The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1845-02-12

UREAr Guns. "A writer la a late number of the
Liverpool Journal mentions some Interesting facts In
relation ~ the casing Of ordinances piscss in this cse
braiod Low Moor Iron ~orks---at which orders had
been received during ihe month OF Noveober for the
casting Of one asousaad 80 poasds,s The number
seemed enormous, and tbs writer seized with desire
TO undersla nd the fact Of the statement wel as 10
see the casting was persilted 10 be present aud 10
observe process, which, as he truly remarks, 10
faught with the utmost interest 10 those who
never the like before, and one which cannot be
viewed with Indifference no matter how often may
be Witnessed. La relation 10 THAT the writer in the
Liverpool Journal saw al Low Moor, the following
statements are gwen, which We doubt not will mparI
instruction 10 many OF our readers. ..
The guns W, TO all ~ FOUNDERS, technically called
"lOngs" and shorts, though the nex pc rienced eye
would fail 10 detect any difference in their lengths
and The actual daerence, we believe, Ia only a few
inches There Is very material difference, howev-
e. n lheT iormation "a compared with the guns hith
etO IN use, tho weight oi the metal being infinitely
greater Ia the new Than the DID, and varying also
sdsrably IN the new, according 10 the drawings 10
which they arc cast Formerly ~ FOUNDER iron can
mon were cast low . "a cwl. each but these
beng cast, weigh twice, and in sOne Instances, al
three umrs much, nasely--tIom 43 ost. 10
10 cwL, and even 10 " ewt. each. ga.
This immense increase Of metal affords ofcourse,
pfOporlOnae increase of strength 10 the guns the
buslIng OF one OF which, after II has undergone the
lmpO-sibiiy. The principal portion Of this addi-
uOaai Dsiai u placed IN the bresch, though Il much
varies IN some VI the guns Us 10 ns distance from
proximity Ia the trunnions, as those plsots are
called BY which the gun rests on the carriage
Much dasrsncs OF professional opinion seems 10 pre-
'al a. 10 the relative advantage and disadvantage
having the chief weight Of the metal IN each piece
DISPOSED IN this that particular spot, We believe,
ho~s,er, that all authorities on the doctrine OF pro-
Jseules are unanimous IN pronouncing guns cast on
ths principe-that Is, Immensely heavy IN and abont
the breeoh 10 be capable OF throwing ball Infinitely
farther than the old light guns and with proper
uonsle economy 10 the expenditure OF powder.
Each sua is east perfectly solid IN clay mould,
suspended perpend,calar'y IN metal casting, and
such u the bulk Of iron employed, and so great Is It's
poser VI retaining the heat, that each piece takes
yearly week 10 cool before II can be further med
died with for instance, ON Monday evening last We
could not bear 10 place the hand ON the outer clay
covering Of gun tie previous Saturday morn
hs and several days must elspse before the metal IT,
sslf could be touched with IMMUNITY. The guns are
drilled out with powerful machinery and II The bore,
which guaged with the incest precision, is found TO
vary hairs breadth II rs =, sent W the furnace
add melted over again. II, however, the bore is
found TO be automatically true, Is polished, also
by machinery, t It Is "a smooth as glass and as gilt
Isring as silver.
The crown and royal initials then ehiseled out
Just above the touch-hole, and alter receiving final
Ser4tnzing inspection, the gun 1. sent by the Man.
chester and Leeds railway To Hull, and thence trans
ported in coasters 10 Woolwoh. Here II is subjected
10 the ordnance test IL il carry It's range truly,
without exhibiting any symptoms Of nierlority OF
material, and corresponds IN all respects with the
drawing IL receives the Government impress and
being freed from the rust which Il has mos likely &C,
CURED 10 its transit pronounced 1T for service, and
placed 10 the stores accordingly IT, on the contrary,
Il should, in the minutest particular fall below the
ordinary Standard Of the trunnions is struck OF,
SO a. 10 render the gun utterly useless, and il is then
returned at the cost of the maker.
We learn that not Of the guns included in the
present Low Moor Company has, so far, though
large number of them have been executed, failed in
the Woolwich test Sometimes guns are ordered for
the purpose Of trying experiments until they burst
Lately two Sc FOUNDERS made here, nine feet Tn
length and weighing % cwt each; although Col Dun
das the lnspector-Genera of Ordnance, by whose d.
rectou all orders of this nature were executed, has
been conducting prolonged series Of xperments with
them al Woolw,ch, he has not yet applied force
greater than their powers Of resistance, and will pro-
baby be some time before be does SO. As fast
these new ~ FOUNDERS are being made-namely, at
about the rate OF twenty four week-tbe old 80
pound.rs are called IN and melted down, their ave-
rsgr weight beng something lunder 30 cwt each; so
instead Of saying that Government are having 1000
new ~ FOUNDERS made, it would perhaps be more
proper 20 tate that they having that number Of
cd ooes replaced by these Of Improved construc