The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-14
Account OF the Unitsd States ArmOry at
Spring eld, Mass.

From the Springfield Republican
AS this establishment is one Of general and ma
tails concerning it which would not be called for in
the notice of q coacern possessing only local and
limited Importance. Its extent and efficiency, and
the liberal expenditures which have made it what
it is-one Of the most prolific manufactures of
arms and capacious arsenals in the world-are leg-
innate subjects of national pride. Accordingly, it
has been the resort of sghtseers and travellers and
constitutes one of the principal attractions of our
beautiful locality; and at no public establishment
in the United States can the eye be gratifed with
the sight of much beautiful and Ingenious ma
chinery; so large, skilful, and we'll paid mpany
Of laborers, such finely laid out and well kept
grounds, and so thoroughly and orderly system
The arsenal, the offices, and the principal manu-.
featuring and storing buildings of the armory are
located on Springfield Hill, and overlook the Con-
necticut valley at charming elevation. The
heavier operations Of the concern are effected at
three localities on Mill river, known the Upper,
Middle, and Lower Water Shops. The land
owned on the Hill, by the government, amounts to
Water Shops, ~ acres and IS rods; at the Lower
Water Shops, 10 acres and l02 rods-total land
owned by the government in town, l02 acres and
10 rods The principal building is the new arsenal.
This is 200 feet long, by 10 wide. Its height is 50
feet which is divided into three stories each story
being sufficiently large to contain 100 900 muskets.
The front is finished by pediment of 20 feet by H.
and one of the rooms formed by the pediment
old and curious arms and relics appropriate to the
establishment. The tower is 80 feet high and %
feet square, the flag staff rising 90 feet above the
deck Of the tower. Another large building is the
new brick structure for storing lumber and musket
stocks This is 400 feet long, IS feet wide and two
stories high Here q stock of four years in musket
stocks is constantly kept, that the timber may be
properly seasoned. The principal Of the three old
arsenas is l2O by 40 feet on the grouAd and three
stories hgh and the other two are respectively two
stories high, and in their other dimensions 100 feet
by 81. The other principal buildings the work.
shops, and, though extensive, they call for no de-
scription. There are located on the Hill ten dwell
ing houses, which are owned by the government
at the Upper Water Shops, q at the Middle, q
and Lower, 2-total dwelling houses, 49,
The total expenditures Of the armory for the fs-
cal year, ending June 30, 1851, were $27l 1903 49,
OF this sum, $i7s,2l6 % were paid out for labor
alone. To show the extent and variety Of the
stock and materials used, We give the items con-
sumed last year Refined iron, 4l6, 623 pounds;
cast iron, Al S do; inferior iron, 3677 do; wire
iron, l,079 do cas-. STEEL 81, LAG do shear steel,
65l do; nails, 1926 do; wood screws, l63 gross;
sand paper 326 qures; suphuric acid, 2S23 pounds;
boards and plank, AS Ol3 feet; timber, 81 20l do
bricks, 10000; leather, i,7ss pounds; thong, 81
skins; sperm and whale OIL $50 gallons; assorted
files, s,6l3; grindstones, 52,634 pounds; charcoal,
49, 50S bushels anthracite coal, 2,43S 924 pounds;
pit coal, so, 200 dol FIRE stone. 4,4S0 do; furnace
clay, l34 bushels; and WOOD 200 e feet) cords.
The result of the operations of last year is as fol-