146 NEW YORK STATE MUSEUM 



Ave-page resujts for one day range from 150 to 170 pounds 



" 20 days " 250 to 280 " 



'' 30 " " 340 to 410 " 



A test of samples sent from this mill was made by the city 

 surveyor of Utica N. Y., with the following results. 



1 day .... 93 pounds 

 2 days .... 210 " 

 5 " .... 300 " 



At present no plaster is calcined in the English mill on account 

 of the superiority of the arrangement of the new mill, but this mill 

 is used entirely in grinding land plaster and the kettles are kept 

 ready only for emergencies. 



The mill of the Oakfield Plaster Manufaoturing Co. is about 

 2X^ miles west of Oakfield, adjacent to the West Shore Railroad 

 tracks. The equipment consists of one Blake crusher, two bur- 

 stone mills, two kettles and one bolting cloth. A large rock shed 

 in which surplus rock may be stored is on the north side of the 

 mill just outside the crusher room. 



The various stages in the manufactuTe are the same as in other 

 kettle mills, but bolters are still used instead of the more eco- 

 nomical shaking screens. Above the kettles in the steam flue are 

 two dust chambers to collect the fine plaster which is driven off 

 in the cooking. 



The mines of this company, thfee in number, have vertical 

 shafts, and the rock is hoisted by horse power. The rock is 

 hauled to the mill in wagons. Much trouble is experienced in 

 these mines on account of water, which is more troublesome in 

 the winter than in summer, so that almost all the mining must 

 be done in the summer, because of the impossibility of getting rid 

 of the water except with powerful steam pumps. On the occasion 

 of the author's visit the mill was closed. 



Indian Falls. About a mile and a half from the village of 

 Indian Falls on the Tonawanda Indian reservation are the mines 

 of the Standard Plaster Co. of Bufl'alo. A railroad has been 

 built by the company from the mines to the West Shore Railroad 



