288 THE FRAXKLIN JOURNAL AND

Y%E wvwer of preparing the Cement, is ff8 fo!lOWS-.

the stone is catcined in kilns,then ground to a powder, and mixed
with clean 6and, in various Jroportions, usually by equal measure.
The cement shcruld be proun 1, soon after it is calcined, and kept 90
that no \Vtt, or ttamp, 1~ s&red to come in contact with it ; nor
H~IOU~d it bLInucll ~~psd to the air before it is used. The cement
and saJ,(l, slr~,iild be mixed together dry, ant1 ,then, as jittle water
atlt\(.d as JJ,ay be iJecess;try to lorm the mortar into a umform paste,
\viJcrJ it is wt*ll beateJJ. 11 the cement be mixed with sand, by equal
mPayiJJf;,it will rctiuirc about 31. bushels, to construct a cubic yard Of
masonry. S. GLXLFORD.
Jote Oy fk EdiCov.- ~)ur correspondent P. informs LI,, that n patent
has bw~ ~&XI out by 1111..Guilford, fur the Iiydrnullc Lime. We
are at a IOSSto know, IW what discovery, or improvement, in the
nature of tl,e materi;tle, or in the mode of using them, the exclusive
riglit is c:lailtJctl ; so far its appears in tlJc papers before US, there is not
any thing new iti C!illJeJ;and, excepting there is something special,
wl~ich is at prrscnt out of si$t, we cannot perceive how a claiJn to
iin ~~xclusi\-c prJviicgc, could, In t,he present i~Jstance, be suutsiJJe$
any mctrc: tlJ;!lJ it coold for common morlar, made from a newly dJs-
covered 1Jc~iof lime -stone. We do not preterJd to nlUdJ knowledge
in the law, but ;t~~~whencl,tllat the 6 dlsc.ovcry,9 contemplated in
the patent law, Js I& the discovery of minerals, deposited by the
hand of JiiJt\1ft,under thtr surlhce of the earth. These remarks, are
m:itic nisi; (\~~t~~~~Jic~c, as the respectability and inte.lligence of the
f er.
so71S
. ttJJ:ct~rJlc,tt,SIX sliclb, as to induce us fo suppose, that we ITJa~
Jave f;iiie:l lntrt tlte C~JJIJIJOIJerror, of judging, witlJout a sufficient
kJ~o\V!ctig;cuf ,lil tiic premises.
-l-_ -_
on &~rnishillg.
ToburkJislJ an article, is to polish it, hy removing the small emi-
nences or rougl:!~csscsPupon its surface ; and the instrument br which
it is performed, 1.3&:nomiiJaterl a BUH~ISBER. This mode ot polish-
ing, is the J:iOst expeditious, and gives the greatest lustre to a
polished body. It is matle use of by gold and silversmiths, cutlers,
l~ckstt~it!t~, :tnct lr>Ost of the workmen in gold,
steel. It rrnwes the marks I& by the
po!ish;JJg mafeJ%ils; and gives to the
trc, resembling that ot looking-glass. The burnisher is an instrument,
?iJe form alld coiJs!ruction of which, is extremely variable, according
to lhr JTspr:ctivc trade+; anti, it must be even adapted to tlJe yarious
biJ!ds ofIyork, in the same art. We Shall point out the principal
OJICG. [JJ ,g.*wral, as this tool is only intended to e&e inequalities,
.;IlLJtl
: T
I ~Ll!J.t:!rJCc the bUrJliSheJ iS UU& Of, is of little ConSeqUence
:o fiw :.rticlt~ hl~J!~Shcd, provided only, that it he of a harder sub..
~ta!lCl.I!li!lt lC3!~li'ticle.
L Fr?m tlrc Didiowmirr Zechn&&ue.
 AMERICAN MECHANICS MdaAZ%NE. 189

We shall first describe the art of burnishing_ silver articlee, and

:&crwarcls point out the variety of modes in whmh the burnisher is
;ksed, in other arts.
When silver articles have received their last fashion from the sil-
versmiths hamIs, that is to say, when they have been worked, SOI-
dcred, repaired, or adjusted, they are sent to the burnisher, who has
the care of finishing them. He must begin, by clean@ off any
kiod of dirt which their surfaces had contracted whilst making, as
that would entirely spoil the perfection of the burnishing. For this
purpose, the workman takes pumice-stone powder, and, with a brush,
made very wet in strong soap-suds, he rubs, rather hard, the various
~XU% of his work, even those parts which are to remain dull ; and
which, nevertheless, receive a beautiful white appearance. He then
wipes it with an old linen cloth, and proceeds to the burnishing.
The burnishers used for this purpose, are of two kinds ; some of
steel, others, of hard stone. Steel burnishers are either curved or
straight ; rounded or pointed ; and made so as to suit the projectiq
parts, or the hollows of the piece.
Stone burnishers are made of blood-stone (hznzcrtite) cut, and
either rounded with the grindstone, or rubbed, so that they pre,,
sent at the bottom, a very blunt edge, or sometimes a rounded sur-
face. These are polished with emer like steel burnishers, and are
finished b;v being rubbed upon a leat I! er, covered with crocus mwtis.
The stone is mounted in awooden handle, and firmly lixed by means
ofa copper ferrule, which encircles both the stone and the wood. The
best blood-stones, are those which contain the most iron,and which,
when polished, present a steel colour.
The o eration of burnishing, is very simple : it is only requisite to
take ho19 of the tool very near to the ferrule or the stone, and lean
very hard with it, on those parts which are to be burnished, causing
it to glide by a backward and forward movement, without taking it
off the piece. When it is requisite that the hand should pass over a
large surface at once, without losing its point of support on the work-
bench, the workman, in taking hold of the burnisher, must be careful
to lace it just underneath his little finger. By this means, the work
is s one quicker, and the tool is more solidly fixed in the hand.
Uuring the whole process, the tool must be continually moistened
with black soap-suds. The water with which it is frequently wetted,
causes it to glide more easily over the work, prevents it from heating,
and facilitates its action. The black soap, containing more alkali
than the common soap, acts with greater strength in cleansing off any
greasiness, wvhich might still remain on the surface ; it also more
readily detaches the spots, which would spoil the beauty of the bur-
ni4iin.g.
fn consequence of the friction, the burnisher soon loses its bite, and
slips over the surface of the article, as if it were oily. 1n order to
restore its action, it must be rubbed,from time to time, on tbe leather.
Ihe leather is tixed on a iece of hard wood, with shallow furrows
along it. There are genera Ply two leathers-one made of sole-leather,
and the other of buK-leather. The first, ,is impregnated with a little
VOL. Il.--No. ~,--l\iQVEVl3ER, 18%. B:
 !W rHE FRANKLLN JOURNAL AED

oil and CYOCUS IT~UV~~S, i;nd is particularly used for the bl~~ci-~i~~c
burni&ers ; tile other, has only a little putty of tin, scattered in rht:
furrows, and is intended cxcIusively, for rubbing steel burnishem, a
they are not 50 hard as the blood-stones.
~)lood-st.one being wry hard, the workman uses it whenever 1:~
can, ill preference to the stc:el burnisher. It is therefore onl,y in Sirl.til
that the steel burnishers are used ; ~3
adapted to all kinlls of work. Uut
reduces the labour.
their minuteness, or from any other
cause, cannot be conveniently h&l in the hand, they are fir*(l in a
convenient frame on the bench: but under all circumstanced. the
rvorklnan must be very careful to manage the burnisher, w as to leave
untouched, those prts of the work, which are intended to remain
dull. When, in burnishing any article, which is plated or lined with
silver, he perceives any place, where the layer of precious metal is
removed, he restores it, by silvering these places, with a composition
suppfied by the silverer, wllic,h he applies with a brush, rubbing the
part well, and wiping it afterwards, with an old linen cloth.
The burnishing being finished, it only remains to remove the soap-
suds, whirh still adheres to the surface of the work : this is etK&.cd,
by rubbing it with a piece of old linen cloth, which preserves &ioit al I its
polish, and +vcs so great a lustre, that theeye can scarcely hgar to look
upon rt. But, when the workman has a great number of smalL pieces
to fillishT he prcli~rs throwing thetn into soap-suds, and drying them
aflt*rwarcls with saw-(iust, which is more expeditious.
The burnishc~rs of nrticlcs which are not silver, follow nearly the
s:aln(j,lWPG.) a; tl!*rt above c!escribed. WC shall briefly notice thv
ii~ri:ti:oi~~ 11, IJV ol~::~~i~ed in each case.
Xht~ IPII i!i-!lirl~ of Id-gold or silver, on wood, is performed with
bnriiis!ll:i.+ umtii~ of ~olrcs~ or dogs teeth, or agates, mounted in
iron, 01~on:ii~t~ h~~n;il~. When they burnish gol$ applied on other
rnt:lals, I~ICYdip il~e blootl401Jc burnisher, into vrnegar; this ki!ld
being ercl&ivc~l,v uscil for that purpose. But when they burnish lcaf-
$1, on pq~~~d surfaces of wood, they are very careful to keep thy
&iie, or tooth, perfectly dry. The burnisher used by leather-gi&fers,
is a hard ~~Aished stone, mounted in a wooden handle ; this is used to
sleek, or ~mooih the leather.
rhe orclillikrv cr~gravcr~s burnisher, is a blade of steel, made thin at
one end, to fil:into a s&t handle, which serves to hold it by. rile
part in tllc middle olthe blade, is rounded on the convex side, and is
also a lililc curved. Ihc rounded part, must be well polished, and
11~?roc,l 111:very hard.
~11~:?11% this burnish::r to give the last polish to copper..p!ate~,
fl:libiilG 11l~!lll WC11with it, and being very careful to use oil confinu_
:tliy~ to Iul~ricatc it. Olher burnishers, are nearly of the s;Lme form
;I$I.llC*:tl.:i:tl I)7 the gildert; ant] silverers.
LI! Cinh-l:IRki,,, they burnish those pieces or parts, which, on
XWOlllI~ Oi ti!iii hi-& or form, c;lnnot [JC conveuie[;tlv plishcd. IIW

burriish2ri Xe cib various forms and sizes j tlley areall lnadc of cast,_
 AMERJCAN MECHANICS IA@AZJNE. 29t
steel, very hard, arrd well polished : some, are formed like the saqe-
leaf fries; others. like cotmuon files: the first, are used to burmsh
SWWS, WI piectas of brass ; the others, are used for flat-pieces. The.
c%)~k-mbkers have also very small ones of this kind, to burnish their
pil:c+s j fiwp art! called piw3t-burnis/iers.
h bur~&hing of pewter articles, is done after the work has been
t:lrlis,:l, cr fi&~icd off with a scraper: the burnishers are of different
k;~!i:;, 5:~ !~nr~~islting?rticles either by hand, or in the lathe; they are
a![ of 5~:. ~1 whi~c 111use, are rubbed with putty powder on leather,
ai+:r :Ir:~:~ti.t~edwith soap .sutis.
Ihr i?ui uialriug of cutl~y, is executed by means of band, or vice
b~)~i~&!~rs; thev are all made of fine steel, hardened, and well polish-
e\l. Ihc first tiintl, IIRW nothing particular in their construction ; but
the v& burnisht~rs, are formed and mounted in a very different tnan-
nzr Ol a long piece of wood, placed horizontally in the vice, is
fiXc:ltalll,fIltr I?i?CC,as long. but bent in the form of a bow, the con-
cir1.iI.vofwhich, is turned downwards. These two pieces, are united
at one of their extrrmitirs by a pin and a hook, which allows the
upper piece to move frcply around this point, as a centre. The bur-
nihhrr is fixed in lhc middle of this bent piece, and it is made moue
or less proj(&nq, by the gr&er or lesser length which is given to its
base. l%e moveahlc l>ic,ceof wood, at the estrc.mity oppoGte t@ the
hook, is furttisllcd with a handle, which serves the workman as a lever.
This positiclrl, allows the burnisher to rest with greater force against
the article to be l)uruist~ed,which is placed on the fixed piece-of wood.
They give to the burnisher, either the form of the face of a round-
headed hammer, well polished, to burnish those pieces which are
plain or convex; or the form of two cones, opposed at their summits,
with their bases rounded, to burnish those pieces which are concave
or ring-shaped.
The burnishing of the edges of books, is performed with a wolfs
or dogs tooth, or a steel burnisher: for this purpose, they place the
books in a screw press, with boards on each side of them, and qther
boards distributed between each volume ; they first rub the edges well
with the tooth, to give them a lustre. After sprinkling or staining,
and when the edges are become dry, they first burnish the front ; then
turning the press, they burnish the edges at the top and bottom of the
volume.
They burnish the giltedges in the same manner, afterhavin
the gold ; but observe, in gilding, to lay the gold first upon t4I@
aPied
rant,
and allow it to dry ; and, on no account, to commence burnishing till
it is quite dry.
 FOB TBE FBdSKLIR JOURKdI.

Rem&s upor Ifir! USCof &W~rucile, und its .dpplication to the various
purposes of domesfic economy.

Tile use of the anthracite, as a fuel, has been so generally approve4

that it seems likclv to supersede, to a great degree, all other substan
ces both jn manufactorics and families. In almost every case, where
it has been trictl for parlour use, it may be said to have gamed the
prercrerrce over, even the best hickory wood; and it is not unlikely
that at no distant day, it will obtain an equally firm footing in our
kitchens. Notwitl&ainlina however, the number and variety oi trials
that have been made, it cPoes not appear that any articulnr form of
rate, or size of flue, has as yet obtained a genera,f or decided prc-
Hercnce : in fact, it is rather remarkable, that some of the first attempts
should be adhered to, when their inconveniences are but too obvious.
This, is probablv atlb~ibutable to the want of a collection of facts, as-
certained witI1 &rrectness, which might serve to settle the genera{
rinciples applicable to the subject. I0 assist in forming such a coil
Pection, the following remarks are put upon paper, by an individual
who has given much attention tothe use of the anthracite, during the
last &fouryears. It is quite probable, that similar observations may
bavc been made by others, but as the results were new to himself, and
to almost all .with whom he has conversed, he is inclined to believe
that, if known, they have not received the attention to which they are
entitled.
The first cxperimcnts were made on the fourth, fifth, and sixth_, of
the fourth month, (April,) 1826, and were intended to determine,
whether a great draught, and a small flue, are indispensable, in order
to burn the coal with ease, and to produce the quantity of heat required
for ordinary purposes, and were made in the following maoner.
A common cast iron Liverpool coal grate, was placed in a large
open wash-Ilouse chimney, and bein,m merely su ported upright, by
means of dry bricks, the flue was left of its or d!mary size as when
used with a large wood fire. The iire chamber of the grate, was en-
tirely of irou and not lined with brick, or any other substance. A fire
was first kindled with Swatara coal, as being the easiest to ignite, and
was continued throughout a day, On the following daJ,, a fire was
made of Scbuylkill coal, and on the third day, of the Lehigh. In
CIC~I case, the fire ~vas as good., as those made of the same kmds of
coal, in other grates, and required about the same attention to keep
up the combustion; t!le Swatara coal, requiring the smallest quantity
of d~~0a1 to kindle it, and the Lehigh, the largest; whilst a much
gwatw wo])nvtian of the former, was bright and glowing, than of the
laftcr. !Ihc Schuylkill coal, appeared to be at a medium between the
twn, iu these respects.
Another trial was made by placing several iron bars upon the and-
irons, in an oljen Franklin stove, upon which the coal was burned
with pcr?:ei rnic, making a beautiful fire, and casting out a heat
Ijuitc e;;tiai to list from N-ood..
 MAGAZWE,
AMERICAN NCCtiANICS' 288

Prom these results, it seems that a small Rue, and a great &a@,
are not indispensable, for the purpose of making a good fire of anthra_
cite. The latter, it is true, is of some importance in kindling the fire,
but ifa blower be used, the draught will be greater, and tbe fire be
more quickly kindled, with a wide flue, than with a narrow one. The
common objections to a fire of anthracite, now that the difficulty of
kindhng is surmounted, are, that it throws more dust into the room
than wood does, and imparts an unpleasant dryness to the air. These
objections are certainly in tnan cases well founded, and their removal
is of im ortancc to persons of z elicate constitutions, and to those who I
are stu tFIOUYof neatness in their parlour arrangements. That they
generally, if not always, proceed from having the flue too much con-
tracted, and the grate too much projected into the room, there can be
no doubt. I3y an increase in the size of the flue, and by placin the
grate more backward in the chimney, the objections here referee 9 to,
may be entirely obviated; but, in that case, it may be needful to ia-
crease the size of the grate, so as to produce an increased quantity of
heat, as a portion of it must necessarrly escape, by an enlargement of
fhe flue. A parkour grate, erected in conformity to these views, is
found to answer perfectly well.
The next expcrimeot, was made in order to determinc whether the
common culinary operations of a famil,v, could be carried on as con-
veniently with co+ as with wood. For this purpose the first men-
tioned grate was removed, and placed in a common kitchen chimne
with a wide flue, and open front; and all the usual processes of fameI y
cooking, &G. were tried, and found to answer in the most satisfactory
manner. The use of this rate was continued for some weeks, until
the plan of another was gully decided upon, embracing alterations
calculated to obviate some small inconvemences. This grate havin
been permanently erected in place of the former, it has been use g
daily, with the anthracite coal, during the last four months, for all the
kitchen purposes of a small family, (except baking of bread, which has
~mt been tried,) and has proved as complete in.811respects, as the com-
mon wood fire. In some points it is in fact preferable, as it does not
require the cook to stoop, as at a wood fire, and the fuel is supplied
with much less labour; and the steam and other exhalations being
carried offby the open flue, the comforts of the kitchen, are in no
way diminished, but, on the contrary, incr+sed, by an entire exemp-
tion from the too common annoyance of smoke.
The following is a plan, and description, of the kitchen grate, thus
put into use.
A. Front view of the chimney-place, grate, crane, &c.
$3. The side flue, to assist the drau ht. I
C. Poker, about three feet in lengt 73.
D. A cast iron plate, used to partition off a part of the grate, so as
to make a smaI1 fire.
E. IIook,for liftingand drawing out themoveable bottomof the grate.
12. Guard iron to be placed above the fire for pots,&c, to stand upon.
G. Bottom of the grate, made moveable.
II. Stand, for the tin roaster.
-

-
 AXERICAN MECHANICS' MAGAZIN'E. 2911
The fire-place is three feet ten inches higb, and three feet ten inch-
es wide.
The grate is one foot six inches wide, nine inches deep, and the
bottom, fourteen inches above the hearth ; the bars are three uarters
of an inch in thickness, and the space between them, an inc% and a
half: the bottom bars, are half an inch thick, and an inch apart. The
front bars, are of square iron, and the upper one is movecbie, and falls
f~)rwnrtl, so as to be on a level with the second, formin a convenient
situation for a toaster, or other article, to be placed be4ore the Iire,
The side platforms, are two feet one inch high, containing the side
flues, which are two and a half inches, by four inches, covered at top
by a soap stone slab.
The main flue is fire inches and a half wide, and runs all across
the chimney.
The guard iron, is one foot ten inches long, and nine inches wide,
with bars, half an inch square, and two inches asunder.
The dividing iron D, corresponds with the dimensions of the grate.
This grate* is of a size suited to a small famil but2by estending
its dimensions, accommodation may bc had for t 4le largest establish-
merits. A second crane may be added, and the depth towards the
back of the chimney, increased, without injury to t!~ other arrange-
ments. The usual operdtions of- boiling, roasting, and broiling, in a
proper state of the fire, may be pcrformcct with the greatest ease ; ;md
after being accustomed to the use of it. there is little doubt, but our
cooks would, in general, prefer the coal fire, to the wood.
The kitchen fire, referred to, has always been kindled without a
blower, merely by using dry bark, which, on experience, is found to
be extremely well suited for the purpose ; and in case of the fire sink-
ing below what may be required for any particular operation, it may
be revived, by adding a few pieces of wood or bark., But a blower
may often be a convenience, and may be made with a common sheet.
of iron, adapted to dose the chimney from the grate, upwards.
It has been found by er erience, that the softer kinds of coal, are
the best for small fires, an 9 for cookin in general, as they burn more
freely than the harder kinds. - however, especial care
With a $1 kinds
must be taken, to have rovided a supply of dry oak, or hickory wood,
bark or charcoal, as, wit3 lout one or the other of these, always at hand,
great inconvenience may be sustained. Pine-wood, cedar, or chips,
are of little, or no use, to kindle the coal.
There is an advantage in keeping coals upon a flooring of boards
or brick, so as to prevent their b&mG<mixed with earth, a very small
quantity of which7 ;vill injure the ftre : and coal, loaded by hand, is
preferable for grate s, to that moved with the shovel, as the fine stuff,
is also injurious to a grate fire? though it may be advantageousfp ~Std
.ina close stove.
Both pariorir and kitcbcr! grates, up& the plans above mentioned,
have been found iu anbiver so fully, that the writer of these notes, has
xsde no proviGnn for a wood fire, in his house. J. v.
ii No . I, I826 .
* It wasma& by Stephen P. Morris, co~-nw of Thir3 and Walnut streets, and
~):tt 1;;by Ilaper Smith, Arch, near YiiU~&xxt.
 FRANKLIN INSTITUTE.

committee of Inventions, Sept. Eth, 182~

The colnmittce of inventions, who? at the request of ?&a Jatne~
.Vaux, of this city, have examined his kitchen grate, and other ar,
rangements, for the bUrJIiJJg ofanthracite coal,
Report, rhat_ the object which Mr. Vaux had in view, in the experi..
merits lvliicll he has made, was to ascertain, whether anthracite might
not be I,(]rrlt i tl an ordinary, open fire place, and applied to all the pur-
poses of domestic econouly, for which wood, or bituminous coal, is
gcncrally used. As it is the intention of Mr. Vaux to describe his
al,l)aratus, and to communicate his observations to the public, the
cornmi ttee deem it unnecessary for them to enter at large on the sub-
ject, and they will therefore, merely state, that, in their presence, fires
were readily kindled, without using a blower, both in a grate con-
structed fin cooking, and other purposes, and standing in an o en fire
place in the kitchen ; and also, m a common, cast iron, Et@ 3 grate,
placed in a parlour fire place, without altering the existmg size or
form, of the opening or throat of the chimney; and that it appeared
evident to them, that a!1 the purposes proposed by Mr. Vaux, were
)erKectly attained. It was not pretended by the experimentor, that
t e had made any discover , which could be denominated new, but,
on1 that he had succeede 6. m proving erroneous, an opinion, mhich 16
sttl-? geuerally prevalent, viz. that anthracite, cannot be used for
cooking, excepting in a stove ; a grate, forbidding its convenient use,
in cause ucnce r;f the supposed necessity for bringing forward the
back, amI clos~rr~ . the throat of the chimney.
The committee believe, tht Nlr. Vaux has perfectly succeeded in
provitq tlir incorrectness of this opinion.
13j WIIW,
THOS. P. JONES, J%cWoy,

fiq0sPd Geologiccrl Survey of the St&e of Penn,7yyiv&ir,

A public address, intended to promote a Geological and Mine&o-
jrical survey of this state, was delivered in the Hall of the Franklin
Institute, on the 50th of September, by Peter A. Browne, Esq.
l%e meeting W~.Svery respectably attended, and when the address
was concluded, Dr. R. M. Patterson, was called to the chair, and
&rard &hton, Esq. appointed secretary. Resolutions were then
passed, approbating the proposition, and complimenting the gcn-
Iiemau: who hat1 tlcliverecl the address. A committee was appointed,
rolrsisting of Peter A. Browne, C. C. Biddle, E. S. Burd, Stephen
nuric:tn, .John Wurts, Dr. R. 3%. Patterson, Gerard Ralston, and
lii:lirj- S. ranncr. This committee, was requested to report to a
future I0ectiu a. plan for carrying the proposition into effect; foi
wliiC!b p!p$thC!y were authorized to call another meeting of the
citizens.
The addrcsh has been published, and a short abstract of it, \vi!!.
lndWbt~ll f IW ;rccepta!>fc to our readers.