Page:The Granite Monthly Volume 5.djvu/46

 34 THE GRANirE MONTHLY.

and five hundred tons of coal are consumed. The iron comes in bars, twelve feet long, two inches wide, and five eighths of an inch thick.

The works are in four large buildings. The stone forge shop, built in 1866, is thirty by one hundred and thirty feet ; another new shop is thirty by one hun- dred and twenty feet ; the grinding shop is tiiirty by sixty feet ; the polishing shop is thirty by one hundred feet. There are numerous sheds and store-houses conveniently arranged for iron, coal, and manufactured goods. Each of the four large shops are supplied with fifty to seventy-five horse-power by water-wheel, sand four Hoadley's Portable Engines are ready to furnish power in case the water supply fails. This contingency has happened but twice in the forty-six years of the company's organization.

As one approaches the village in work hours he is saluted by an "Anvil Chorus," which is rythmical if not musical. As he enters the forge shop he can think, but, unaccustomed to the place, is soon content to reserve his comments and let his thoughts remain unspoken. A workman takes a bar of iron at a white heat and doubles over the end. Within the fold of a few inches he inserts on each side a bar of steel. This is heated, and welded, and drawn out under a trip hammer to the length of a scythe in the shape of a bar. Another workman plates out this bar to the width of three inches by another trip hammer. The third operation consists in turning up the back and forming the shape, when it is technically said to be shaped and set, this process being accompanied by the anvil music. There are fourteen of these trip hammers. A fourth workman finishes the point ; a fifth forms the heel. The scythe is then taken to a dark room, in which is a furnace and cold, running water, where it is hardened. The next process is the tempering. These last are very delicate and require the skill of experienced workmen, for on the success of these operations depends the value of the tools. The scythe is then straightened. It is now ready for grind- ing. There are twelve grindstones in operation. These are one foot m thickness and seven feet in diameter, and are revolved so evenly by improved machinery that accidents are unknown. But one fatal accident has occurred from the grindstones in the establishment for the half century they have been used. On an average one of these huge stones, which weighs three tons, is used up every week. By the grinding the iron is worn away, leaving exposed the finely tem- pered steel at the edge of the scythe. After the grinding the scythe is polished. Then comes the painting and bronzing to suit the different customers. A great variety of tastes has to be satisfied ; one customer requiring the patriotic red, white, and blue stripes ; one, this color ; another, that. They are then stenciled, packed and boxed, and placed in the store- house, ready tor shipping. There are sixteen varieties of scythes made here for different markets and various uses, the favorite of which is the Clipper scythe.

Axes are made with the steel inlaid, or an overcoat. Here, as in the manufac- ture of scythes, skilled workmen are employed in the various stages of the work, from the crude bar iron and steel, to the beautifully polished, painted, stenciled, and finely tempered implement, the joy of the woodman, the bctc noir of the farmer's son.

The workmen in the establishment, some seventy in number, are well paid, for the most part working by the piece, and earning from two dollars to four dollars a day. Many of them have grown old in the service of the company. Ruel Whitcomb, who tempers the scythes, has been in their employ thirty-four years.

N. T. Greenwood, the senior partner of the company, was born in New London, January 24, 1827, was educated at Colby Academy, was in business in Boston and Natick eight years, and at the age of twenty-six joined his father in his present business. He represented New London in the legislature in 1869, has been trustee of Colby Academy for fifteen years, and is now treasurer of

�� �