t 
MANUFACTURE OF COTTON. 
they take up less space. The spindles are 
divided, as described, to correspond with 
the rollers, that when any thread breaks, 
not more of tlienl may be stopped than this 
small number. Each set of rollers, and 
their attendant spindles, are stopped in- 
stantly by raising a little so< k,e,t tiirn'ug on 
tlie uprigiit axis, which elevates a small 
vertical bolt tliat passes through the small 
drum to a projecting arm on the lower part 
of the axis ; above which arm, when this 
bolt is raised, the communication between 
the drum and the axis ceases, and the drum 
remains at rest, while the axis revolves 
within it uninterrupted. 
By similar contrivances the drum, which 
give^ motion to all the small drums in one 
wooden i'rame, can be stopped at pleasure. 
Eacli horizontal shaft, which sets the large 
drums of a whole room in motion, may 
also be stopped at pleasure, and this sys- 
tem pervades the whole mill, by which 
means, when any one part becomes da- 
maged, it may be stopped without inter- 
rupting the motion of the rest. 
In some mills, instead of the large drams, 
toothed wheels are placed, which impel 
round small shafts, that pass beneath the 
frames, where, by corresponding wheels, 
they turn small toothed wheels on every 
upright axis beneath each small dram ; but 
the motion given by the large drums and 
bands, is accounted to be more steady and 
uniform than that thus produced. 
The general machinery of the cotton 
mill, by which the various engines de- 
scribed are set in motion, is as follows : 
The moving power, whether a fall of w'ater, 
or a steam engine, is, by intervening wheels, 
adapted to its nature, made to turn round a 
vertical shaft, which passes through ail the 
stories or floors of which the mill consists ; 
in each of which it is furnished with a 
horizontal toothed wheel, which gives mo- 
tion to a vertical wheel, to which is attached 
a horizontal shaft going across one end of 
the floor, which gives motion to two or 
more other horizontal siiafts, according to 
the breadth of the building, which run the 
whole length of the story ; these give motion 
again to small vertical shafts, which sustain 
the large drams tliat set the spinning frames 
in motion. The liorizontal shafts have also 
drams on them, from whence bauds pro- 
ceed, by which the carding engines, and 
slabbing machines are turned. What is 
said of the general arrangement of the mill 
work can only be understood in a general 
sense, for the number and position of the 
horizontal shafts, set in motion by the ver- 
tical shaft, must vary according to the na- 
ture of the buildings, and tlie disposition 
of the frames in each floor of them. Where 
it can be done, it is best to have the verti- 
cal shaft placed in the middle of the build- 
ing, with the horizontal shafts proceeding 
from botli sides of it at every floor, for 
thus the horizontal shafts sustain less of that 
twisting motion, which is very injurious to 
them, and to which tliey would be more 
liable if of the whole length of the building. 
Tlie spinning frames are attended by 
children, to piece the threads when they 
break, and the whole attendance of the 
various engines is for the most part per- 
formed by cliildren also. The numbers 
employed of persons of this tender age in 
some large mills amount to some hundreds. 
Some of the great cotton mills were 
worked incessantly night and day, and dif- 
ferent sets of chUdien relieved each other 
in succession in attending them. Tills sys- 
tem was found to be very injurious to the 
children. An apt of parliament wis passed 
enforcing salutary regulations on these 
, points, which has been warmly seconded 
by the humane proprietors of some of tlie 
most eminent mills ; who have the.'i- build- 
ings now well ventilated and warmed, (by 
means contrived by gentlemen best skilled 
in siicli matters) have them kept constantly 
clean and sweet by obvious methods, and 
have not only the health of the children 
further preserved by proper attention to 
their food, clothing, and personal cleanli- 
ness ; but also have them taught to read 
and write, and take care that they receive 
instructions as to their morals and religion ; 
both of which were shamefully neglected in 
former times. All that remains to be wish- 
ed now on tl'.is head is, that in those situ- 
ations, where avaricious masters wish to 
evade the act, or do not choose to pay pro- 
per attention to the ciiildren in other re- 
spects, that inimane people may be found 
who will interpose, and compel them to do 
their duty, and either by .Sunday schools, 
or other proper means, effect that the chil- 
dren may receive those instructions, with- 
out which they can never he wortliy mem- 
bers of society. 
After the cotton is spun, it is usually 
made up into warps fit 'for the weavers be- 
fore it leaves the mills ; this operation is 
performed on the following engine : 
The fVurping Mill. The warping mill 
consists of a light frame-work, which forms 
the outline of an octagonal prism, or one 
