The The remarks made concerning the selection of a site for a spinning-mill, apply with equal force to that for a manufacturing establishment. To secure freedom from vibra tion, and a cool and soft atmosphere, the weaving-shed is always by preference placed on a ground floor. The preparation may be conducted in a building of two or three stories, should it be desirable to economize the ground space. The site should always be chosen so as to permit the windows of the roof of the weaving-shed to run in a direction from oast to west, in order to present the glazed portion to the north, the light from this point being the greatest, moat steady, and beet adapted for manufacturing purposes. This point secured, regard must be had to the arrangement of the looms, which ought to run at right angles to the bays of the roof, in order that the slay, or lathe, may not cast shadows upon the warp in the process of weaving, and thereby interfere with the ability of the weaver to peroeive the occurrence of breakages, or flaws of other descriptions.
Figs. 553 and 551 show plan and section of a well-arranged weaving-mill, from designs by the architects who furnished those for the spinning-mill. It will be seen that the general ansngement is such as to avoid the necessity of the material going over the same ground twice, which would increase the cost of handling. Assuming that the supply of yarn is purchased, it is brought into the establishment in large skips or baskets, holding 300-400 lb., and is warehoused in the yarn store.
From bere, it is delivered to the winders ; next, upon bobbins, to the warpers, anti thence upon beams to the sizers. After undergoing the sizing process, it is delivered upon loom beams, to the " drawing-in-" or " looming-room " for the drawers or twisters to finish it for the loom. Hence, furnished with healds, it passes to the weaving-shed, in which, so far as the manufacture is con cerned, it is completed. It is only iu very rare instances in this country that bleaching, dyeing, or printing is carried on in the same establishment. Weft yarns, not requiring any treatment in passing from the spinner to the weaver, when received, are warehoused in the weft store, whence they are delivered in small cans or baskets over the counter to the weavers in the loom shed.
When the cloth is woven, it is cut into certain lengths, called " pieces," and sometimes collected from the weavers by a labourer, carried into the warehouse, and entered to each weaver's credit. In other cases, the weavers perform this duty themselves. The cloth is next examined, made into bundles, and despatched to the agent or merchant in Manchester.
The above plan is designed to represent a. mill of about 700 looms, and the complementary machinery, working medium numbers of yarns. It contains four winding frames, of 300 spindles each ; six warping frames ; two sizing machines, and 700-750 looms. The motive power is supplied by two tubular boilers, 30 ft. in length by 7 ft. diameter, which are supplied with a Green's Econo mizer of 160 pipes ; and two horizontal engines, driving a large fly-wheel, grooved for the reception of ropes, by which power is transmitted to the main driving-shaft, which is walled off from the shed, in order to secure cleanliness, and to partially deaden the noise produced by the gearing. From the main shaft, and connected with it by bevelled gearing, a line of light shafting runs parallel with and between each two rows of looms, set back to back, which are driven from it. In the changes inevitable in the conduct of a large business, such as is implied by a mill like the one described, it sometimes occurs that orders for lightly picked goods will be received, in working which, the loonas will over run the preparatory department, which would cause inconvenience, lose of time, and diminished production. In order to avoid this result, a small engine is provided for overtime working of the preparatory department--especially the sizing machines,—without running the shafting and gearing of the other portion. The steam left in the boilers—and which would otherwise condense during the night—is generally sufficient for this purpose, and is thus utilized. A mechanics' shop for making repairs completes the equipment of the establishment.
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