of solid oakwood, the circumference of which is also furnished with
sharp steel cutters or knives, is fastened upon a shaft and revolves
within the hollow. The journal bearings of the shaft are let into and
fastened in movable wooden carriers. The carriers of the bearings may
be raised and lowered by turning suitable thumbscrews, whereby the
distance between the roller and the back fall is increased or
decreased. The whole is above covered with a dome, the so-called case,
to prevent the throwing out of the mass under the operation of
grinding. The roller is revolved with a velocity of from 100 to 150
revolutions per minute, whereby the rags are sucked in between the
roller and the back fall and cut and torn between the knives. At the
beginning of the operation, the distance between the roller and the
back fall is made as great as possible, the intention being less to
cut the rags than to wash them thoroughly. The dirty water is then
drawn off and replaced by clean, and the space of the grinding
apparatus is lessened gradually, so as to cut the rags between the
knives. The mass is constantly kept in motion and each piece of rag
passes repeatedly between the knives. The case protects the mass from
being thrown out by the centrifugal force. The work of beating the
rags is ended in a few hours, and the ensuing thin paste is drawn off
into the pulp chest, this being a square box lined with lead.

From the pulp chest it passes to the form of the paper machine. This
form consists of an endless fine web of brass wire, which revolves
around rollers. The upper part of this form rests upon a number of
hollow copper rollers, whereby a level place is formed. The form
revolves uniformly around the two end rollers, and has at the same
time a vibratory motion, by which the pulp running upon the form is
spread out uniformly and conducted along, more flowing on as the
latter progresses. The water escapes rapidly through the close wire