The enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1804-1815, 1810-02-03

deducted the value OF the materials and
component parts of arms on hand, on the
3oth of Nov. the remainder will De the va
lue of the old materials and component
parts, VIII - have entered into the conpo-
sition or the arms fabricated since the goth
OF February, that is to say; -
Amount Of Az tcrals, &C. on hand
on tine 2oti of February, S42 ri So
From this, deduct the amount on
hand on the 3Oih Nov. 90 oil 81
The value of the old materials
&c used between those days 1879 SO
To which add amount expended
for new materials 7,o45 IS
In keeping buildings and ma
chinery i'll repair 5S7 9
For Workmanship performed 22,I38 SO
For officers salaries $500 90
For rent of water . g95 SIS
For contingent cxpences 331 90
- Gt3 $50 so
This sum of S4s, 35S 80 cents. seems to
include all the expences of the armory du-
ring the above period. and is to be charged
to 1t. in estimating the costs of the arms. 1t
Is TO have credit By the arms manufactured
to wit:
BY $40 cavalry swords, without
scabbards. estimated at 81, $3.50
BY 555 artillery swords, without
scabbards, at Sc so cents, $3.50 SO
BY 200 pistols, at SIS, 1850
s4..,s So, $50 so
Which sum deducted from 1858 dollars
so cents, will give 50 O5S dollars SO cents,
the costs of SLY muskets with bayonets !:
from which it follows that each musket with
a bayonet. made at the armory since the
new re sulations took place, costs the public
ID dollars % ga cents.
Your committee, are aware that this cal
culation may not ae entirely accurate, mas
much as it must depeud very much upon
the correctness of the valuation which was
made Of the materials and component parts
OF arms; nevertheless, it was the only one
to which they could resort, and thsy believe
the result to be. not tar variant in either
way from the truth. -
With regard tothe quality of the public
arms, your committee beg leave to state, that
! in their opinion the Investigations respecting
the armory, prosecuted by the last iegisa-
lure. & the changes in its regulations which
were then introduced, have been productive
or effects during the past year, highly bene-
hciai to the public. The operations of the
insritution have not oaiy been conducted with
, moe order and economy, the appropriations
OF money more correctly applied and more
regular and systematic account thereof kept,
but the arms made, appear to be of qua.
lity much superior to those furnished in for
mer years. AS a proof of this last, they sub
| nit the following results:
| One hundred and sixteen ,nuskets. mad |.
under the direction of the present snperin
tendant, OF materials purchased by himself,
were charged with the 18th part of pound
of powder, distinguished as Brandy wine
f. and a ball adapted to the caiibre of the
gun, being the 18th part of a pound of lead,
CT this Number two burs,edir the trial
| Iwenty-six barrels, made under the form.
er and stocked & finished under the present
superintendent, and which had bcen .snb
lied to two other PROOFS before, were
charged IN similar manner Of this NUM-
Der I bursted.
! twenty pistol barrels, made under the
| former and ssocked and finished under the
present superintendent, were subjected to a
similar proof, in which bursted This,
| however, WAS perhaps too severe a trial as
pistols are never intended to be fired with
nusket cartridges, and IRE necessarily
ground thinner in the barrel than muskets.
The swords lately made are. in the opini
OH OF your committee, of good temper and
shape; they are not so much curved as those
| formerly made at the arnlory
The Fonndery and Boring mill went into
P''it'"t C!C' ation uhriDS thS l2Sc year. On
the S0th of November, thirty iron six poun-
doris had beer cast and bored two of these
were tried 10y the Committee with four
pounds of powder and two iron balls adapted
tothe calibre OF the guns wadded in the usu :
al way. And ali the rest, as the superin.
tendant reports, have been put to the same
proof without any one having yet bursted.-
Your committee consider them to be excel
LEM guns, as well in the tempe: of the me
tai as IN tia truth and force with which
they send their shot. Agreeablv to a calcu
lation or the superintendent, which is pro
badly correct one. each SIX FOUNDER will.
VIXEN the works shall be CARVED into full
operation, cost the state a dollars, d sum it
is believed much under the usual price.
That part Of the Governors con- munica-
ton which relates to the erection of a forge
adjacent to the armory, having been referred
TO your committee. they deem it necessary
70 make some report thereon; POSSESSING
however no knowledge themselves OF such
subjects aHd having access TO no means of
Dlaiuing Correct information it has been
found impossible to repors with certainty.
elmer as to-tne utility or "acticability of
sdch AN establishment. A letter upo. the
subject, addressed to the Governor. by Mr.
John Strobe, has been laid before the corr,
itee-the doubts he seems 10 entertain
respecting the sufiiciercy Of the water To
work the forge, are very serious ones. nor
lcan It be supposed that his estimate Of
the exPence OF erecting it is altogether ac
curate.
The mandatory Ct arms. your commit.
zee are disposed to believe. is already upon
I 80 L. 4