Lancaster gazette. [volume] (Lancaster, Mass.) 1828-1830, 1828-07-15

blood red flowers the Iaora, which, from
boughs six feet in height, exhibits it scar
let and yellow tufts of flowers, like so
many flames, enliyening the foliage of the
woods: the sindrimal, whose flowers open
at four in the evening, and close at four
in the morning the nyctanthes sam6ac,
with which the indians perfume their hair
before going to bed; the nagatalti, which
creeps along the walls, covering them over
with its foliage. '-MaHe Bruins Geog-
yWohy.
STEAM. A correspondent of the Nation.
al lntelligcncer furnishes an interesting &C
count of the several uses to which the power
OF steam is applied in aid of the operations
at the Navy Yard at Washington.
The engine at the Navy Yard, by means
OF the different bands connected with the
machinery, is made to perform the work of
many men in saving, turning, in wood, brass,
ard iron, boring, &c. and produce, of course,
vast saving to the Government. In the
saving oftimber, alone, the engine it is pre-
s'iilied, would more than pay for itself-eyen
by the ordinary method of saving; that is,
but one saw plate operating at time-but,
when 1t Is taken into consideration that thir-
teen saws are made to act upon one stuck of
TIMBER, at the same moment, producinr
twelve planks or boards of any given thick
ness, and that, too, with velocity five times
as quick as it can be done by manual labour.
1t needs no figures to show the immense
saving that must result to the Government
from the use Of this labour- saving machinery.
There are two pits for the saving of timber
though but one is at present in operation, in
each of which thirteen saws NAV be run,
What afforded me the most interest, howey-
er, was the operation of the circular saw.
which is used for cutting small matters. for
the use ofblockmakers, turner's, &c. These
saws require but one man, each, in their
management. The saw is placed in the
centre of what might be termed a carpen
ter's workbench and by means of band
connected with the steam machinery. is
made to revolve with the greatest rapidity,
no labour being requisite, further than to
place piece OF wood before it, steadying j.
with the hand, and pressing it against the
saw, until it cuts its way through Even
the chalk line is dispensed with in using
this saw, SO accurately may the cutting be
done, and by the most simple process. 1t
Will hardly be credited, yet such is the fact.
that piece Of lignumvite, seven inches in
diameter, was cut in two by this saw in
less than half minute. | was informed
that it is not unusual, when the saw is in
good order, to cut through four such pieces
IN minute.-How different this from the
old and tedious method of saving lipnum-
Tite, VIZ. with a cross cut saw, and requiring
the AID OF two men. In addition to the other
improvements in this portion of the Navy
Yard, they were erecting, in the black
smiths shop, on the day of my visit, q verv
heaVy crane, for the purpose Of using trim
hammer in the manufacture of anchors,
Here Will be another considerable saving Of
labour, and by the aid of the same steam en-
CINE. l saw, also, at this establishment. n
patent mortising machine, lately invented
by citizen of Pennsylvania. 1t is worked
by two boys, the motion is rapid and the
saving OF labour, by the use of this simple,
but lngenlously constructed machine, Is i'm
mense. The work is performed. too. with
the greatest accuracy.
"A machine has been recently erected by
Mr.. David Baker, native of Massachusetts
at present residing in this city and for which
ne is understood to have taken out patent.
Tor saving timber, which will supersede the
necessity of preparing moulds, and will, of
course, save that expense. There is no
doubt the Navy Commioners will purchase
right to the use of ono of these machines.
1t IS called "The CurUelinear Scsc gfiu.n
and viii cut timber to almost any shape that
may be required for ship use.