PAPER MAKING. 331 



gtther covered with a wire net, and put in motion by its connexion 

 with some part of the mat hinrry. A convenient quantity of rags 

 before the selection are inclosed in the duster, and the rapidity of 

 its motion stparntes the dust from them, and forces it through the 

 wire. It is ol considerable advantage to use the duster before se. 

 lection, as it mak< s that operation les-> pernicious to the selectors. 



Tne selection is then to be made ; and it is found more conve- 

 nient to hare the tables for cutting off the knots and stitching, and 

 for forming them into a proper shape, in the same place with the 

 cutting-table. The surface , both of these and of the cutting-table, 

 is coti.posed of a w : re ner, which in every part of the operation 

 allows the remaining part and refuse of every kind to escape. 



The rags, without any kind of putrefaction, are again carried 

 from the cutting. table back to the duster, and from thence to an 

 engine, where, in general, they are in the space of six hours re. 

 duced to the stuff proper for making paper. The hard and soft of 

 the same quality are placed in different lots; but they can be re. 

 duced (o siuif at the same time, provided the soft is put somewhat 

 later into the engine. 



The engine is that part of the mill which performs the whole 

 action ol reducing the rags to paste, or, as it may be termed, of 

 trituralion. The number of engines depends on the extent of the 

 paper-work, or the force of water, or on the construction of the 

 machinery. 



When the stuff is brought to perfection, it is conveyed into a 

 genera) repository, which supplies the vat from which the sheets of 

 paper are formed. This vat is made of wood; and generally about 

 five feet in diameter, and two and a half in depth. It is kept in 

 temperature by means of a grate introduced by a hole, and sur- 

 rounded on the inside of the vat with a case of copper. For fuel 

 to this grate, charcoal or wood is used ; and frequently, to pre. 

 vent smoke, the wall of the building comes in contact with one 

 part of the vat, and the fire has no communication with the place 

 where they make tne paper. 



Every vat is furnished on the upper part with planks closed in- 

 wards, and even railed in with wood, to prevent any of the stuff 

 from running over in the operation. Across the vat is a plank, 

 which they call the trepan, pierced with holes at one of the extre- 

 mities, and resting on the planks which surround the vat. 



The forms or moulds are composed of wire cloth, and moveable 



