WOOL-PRESSING AND COMBUSTION.

Hawke's Bay Times, Volume 6, Issue 330, 7 December 1865, Page 1

WOOL-PRESSING AND COMBUSTION.

(Written for the Daily Southern Cross.) Some time ago two papers on two several occasion appeared in the Southern Cross on the subject of wool-washing, one of which is copied into the leading columns of the Mark Lane Express of October 24 of last year, A third was half promised, but as the season of sheep-shearing and wool-washing is now over, the remainder of that topic or topics may appear before wool harvest of next season, if convenient. The shapes and variety of sizes which the Auckland wool bales appeared to assume at various sales were suggestive of the following observations : —Regarding the quantity to be pressed into a bale or bales, all sorts and sizes of opinions can bo be obtained by by a patient listener—just like thebales themselves, they vary exceedingly. No fixed standard—no, nor approximates—have ever been attempted to equalise. In large establishments wool-pressing is carried on simultaneously with shearing. The wool binus are not sufficiently capacious for affording room to stow away all the clip, so are cleared out by the wool-press. Presses are of unequal sizes, and the compressing powers even much more unequal. The primitive plan of spadepacking is now almost forgotten. Lever presses of different forces, differently wrought, next were introduced as great improvements, and now screwpresses, on extensive sheep-walks, or hydraulic apparatus, supersede all others. Still,” no determined quantity of wool, in each bale, as best size, seems to be studied; or, if studied, is never adopted. With so many models from which to pick and choose, cannot private wisdom, aided by general opinion, agree on some model size and power of wool-press, a kind of standard publicpa tented press, wherein about a given quantity of fleeces should be squeezed into a bale with propriety, and to exceed would be impropriety ? In our experience, by no means of the least, bales of divers weights, from 150 to 500 pounds, have passed through our hands. Many of the shapes could not be found in any mathmetieal work j no, not in all Euclid. In order to obtain some definite idea regarding the opinions of men largely engaged in the avocation of wool-growing, twelve circulars were sent to twelve different sheepowners or managers, requesting information on this proposition : “ What in your opinion, is the best size in avoirdupois, of a bale of wool, and what is your practice, one year with another F” Their estimates are thus enumerated, viv., 280, SCO, ?2J, 360, 360, 3SO, 380, 390, 400, 400, 420, and 450. Here is a wide range for short wools. TI e mean of a.l these numbers amounts to 3701bs nett; with 101 b for bag added, a gross weight of pounds is obtained. In connection with this aubj -ct are subjoined some pertinent remarks by Mr E. Kenion, of Bradford, on a circular of Messrs Jacomb and Son, bearing on the point at issue, the estimated quantity of wool on hand.” “These tables would, no doubt, be correct ifbales of wool represented invariable quantities. Given in weight, they may represent any quantities from 501 Hto 5 cwt. It is well known to wool-staplers that during recent years wool bales from all the ■col mies have been largely augmented, both in *ize and weight. He (Mr Kenion) had found an increase of 8| per cent, between one year and the year following. Taking the results of these investigations, extending over many hundreds of bales during several years, if follows that the quantity represented by 65,000 bales ome years a rr o would really amount to 70,000 in years subsequent.” That this alleged increase—increase in size of ■pack as well as weight—belongs especially to New South Wales and part of Victoria, there can be no doubt. Cost of transit by bullock teams at—per bale, according to distance, sometimes 300 miles v. as one cause of this movement, and improved powers of compressing was another. The case is not so dear, however, if any real advantages were gained, whatever may have been the •opposed advantages. Complaints strong and numerous have crossed the ocean, deprecating the practice of over-pressing. “ I have seen, : ’ •aid a very respectable gentleman, “I have seen wool bales opened from Australia—opened both at Leeds and Huddersfield—which looked verylike to curdy cheese; elasticity of wool nearly destroyed, and, in some portions color also gone. Wool in grease appeared almost a solid, so that great must be the waste before machinery can tear these masses to pieces. The old English pack of wool weighed 2101 b®, and a very accommodating, sensible weight it was, no doubt established after much consideration and the results of old English experience. In modern days—modem to us—wc care little for old-fashioned notions, frequently adopting rash ideas of our own, some of them crude enough,—but what then ? Why with all our improvements and new-fangled ideas we are not so wise as were our forefathers in many ihings.

The incipient process of wool-pressing commences with squeezing 120 to 160 fleeces into a wool pack, about 4 or 5 bv 2i feet. Say the bale when finished weighs 3801bs gross. Ten of these are usualiy conveyed on a dray to Sydney, Brisbane, or the nearest shipping port. Here they are subjected to a severer process under the powers of Sampson presses, which reduce every two primary bales into the size of one original bale. Next follow the stevedores with their levers, Jack-screws, wrought by brawny broad-shouldered fellows, who jamb the doubly compressed bales into the ship’s hold until the sides crack and sometimes open ; and this opening means no exaggeration, for literally it is true. Some of the old crazy ships have taken the saltwater dropsy in consequence, and dropped into the bottom of the briny deep. Under so severe pressure wool would indeed be required to be packed and shipped in sound condition. Every bale carted or carried from a distance ought tithe examined rigorously, to ascertain if one and all are free from damp or damage by rain, as many tarpaulins possess not the properlies of repulsion to the soaking capabilities of Australian rainfalls. Wool bales which have been exposed six weeks to almost constant wet weather, under very slender coverings, ought to be repacked, for the better safety or security of ship, crew, and cargo. So many singular circumstances have come within the range of our seeing, hearing, aye, and feeling from carelessness, accidents, or roguery, that perhaps discretion will prompt that some of them will be better left untold, at least not at present shall they be revealed. Attentive, because interested reader, dost thou believe in spontaneous combustion ? You never knew of any. There still are many things on earth which neither you nor I know. The burning on board those two vessels, the Imogen and Talavera, in Devenport docks, were examples of this spontaneous combustion. An accumulation of oakum, old pieces of oily flannel, saw-dust, wood shavings, and the sweepings of painters’ refuse, &c., all heaped together, occasion these disasters. Accidental fires in cities and in towns can be well enough accounted for sometimes from similar collections, and a few of our colonists may have know-n of wool-laden ships which had to be scuttled before they made their departue from harbor because spontaneous combustion commenced in part of the wool. Yea, and sundry sea captains, when they discovered that their wool, cargoes were in a state of smouldering combustion, have battened down their hatches, payed every crevice likely to admit atmospheric air, clapped on a press of sail, while suffering all the time from the conviction that they and their crews were treading over a slumbering volcano, and some of them reached the intended port in safety of life and vessels. A sound sleep would have been a great blessing to such men, suffering from constant mental agonies. Spontaneous ignition is greatly to be dreaded even on land ; but a ship on fire at sea seems one of those appalling situations which make the soul shrink within itself at the remote idea: no choice except burning to death or drowning, unless the All-merciful sends “ a sail in sight.” Some men assert that, in spontaneous combustion of wool, where moat yolk there is most danger. Aqueous damp is far more dangerous. Damp wool demands the eye of experience to detect ; and some sheepowners are not over-consei-ously particular about the dryness of their fleeces after washing, on the impolitic pretence that said fleeces when shorn would weigh so much the heavier. Probably the world is recently become much more honest than formerly, and no like doings now are practised. The Australian system of hiring owners of bullock teams to carry wool at so much per bale is commonly general, especially in remoter districts. Delays occur; flooded rivers, bad roads, heavy rains, all retard the journey, which it is their interest to terminate as soon as possible. With all their care part of wool gets wetted. With hot sunshine and a day or two of solar exposure, the outsides become dry enough for delivery “ in as good condition as received,” reads the term of part agreement; receipts in full, perhaps payments, are received ; and the parties walked away quite satisfied that they have done their duty—to themselves, but prudently take good heed not to give a hint about the wet bales. Thus are wise men deceived. The sentiment is prevalent that wool in grease incurs greater risk than washed wool. As our experience is very limited in tha matter of greasy wools, having a dislike to this unseemly variety, the question will be left open. If the freight is considerably more than washed wool, and the risk greater no encouragement offers for sending to Europe dirty wools from these Australian colonies. As there is more dirt, ther* will probably be also more danger from spontaneous combustion. That such a combustion ensues not only inanimate matters, but also in living human bodies, we have many historical proofs. Nearly all had been inveterate brandy-drinkers when alive, so that probably the body, saturated with alcohol, was burned by means of an excess of that alcohol in their systems. The experiment is simple—that of burying a mixture of sulphur and iron filings, moistened, in the earth, for combustion will certainly ensue. Oils and paints, in conjunction with wools, cotton, &e., have a strong disposition to ferment and heat. It is alleged that the closer wool is packed, by so far less is there any chance of spontaneous combustion. The oxygen of atmospheric air, being by this very close packing excluded, prevents flame from bursting forth ; as there can bo no flame from bursting forth ; as there can be no flame without a requisite supply of oxygen : ergo, say the high pressure advoc.it es, exclude the

air, then ship and cargo will all be safe ; for flame can only arise by the union of oxygen with hydrocarbon, or carburetted hydrogen. Steady a little, if you please, there. A few substances are exceed--1!-gly liable to ferment. They are, moreover, very widely diffused, both in the animal and vegetable kingdoms. They are those which contain nitrogen and sulphur. 'The action of ferments on fermentescibles is analogous to heat on organic substances and heat usually causes expansion or increase of volume. Carburetted hydrogen will not ignite spontaneously, nor will the firedamp of coal mines, ihey want a concentrated spark, as a struck match, or a flame of a candle. But phosphuretted hydrogen will take fire when in free contact with atmospheric air, as the ignis fatuus plainly demonstrates.

the dry materials for this generation and also the oleaginousexist in wool will be presently shown. Yolk of wool is a true soap, the saline basis of which is potass, the oily an animal secretion, with moisture; yolk dissolves at a heat of 52 degrees to 55 degrees. In the analysis of wool itself, sulphur, constitutes no mean element. Every 201bs of wool, in ordinary, is said to contain one pound of sulphur so that a bale of 3701bs holds in combination about eighteen and a-ha!f pounds of this ponderous organic substance. Wool also if like the human hair, contains a small portion of iron, with carbonates and phosphate of lime; carbon 505; hydrogen, 7' ; azote or nitrogen 17 7 • oxygen and sulphur about 2k in parts. ° Here we have combustible enough elements, and materials which the presence of humidity elevates to fermentation, and fermentation into combustion by the pressure of oxygen. The slow, smothered, and secret burning which often goes on for davs and weeks, is chiefly supported by means of the released gases which, as it were, prev upon and devour one another, through want of other food or fuel. What countryman may not have noticed the long-spreading underground roots of a tree r- Inch had been burned down ? Withou: flame the wasting of this root by ignition goes on for days, almost impercebtibly ; open an air hole above, and the slumbering fire bursts forth into flame by means of an atmospheric current put in circulation, which fans the embers and supplies oxygen. When aqueous combinations of vegetable or animal matter are exposed to ordinary atmospheric temperatures, they speedily undergo spontaneous changes, and fermentation ensues. Humidity is one of the fermenting causes in everyday processes of decomposition. Were wool packed in a state of devoid of superfluous humidity, except what its own yolk affords in combination, no ferraentescible changes would ensue. But if wools be packed up damp, or water finds access, not the most solid mechanical pressure is able to resist a more powerful action of the chemicals. Next, is woolly fibre injured by extreme degrees of pressure, and a decided Yes will make the shortest of all answers. The elasticity and felting qualities are more or less injured—often the color. It is a fact which has been often proved under mine own eyes, that fleeces in prime condition will gain weight if properly stowed in regular bins for the space of two weeks. How this additional poundage is naturally acquired will be no secret to those who are tolerably acquainted wiih chemistry. Wools, if moderately presed in in bales of about 2501bs each, will gain weight on the sea voyage, results an hundred times proved. Wool will gain weight on the voyage entirely by invisible chemical changes or transmutations. Some idea of this nature was expressed at one of the Auckland wool sales. Anxious to know if any cause could be shown how this increase arises I wrote a short note to the Southern Cross, asking for information on this particular point. No one condescended to notice my request. Perhaps, the question was unworthy of the colonists’ consideration, and showed a shocking amount of ignorance, or may be arrogance, on the part of°the questioner. These home truths are not to be found in the Home News, nor in Bell’s Life, nor the Saturday Review, They are not to be met with in Boissangault’s investigations, although that celebrated Frenchman stands atethe head of agricultural chemists ; nor in Dumas (not the novelist), nor Liebig, nor Yoelcker, nor Simmonds, nor Faraday. They are to be found in the book of Nature. Please, begin and study.