56. Woollen Factory.—The mills of this establishment are built in the form of a parallelogram, round three sides of which run buildings from three to five stories high. The front is formed by three detached mills, each 200 feet by 48 feet, and nine stories high, including attic and basement.
2,300 hands are employed in the manufacture of cassimeres, shawls, felt cloth, and other woollen goods.
57. Felt Making.—The whole waste from the mills mentioned in the preceding paragraph, is worked up in the manufacture of felted cloth.
The felt-making machines occupy but a small space.
A sliver of wool is taken from the carding engine and passed between two endless cloths; these carry it over a narrow steam-box, where it is steamed, and it is then passed under a vibrating pressing-plate, which operations cause the fibres to curl and interlace with each other, and so form a cloth.
The machinery of these mills is driven by seven breast wheels, each 26 feet in diameter.
58. Machine Shop.—There is a large machine shop, employing 500 hands in the manufacture of spinning and other machinery.
