Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1810-05-18

Russia. are canua::y ro.sa OF lii. a
poTuou is used Tyr sbess i.S:s a'ii ,:si;
sods f,r wrought nails !; tlii Two thyGs oI
he whole quantity CT oar iron Ha,stued
ny machinery in The .Uoucd STATES,
is used in the Manufacture of cut nails,
which has now extended throughout the
whole country, and being altogether e..
American invention, substituting machis
merry to manual labor, deserves particular
notice. The details on that subisSl will
be found in the communications (L) and
.(M3 land il Will be sufficient here 10 state,
thai the annual product Of that anch a.
lone, msy be estimated al Twelve hundred
thousand dollars, end that exclusively OF
the saving Of fuel, the expense of man
ufacturiug cut nails Is not one third part
of that OF forging wrought nails. About
two hundred and eighsy tons are already
annually exported, but The United Sta'es
continue 10 import annually more than
fifteen hundred tons OF wrought na;ss and
spikes. An increase Of du'y on theses
and drawback on the expectation OF the
cut nails is generally asked ior'
A considerable quantity OF biistered, and
some refined steel, are made IN America
but the foreign imsor,asions exceed liza
oeo cwt. year
| The manufactures Of iron consist prin.
cipally of agricultural implements, and oil
all the usual work performed by common
lbIacksmitbs. To these may be added an :
lchors. shovels and spades, axes. scythcs, &
other edge tools, saws, bits and stirrupsJ
and great variety of TIE coarser articles
of ironmonger y-but cutlery and all the f..
ner species OF hardware and OF steel work .
are almost altogether imported from Great
1 Britain. Balls. shells aud cannon OF smaN
caliber are cast In several plares--and
three boundaries for casting solid, ihose
Of the largest cafber, together with the
lproper machinery for boring and hnishing
them, are established at Cecil county /,
] Maryland, near the city of Washington, *
at Richmond, in Virgina=-eacho OF the two
lasr may cast 500 pieces oil artillery year
and great number OF iron and brass can
non are made at that near the seat of 60.
| vernmeht. Those of Philadelphia and
near the Hudson river, are not now EN-,
Iployed. Ii may be here add-dJ that thsrs
are several iron founderies tor casting every
species of work wanted for machinery, anc
that steam engines are made at that o
philadelphia.
! At the two public armouries of Spring.
field and Harper's terry. Is, 900 ma ,ketl
are annually made. About twenty thou.
sand more are made at several factorie.
of which the most perfect is said to bS
that near New Haven, and which, with
the exception of that erected at Richmond
oy the state of Virginia, are all private
establishments. These may if wanted. be
immediately enlarged, and GO not include a
)number OF gun-smlrhs employed IN making
! rifles. and several other species of arms.
Swords and pistols are also manufactured
IN several places -
{" Although It is not practicable to make
ia correct statement of the vaiue of all the
iron and manufactures of iron. annually
made IL the United States, il is believed
to be from twelve TO fifteen millions of dol
lars. The annual iunportations from al
i foreign countries, including bar iron, and
jevery descriptions of manufactures of iron
or steel, are estimated at near four miliioo.
lof dollars.
Copper and Brass.