106 [Assembly 



in ten days the chambers are opened and emptied ; the contents of 

 the trays are now caked, and require to be ground over before it is 

 fit for market. 



The committee was present when one of these chambers was open- 

 ed, and a great quantity of carbonic acid gas came out of it ; a man 

 went into the chamber — Mr. Browne, one of the proprietors, went in 

 also ; so that it appeared to the committee that the manufacture, as 

 there conducted, was not detrimental to health, as was exemplified 

 by the appearance of the men, and aided by complete ventilation. 

 We were assured by Mr. Browne that the ten chambers, when in full 

 work, turned out in twelve days one hundred and sixty thousand 

 pounds weight. The capability of making so large a quantity in 

 such a factory, appeared to your committee one of the advantages 

 of this process. The article produced appears to be much more pure 

 than that made in the ordinary manner. The alkali as prepared in 

 this way, is more constant in its composition, containing always the 

 same quantity of carbonic acid in every sample; the reason of which 

 is, that the carbonic acid driven into the chambers from the furnaces 

 upon the ground soda in the trays, has a tendency to unite with it, 

 which union is further promoted by the moistening of the soda by the 

 steam from the pipes above mentioned ; as the carbonic acid con- 

 tinues to be driven into the chambers, it enters still more into the 

 soda until the full point of saturation is obtained, then no» further use 

 existing for the acid, it accumulates in the chambers until it%ver- 

 balances the draught, returns through the furnace and extinguishes 

 the fire. 



It may be important to add that the process of manufacture pur- 

 sued by Mr. Browne, becomes important in its department, inasmuch 

 as by his plan it is capable of being indefinitely extended, so that the 

 supply may fully equal the demand of consumption and commerce ; 

 whereas, by the former process the quantity produced must neces- 

 sarily be limited to that which the distilleries were capable of pro- 

 liucing by the carbonic gas given out in the process of fermentation. 



Your committee, in concluding, express a hope that the time is not 

 far distant when the manufacture of crude soda ash will become a 



