at 325 feet per minute. Steam is then blown on the pulp to help rid it of moisture.
The paper then goes through a series of 21 rollers, mounted in two layers, so that the paper goes over the top roller and under the bottom one, and so on. These rollers are steam-heated. The paper is then rolled up. If a smooth surface is desired, a fine spray of water damps it before it is rolled up, and it is passed through the "calendering" machine. This machine consists of steam-heated rollers under pressure. This action, the same as ironing, gives the paper a smooth surface.
We were also shown the cutters, which cut the rolled paper into any required width, or into sheets.
There was a large boiler in which waste paper was boiled, and a huge transformer for converting the town supply of electricity for their own use. The converted current is fed to the mill by means of two large switchboards.
The pulp, while waiting to pass on to the machines, of which there are five, is stored in tremendous drums, and kept from settling by means of two large arms, which revolve and stir the liquid.
The visit to Messrs. Sharp's proved very interesting, partly due to the nature of the factory. Here we saw the ingredients being put into little metal basins and mechanically stirred. The mixture is then poured out on metal tables, which are water-cooled, spread out and left to harden. The slabs are then cut into the familiar little pieces, wrapped and packed.
One curious sight was to see the bulls-eyes being made. A huge portion of bulls-eye mixture, about eight inches thick and four feet long, was placed in a machine, which turned it and pulled it lengthwise. The result was a gradual lengthening and decrease in the thickness of one end.
When it reached the required diameter, about half an inch, it was fed into a machine, which cut it into little pieces.
We saw the departments in which peppermints, chocolate "fancies," Turkish delight, and other similar sweets were made.
The toffees themselves were packed at lightning speed by means of machinery, a continuous stream of toffees shooting out of the side. We were shown the stores, where a huge quantity of practically every known sweetmeat is kept, and the hospital for dealing with small cuts and burns, and similar minor accidents.
P. HINTON.