A MODEL PLANING MILL.

In connection with this subject are presented full details of the construction and arrangement of what is considered a model planing-mill, designed and built during the season

of 1881, by A. O. Gardner for Mr. A. S.

Meriam, of Quincy, Ill.

This mill was constructed with great care to lessen the expense of handling the lumber, and it is confidently believed that the end has been attained about as nearly as is possible, and it can be presented as in some respects a "model." The lumber is backed up to the door and taken from the wagon directly into the machines by one man, while the one that receives it reloads it on the opposite side of the mill, thus expending only a trifle more time and labor than is necessary to unload and load it again. The arrangement of the machinery has been also studied very closely, the siding machine and re-sawer feeding in opposite directions, as also the rip-saw and moulding machine. The picket header being located between the moulder and siding machine will receive the pickets from either, as dressed, without extra handling. It is intended, when required, to place an upright, or band, resawing machine in the space between the

surfacer and flooring machine. Great care has also been taken to guard against disaster by fire, all the roofs being coated with a fire-proof mixture of lime and salt, and all

the woodwork in boil

PERSPECTIVE VIEW.

er and engine-room being saturated with the same, while steam pipes lead from the boiler to the shaving vault, which can be flooded at an

instant's notice with live steam, one of the most effective agents to quench fire that is known. The pump is plentifully supplied with hose, and is capable of forcing a stream of water over the whole roof surface.

The following are references.to plan of mill: A-26-inch 4-knife surface planer, 5,000 revolutions per minute, with capacity of 40,000 feet 1-inch boards in 10 hours. B-14-inch flooring machine; speed, 5,000 revolutions; capacity, 20,000 feet of 6-inch strips in 10 hours. C-Circular resawing machine; speed, 2,000; capacity, 20,000 feet of 6-inch strips. D8-inch double cylinder planer and matcher; speed, 5,000; capacity, 20,000 feet of 6-inch strips in 10 hours. E-Picket header; capacity, 6,000 flat or 4,000 square pickets in 10 hours. F-Bench rip-saw. G-7-inch moulding machine. H-Gang edger; speed, 3,200; capacity, 30,000 to 40,000 feet in 10 hours; (a) Shows location of line shaft, which is in the basement, and is of wrought iron, hot finished, 3 in. in diameter, fitted with perfect selfoiling boxes and patent wrought iron rim pulleys, and hung on posts, and runs at a speed of 300 revolutions per minute; (b) shows a solid, flag stone coping 10 inches thick, the foundation of the engine; (c) fly-wheel of engine, 100 inches in diameter and 16-inch face, weighing 2,200 pounds; (e) line of suction pipe of exhaust fan; (f) door to shav

BOILER &

SHAVING

ENGINE
ROOM

VAULT

Ш

G

F

A

B

D

MILL

၁

PLANING

TOOLO

ROOM

GROUND PLAN AND LOCATION OF MACHINERY.

ing vault, the arrows showing the course of the shavings from the vault to the furnace of boiler; (g) exhaust fan, 40, inches in diameter and 18 inches wide, rumming 1,150 per minute; (h) pump supplying tank and boiler. The tank (not designated on plan) is horizontal, of boiler iron, and is located directly over the engine, at sufficient altitude to afford pressure enough for washing out the boiler; dimensions, 44 inches diameter, 12 feet long. The boiler is a horizontal tubular, 48 inches diameter and.12 feet long and contains 51 tubes 3 inches in diameter, and is fed by an inspirator, no heater or boiler pump being used. The engine is 12-inch cylinder with 18-inch stroke, with a lap valve cutting off at 34 stroke and makes 140 turns per minute.

The mill building is very cheaply made, being a balloon frame. In size, including the platform upon which the gang edger stands, it is 20 feet by 64 feet. There were used in its construction, 52 perches of stone, 3 pieces 8x8 inches 12 feet long, 7 pieces 8x8 inches 16 feet long, 1 piece 8x8 inches 20 feet long, and 3 pieces 8x8 inches 24 feet long, 52 lower joists 2x12 inches 20 feet long, 25 upper joists 2x8 inches 20 feet long, 45 studding 4x4 inches 14 feet long, 16 pieces for plates 2x4 inches 16 feet long, 34 rafters 2x6 inches 14 feet long, 35 pieces 2x4 inches 16 feet long for braces and girts for nailing siding; 2,500 feet stock boards (siding), 2,600 lineal feet battens, 1,800 feet roof sheathing, 16,500 shingles, 3,000 feet 2x8s dressed and jointed for floor, 1,000 feet flooring for doors, 9 pairs glazed 9x12 sash (12 lights each with frames), and 250 feet 1⁄2 in. finishing Jumber. In the construction of the boiler and engine room were used 14 perches of stone, 30,000 brick, 4 pieces 8x8 inches 20 feet long, 19 pieces 2x6 inches 20 feet long, 1 piece 4x6 inches 20 feet long, 750 feet sheathing, 7,000 shingles, 250 feet flooring, 12 pieces 2x8 inches 16 feet long for frames, and 9 pairs 9x12 glazed sash, 4 pairs 8-inch strap hinges, 1 sheet boiler iron 26x48 inches, 80 pounds bar iron and 6 bolts 2x9 inches for door and slides to shaving vault. The engine foundation required 3 perches of rough rock besides the cut stone coping, shown in the diagram, and 12 anchor bolts 1-inch in diameter and 4 feet long. In the boiler setting were used 4 perches of stone, 9,000 common brick, 300 fire brick, 4 anchor bolts 15 feet long, 2 anchor bolts 9 feet long, 5 anchor bolts 8 feet long, 6 anchor bolts 3 feet long, and 6 anchor bolts 2 feet long. The chimney is of No. 15 iron 40 feet high, stayed by 4 lines each 50 feet long. The belting required is as follows: 38 feet of 14-inch. double, 100 feet 7-inch single, 100 feet 6-inch, 70 feet 41⁄2-inch, 100 feet 4-inch, 100 feet 3-inch, 30 feet 10-inch, and 50 feet 2-inch.

The method of belting from the line shaft up through the floor, as in this mill, is to be commended, as effectually obviating all annoyance and danger from over-head belting.

LAWS OF MECHANICS' LIENS.

Every state has its own laws governing mechanics' liens. and they differ widely with the different localities. In the pages which follow is given a digest of the laws of the states in which this book will circulate most generally. There is no collection of these laws in existence that the writer is aware of. The digests-so-called-occasionally to be found in collections of miscellaneous information are so meager and incomplete as to be of no practical value, and seem to have been written merely as an attractive title to an advertisement. We have attempted to give the full meaning of the law as it refers to the primary action necessary to secure a lien, but not the full process necessary on either side, as whenever suit is actually begun legal aid will be necessary in its prosecution. It is intended, however, to show what is the basis of a lien and the preliminary steps necessary to secure its advantages.

With the law of each state is given the title and date of the Revised Statutes or Compiled Laws from which it is taken. Any changes in legislation made since the dates given have been incorporated with the digests, so they may be taken as representing the condition of the law at this date -October, 1881. Beyond the opening clause defining the application of the statute, merely the meaning of the law is given.

NEBRASKA.

Compiled Statutes of 1881. Page 343.

Any persons who shall perform any labor or furnish any material, or machinery or fixtures for the erection, repairing or removal of any house, mill, manufactory, or building or appurtenance, by virtue of a contract expressed or implied with the owner thereof, or his agents, shall have a lien to secure payment of the same upon such house, mill, manufactory, building or appurtenance, and the lot of land upon which the same shall stand.

Any person furnishing labor or material as above to any contractor or sub-contractor, who shall wish to obtain a lien upon any of the structures mentioned above, may file a sworn statement of the amount due him or them from such contractor or sub-contractor, together with a description

of the land upon which the same were done or used, within 60 days from the rendering of such service, with the clerk of the county in which the land is situated, and, if the contractor does not pay him, he shall have a lien for the amount due on such lot or lots and the improvements thereon, from the same time and in the same manner as the original contractor.

To secure a lien as above the person furnishing labor or material shall file a sworn itemized statement of the work done or materials furnished within four months from the time of rendering the service, and it shall operate as a lien for two years from the rendering of such service.

If a promissory note has been taken, a lien may be obtained by filing the same in the office of the county clerk with a sworn statement that the sum for which the note was given was due for service rendered as above. Judgement may be obtained on a lien by civil action, and when suit is brought within the specified two years the lien shall continue until judgment is obtained.

Suspended work may be carried forward by the laborers, etc., engaged in the same, sufficiently to prevent the structure from going to waste. If property cannot be sold because of defective title, or non-residence of the owner, it shall be leased for the benefit of lien holders.

Persons rendering service as above on any railroad, canal or similar work shall have a lien upon the entire improvements of the company or corporation, including their right of way.

MISSOURI.

From Revised Statutes of 1879. Page 533.

Every mechanic or other person who shall perform any labor upon any materials, fixtures or machinery for any building, erection or improvements upon land, or for repairing the same, by virtue of any contract with the owner thereof, or his agent, trustee, or contractor, upon complying with the provisions of the statute, shall have, for his work done or materials, etc., furnished a lien upon such building, etc., and upon the land belonging to such owner on which the same are situated to the extent of one acre, or if in a village or city, upon the lot or land on which the building, etc., is situated. A building erected on leased lots or land shall be held for the debt contracted in erecting the same, and also the lease-hold term for such lots or land.

Every original contractor within six months, every journeyman and day laborer within 30 days, and every other person within four months after the indebtedness shall have accrued, shall file with the clerk of the circuit court a full statement of the demand due him, with a full description of the property upon which the lien is to apply, which certified statement shall be a lien upon such property. Such lien shall take precedence