MATCHES. Prior to the beginning of the nineteenth century, matches were unknown. We read in Virgil, who lived in the Augustan period, that two centuries before the dawn of the Christian era, fire was obtained by rubbing decayed wood together with a roll of sulphur between two stones. Several centuries later, we have record of the use of a primitive tinder-box with flint and steel, and this method of producing a spark of light, elaborated and perfected, remained in vogue until comparatively recent years. Phosphorus, the dominating ingredient of the composition employed for the heads of matches, was first discovered in the eighth century by an Arab named Bechel, but, owing to the lack of mechanical and chemical appliances, it could not then be made of commercial or industrial value, and the utilization of its wonderful light-giving power was lost to the world until in 1669 a German named Brandt again brought it to the attention of mankind. Chlorate of potash, a great oxidizing agent, which, when utilized in conjunction with phosphorus, makes possible the production of the modern match, was discovered by a Frenchman in 1786. Burning glasses, dipping and match sticks, were all used in the onward march of progress, and in 1830 John Walker, a chemist of Stockton-on-Tees, England, produced the first successful friction match of which we have authentic record. These matches, named "Congreves," were sold in boxes of fifty for sixty cents, and their success soon led others to experiment in match manufacture, with the result that improvements were rapidly invented--the efficiency and reliability of the match increased and the cost of manufacture and the selling price decreased. The match-making industry affords a striking example of the great economy in cost and excellence of product which has been accomplished, particularly of late years, by the development of labor-saving machinery. Of the many articles that are necessary to the comfort of modern existence, none is more nearly indispensable and there are few that are sold so cheaply. The rapidity and magnitude of manufacture may be judged from the fact that the largest factory in the United States, located at Barberton, Ohio, can produce two hundred million a day. The process of match making, as conducted in a typical American factory, consists of the feeding of clear-grain white pine blocks to automatic machines, which cut the wood into smooth match sticks or "splints," and transport them for tipping through paraffin and composition chests, drying the chemicals by contact with the speedily tempered air, ultimately packing the matches into boxes, and, in some cases, even wrapping the boxes into packages ready for the trade. Matches of present manufacture can be divided into three general classes: (1) Ordinary Strike-Anywhere Wood Splint Matches, known to the trade as "Lucifer" Matches. (2) Safety Matches. (3) Miscellaneous and Fancy Matches. CLASS NO. 1 may be subdivided into the following styles: Double-Dip Parlor Matches, Safety-Head--capped with a sensitive, "strike-any-where" tip, but with the head of "safety" type. Although new, they represent about one-half of the total domestic output. Double-Dip Parlor Matches--with both the head and the tip made of the "strike-anywhere" phosphorous composition. These can usually be detected by the very high gloss of the composition. They are considered a dangerous product, owing to the percentage of combustible material incorporated in the head and they also have a penetrating odor, which affects many goods with which they are necessarily brought into contact. Parlor Matches--with single, untipped head. This is the "old reliable" variety that has stood the test of time and still holds undisputed sway in certain sections of the country. Sulphur Matches--with heads dipped first in sulphur instead of paraffin. They are still in demand in some places, but they are rapidly decreasing in popularity, because of the disagreeable odor engendered in burning. They are made in blocks, cards or combs and loose in ordinary boxes. They are sure lighters and while the sulphur is burning on the splint it is difficult to extinguish them. SAFETY MATCHES are not supposed to ignite except by friction on a specially prepared amorphous phosphorous surface, obtained by painting one side of the match box. They are sold principally in small boxes and are used in large quantities by hotels, railroads, etc., and the smoking public. MISCELLANEOUS & FANCY MATCHES include Wax Matches, "Book" Matches and such varieties as "Flamers," "Blazers" and "Vesuvians," matches which cannot be extinguished by wind or water, etc. Wax Matches are splints made of stearin and copal gum, capped with Parlor or Double Dip composition. They are not manufactured in the United States, but large quantities are produced in Great Britain, Belgium, France and other countries. They are more expensive than wood-splint matches and are sold here only to a comparatively small extent. Book Matches are usually of the safety type, made of cardboard, or thin wood splints, enclosed in a cardboard cover. They are frequently distributed free for advertising purposes. Under proper conditions, matches are not a dangerous article to handle or store, with the exception of Double-Dip Parlor Matches. If packed in well-constructed cases, they will stand a vast amount of abuse without ignition, and if ignition should occur, the gases generated smother and effectively extinguish the fire. Danger arises only when an accident results in a case being broken and the contents scattered. They are accepted by all railroad companies as an average risk. With the same exception (that of the Double-Dip Parlor), modern, well-made matches of the best type and manufacture, do not materially affect by odor other materials stored in their vicinity, or even in direct contact with them. The daily consumption in the United States is about 750 millions. The largest single match factory in the world is the Vulcan, at Tidaholm, Sweden. It employs more than sixteen hundred men, and manufactures daily two and a half million boxes of matches.