The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-08-17

WASHINGTON Civr, August ~ l843.
The operations IN the Navy Yard continue to be
Of highly interesting and OF daily increasing impor
lance TO the naval service. The new sloop oil war
st Mary" is nearly ready TO have her planking
commenced. The sound of hammers, axes, ADDE'S,
and all the other tools of the sbp-buders craft
truly refreshing TO ear which loves the notes OF
industry, and especially after the leharglc silence
which has SO long brooded with the owl in these
spacious shlp-houses- and splendid pair Of
shears iol masting ships and putting machinery into
steamers Is rapidly approaching completion and " i'll
soon be rt ady for raising
The little Government steamer Engineer is Iy-
ing here TO receive boilers which are in progress
under the talented William Al. Ellis
The iron steamer is In great state of forward
ness as the materials received will ermt some
lay has occurred in obtaining the plates which are
to form the sides The apparatus for gslva-
Dizing her iron in part completed and only
awaits determination Of the location, which is
to be assigned 10 it by the proper bureau in order
to be put up. The difficulty Of settns the question,
has understand arseI. In part from the circumscri
bed limits Of the Yard-an obstacle which il is be
hoped VIII not long embarrass the public service,
since II would be easy obtain the necessary extern
sion
The testing Of Goals, under the direction Of the
scientific and accomplished Professor Johnson and
his able co-operalors, DIR. King, Messrs. Easton,
Kendall and others, is prosecuted with the most
praisewOrthy assduity. More than twenty varieties
of coal have already been examined and nearly an
equal number, understand, remain to be tested.
From what have of the diligence and pains
used TO insure impartial results hazard nothing in
saying that the highest ancipaons of the Depart
ment will be more than realized by the port which
will be rendered OF the labors now in progress in This
research.
The examinations Of the several plans for prevent
ing the explosions of sleamboers, under Messrs.
Johnson, Jones and Reeder, conducted in part Of
The same building which contains the proving machine,
nh Ieh harya ala. 49,, ,L,I H..
number OF the inventions attached to the boiler,
among which were those of Evens, Quimby, Easton,
Raub and others. The combination of scientific
talent and practical skill in the constitution of this
board gives the strongest assurance of faithful and
impartial reports the action Of the several nven-
lions Time and patience eminently required for
an inquiry embracing so many questions Of rital in
terest to the cause Of steam navigation.
Under the direction of the late Secretary Of the
Navy, number OF the distinguished iron masters Of
the country were invited to send samples of their iron
to be tested IN the new machine and by the various
methods which its peculiar construction renders prac
tIcable ! have seen number of those gentlemen
from different parts OF the country watching with the
livelest Interest," the progress of the grand nqusor
as ne applied to the strained bres of their respective
productions the massive engine of torture TO test their
powers Of endurance. saw samples Of broken links
OF frgate chains, marked with the breaking weight
OF l45, 1885, and even 1863 tons. The ease with which
Inc power OF one, or two men, overcomes this i'm
mense force of cohesion, is truly astonishing to those
who have not become familiar with the enormous
power of the hydraulic press.
The iron and brass foundries, the tank, chain and
cable shops, with the block mandatory and machine
shops are all objects of public interest and the citi.
zen who bears his share of the public burdens will
feel lively satisfaction in witnessing the mann in
which the naval appropriations are here applied, and
especially in observing that the Navy has the power
TO render other services to the country besides
~ cruising on the ocean, or riCing quietly in har
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