MOIR AND CO.'S OATMEAL MILL.

Globe, Volume XX, Issue 1604, 10 April 1879, Page 4

MOIR AND CO.'S OATMEAL MILL.

As the population of the country; increases so apparently does the demand for breadstuffs, and while a few years ago, as old colonists well know, they could only obtain patent groats in tins, as imported from England in small quantities, at a comparatively high price, they are now able to purchase fresh oatmeal in large or small quantities newly manufactured within the provincial district. Wo believe that the only mill for the drying and "rinding of oats into meal on a large scale is that belonging to Metsrs Moir and Co., at Southbrook, and therefore con- ! aider that a notice of the same will be of considerable interest. This mill, as travellers along the northern railway know, is situate about one hundred yards from the Southbrok railway station, and was formerly owned by Mr E. Steggall, though since it was in the the occupation of the latter gentloman it has undergono so many changes as to be hardly the same place. The mill covers an area of about 80ft. by 80ft., and is in threo storeys, over the Southbrook stream, a brook which receives its Bupply from springs, and is also fed by drainage at the higher levels. The premises are connected with the main north line of railway with a siding, along which the truck loads of oats are daily conveyed to the covered way, where they receive their discharge into the mill by means of a hoist on an upper floor, upon a level with the kiln drying floor. But in order to assist the reader if following the process of manufacture, it may be explained first how the machinery obtains iti motive power, and then the operations of drying, grinding, sifting, &c, can be roferred to. The old-fashioned waterwheel, which is about as old as the oldest inhabitant, now lies on the bank of the brook, and with the advancing tide of commerce, and the demand for greater energy on the part of the mill to fulfill all the demands put upon it, as well as also to economise the short supply of water in the stream, which has been so noticeable this season in consequence of the drought, stepß had to be taken to meet these requirements. The importation of an American turbine water-wheel has been resorted to, and this was on Saturday fixed in position and put into operation. The turbine fa from the Globe iron works of Dayton, Ohio, and is made by Messrs Stout, Mills, and Temple. In this turbine the waterwheel is enclosed in an iron casing. The wheel works horizontally. The wheels and cases are made entirely of iron, with bridge trees above and below, secured so as to keep the wheels on their central position. The cases are bored out, and the wheels are all turned off after being fitted and keyed on their respective shafts, which makes thorn perfectly true. The whole of the turbine is sent from the makers ready to be put in position on a penstock. In order to set the one in question, which is 2ft. 6in. in diameter, a boarded-in pit 10ft. deep by sft. 6in. square sides, of 2in. timber strongly braced with stout timbers, was made in the centre of the stream. Thiß chamber is made perfectly air tight, and from it is carried a draught or suction pipe below. The head of water obtained is from a Oft. 6in. fall. In motion, the wheel performs 130 revolutions per minute, and works up to a power equal to fourteen horses. Prom the turbine (into which it must be stated the supply of water and power can be regulated) is connected an upright 3in. shaft which carries the machinery. To this is attached four belts. Two of these belts drive the stones for oatmeal milling, aud the other two will be called into requisition for making wheat flour so soon as arrangements are complete. The motive power thus obtained puts in motion a full sot of belts for other purposes throughout the mill, which will shortly be referred to. Having received the sacks of oats on the level of the kiln, they are placed in that compartment. This is entirely built of brick. The drying floor, being covered with cast iron, is 20ft. square. The height of the kiln house is 50ft. Below the heat is imparted by the burning of the oaten husks, which at present are shovelled in by manual labour, but in a few days v. furnace feeder, by means of which the kiln fire will be regularly supplied, is to be erected. This machine has arrived, and will prove very useful in this somewhat disagreeable process of supplying the fire. The kiln floor holds the contents of twenty Backs of oats at each drying, and is four times filled within the twelve hours. From the kiln the dried oats are shovelled into two bins, each capable of holding 800 bushels. In order to save the work of turning the hot grain when on the kiln and also to send it from the kiln into bins more expeditiously, another machine is being imported. For this it is claimed that it will turn the oats on the kiln regularly, without the temperature of the kiln being allowed to fall, as it is usually maintained at from 90 to 100 degrees. In the course of the year no leas a quantity than 210 000 bushels of oats can be dried in the kiln. The dried oats are taken out of the bins alluded to by a screw, which places them into thoppers, which take them up a height of 18ft., and allow them to return by a shoot into a pair of Newcastle stones. These are 4ft in diameter, and set a little apart, working at 200 revolutions per minute, so that the grain is simply rubbed so as to free it from the husks, and it falls from thence into a shoot, whioh takes it on to a machine called a harp or winnower. This removes the shells or loose husks from the kernels and all seeds. The oats fall into a receptacle, from which another hopper conveys them to a shoot communicating with the grinding stones. Here they are ground into "haver meal." These stones are set close, and are about 4ft. in diameter, working at a lesser velocity. The meal then ascends by another hopper to an upper storey, where on a sifter it is freed from finer husks, and becomes the oatmeal or groats of oommerce. Finally it drops into a funnel, beneath which is a trough with a tin screw working in it, which serves to place the meal in position to fall into the number of shoots, from whence the bags are filled. A boy was engaged in this work of filling up 71b, 251 b and 501 b bags, and they were being fairly weighed and deftly sewn up by another employe. In this way about twenty-five tons of oatmeal per week is prepared for local consumption or export, in connection with both of which trades the name of Moir and Co. is a standard, and thcru has been a great demand for the produce from this mill not only in the neighboring provinces, but a large quantity is regularly sent to the sister colonies. In addition to the making of oatmeal it is intended to recommence the making of wheat flour, as the machinery at command will enable the firm to drive at least four sets of stones. After the expense of the last few months, which will not be short of £6OO, this mill, with the rest of the machines to be introduced, will be the most complete of its kind in the province, and when all Mr W. Moir's plans have been attained there will be no necessity to touoh the grain from the time it is received till it is converted into flour. Mr Thomas is the foreman at this mill. Mr James Withers, builder, Southbrook, is the contractor for the addition to this mill.