P. Hill 

 J. M'Intire 

 Peterboro', William Moore 

 Windham, E. T. Abbott 

 Temple, Col. N. Wheeler 

 Bristol, George B. Burns 

 Meredith Bridge, Warren 



Lovell 

 South Lyndeboro', Col. P. 



Woodward 

 Lee, John P. Glass 

 Loudon, Jeremiah Kenney 

 West Claremont, L. A. 



Grannis 

 Barnngton, H. Hall 

 Dover, B. F. Guppy 



William Woodman 

 Milton, J. Fernald 

 Hollis, R, E. Tenney 

 Derry, I. Wilson 

 Rindge, L. Howe 

 Boscawen, W. Webster 

 MewMarket, J.B Creighton 

 Gorlstown, P. F. Patlee 

 Wilton, H. Abbot 

 Bennington, William Gray 

 West Boscawen, S.D.Couch 

 Pelham, Darius Slickr.ey 

 North DeertaVld, E Marston 

 Lyndeboro', S. T. Manahan 

 Auburn, H. C. Sullivan 



