Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 03.djvu/664

* BKTTSH. 588 BKTJSSELS. of uniform thickness, filled with bristles which are held in the middle, so that one half of the bristles appear above the surface of the comb and the other half beneath. The comb thus charged moves in guideways, and discharges bris- tles from each division successively into a chan- nel in which they are brought into a horizontal Besides the commoner types of brushes and brooms already described, there is an endless variety constructed in special shapes and used for special purposes. The accompanying table gives the foreign trade of the United States in brushes and brush- materials : Valce of Foreign Teade of the United States in Brushes axd Brush Mateeials Compiled from the Statistical Abstract for 1900 year ending JUNE 30th 1891 1892 1893 1894 1895 1896 1897 1898 1899 1900 Crude Bristles.... $1,892 1,242,259 060,585 $1,620 1,133.728 753,928 $385 1,216,794 782,802 $411'. 1,248.703 746,207 $12,399 1.445.85ii 890,62'J $22,330 Prepared Bristles * $1,357,938 863,573 $i,455.6,58 797,879 $1,508,258 814,062 $929,231 559,767 2,130,1)37 977,513 Exported Broom-Corn.. Brooms & Brushes $172,191 160,609 $218,133 181,110 $163,105 241,313 $210,742 179,098 $169,503 165,672 $181,853 180,183 $136,007 186,056 $163,066 168,272 $186,902 211,931 $182,620 232,868 • Includes " bristles of all kinds prior to 1895." position, and a proper quantity taken up to form a tuft. This tuft is moved along an in- clined cylinder, when a plunger doubles the bristles into a loop, which is .seized by wire, and in an instant securely fastened. JJrooms for sweeping floors, and whisk brooms for brushing clothes, are produced in large quantities in the United States, where they are made from broom-corn, a staple agricultural product of the Middle West. Broom-corn grow- ing and broom-making are both carried on in a small way by lumdreds of fanners and manu- facturers, and the bulk of the work is still done by hand, or with the aid of simple machinery. Large manufacturers, however, emploj- steam sewing-machines. The broom-corn or brush is received at the shop in bales. It is first run through sizing-machincs, to separate the fibres into groups according to length. In the large shops the broom is tied into bundles and bleached or dried to give it the desired color. The broom- handles are essentially simply turned sticks, which are sandpapered, varnished, painted, or otherwise finislied to suit the trade. Whisk brooms, however, often have fancy handles of bone, celluloid, or even such costly materials as silver and ivory. In making the broom the fibres are placed around the end of the stick or handle and secured by wire in a simple winding- machine. The broom at this point is conical. The next step is to flatten it to shape in a vise, and secure it in that form by sewing it with twine. This may be done by hand or by power; in either case the broom is held in a vise while being sewed. To remove the portion of seed left on the broom by the harvester, it is run thnnigh a scraping-macliinc, between rolls or cyliinlcrs containing |)egs or wires. The brooms are then trimmed; tin, plush, or velvet guards are i)laced over the wiring; labels are alh.xed, and the com- pleted brooms bunched in dozens. In the cheap- er grades of brooms the sticks are plain and the guards are omitted. Besides brooms, many other varieties of bru.slics are made from the broom- corn. Revolving brooms, for sweeping streets, began to be used as early as 18:i.5. The iiirjdern carpet- sweeper ((j.v.) is a form of revolving broom. BRUSH-TURKEY (so called because it lives in brush or scrub). An Australian bird (Tallegala Lathanii), one of the largest and best-known of megapodes. See Mound-Bikd. BRUS'SELS (Fr. liruxelles, Med. Lat. Bros- eJla, later liruocsella, Hruxelki, from MHG. bniocli, Ger. linich, marsh, bog, AS. brOc, stream, Engl, brook + Lat. sella, seat, Bruocsella having been the residence of the Duke of Lotharingia, or Lorraine, in a marshy locality). The capi- tal of Belgium, as well as of the Province of Brabant, situated in the centre of the coun- try, on the river Senne (Map: Belgium, C 4). Due to its uneven site, the city is divided into the upper and the lower towns. The former is the fashionable part of the city, and is essen- tially modern in its appearance, the French language being chiefly spoken ; the latter town, devoted mainly to business, still retains some of the original Flemish picturesqueness, to- gether with the Flemish tongue. The municipal authorities are as deeply concerned with the artistic aspect of the capital as with the acquisi- tion and control of the municipal works. As a result, Brussels, with its niiignificent parks, well- .sliaded boulevards, and splendid squares, is con- sidered one of the finest cities in Europe, and justly deserves the name 'Petit Paris,' It was formerly surrounded by strong walls, which have been converted into broad avenues and pleasure- grounds. The Alice Verte — a double street along the Scheldt Canal — forms a splendid promenade, and leads toward the Palace of Laeken, the suburban residence of the royal family, 3 miles north of the city. Besides these outer boule- vards, which enciicle the city, are several inner lK)ulcvards, recently constructed at a consider- able expense. In the up])er town the most mag- nificent park is near the royal palace. Of the city squares, the most notcwortliy are the Place Royale, with its colossal monument of Godfrey of Bouillon; the Grande Place, in which is the Hotel de Ville, where in 15G8 the patriot counts, Egiiiont and Horn, were beheaded by order of the Duke of Alba; the Place des Martyrs, with a menuirial erected to those wlio fell hero in the Kcvohition of 1830; the Place du Grand Sablon, with its adjacent Place du Petit Sablon, oma-