The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-08-14

Col. Ripley, the commanding ofhc,r at the armo-
ry, received an order to alter the nt lock muskets
to percussion, If practicable, at cost not exceed
ing 81 per musket. This work was commenced in
July, 1S49, and the whole number, lib ,406, were
completed by February, 1851, at cost of 50t cents
each. At the close Of the year there were on hand
sand nine hundred and fifty muskets.
The largest number OF men employed during any
one month last year was 43l; the smallest 80
average number per month, SSH. The average
pay Of these men, making account OF lost ii ne,
and reckoning in ALL from the highest to the low
est, was $40 per month.
In the month Of June, just past, the division Of
office labor and laborers, was as foltewE-
On Salaries or Wdgcs.-One superinte ndent, one
master armorer, one military storekeeper, four
clerks. eleven inspectors, sixteen machin SITS.
1T PieceUork.-Eighteea barrel forgers, seven
lock forgers, eight bayonet forgers, two ramrod
forgers, ten inting orgers, aPPendage forger
one iron MAKER nine assistant forgers, six anneal-
ers, fourteen bortrs, twenty-six miners, eleven drill
ers, three turner's, three grinders, eleven barrel
blers, twenty -four leck flers, six bayonet flers,
fourteen mounting flers, three appendage flers,
sixteen stockers, one barrel fnisher three mount
ing fnishers, three lock fnishers, fnisher,
two sppendage fnishers.
Job6us.-Five smiths, two 6lers, nineteen carpen-
ters, one mason, and thirty'six laboFers all on
wages .,.u.s :,
June, which Is the smallest number employed in
any month during tae year, with the exception OF
May, when the number was the same.
At the Lower Water Shops there Is now COM
paratvely little business done. The work formerly
done here years since removed TO the Hill
for convenience, and the introduction of steam
engine in the Hill buildings was made TO do the
work formerly done by water power here. prin-
cpal part OF these shops and their water power arc
leased to Messrs lngersol Doolitte & Co i, and
constitute the establishment known as the Massa-
soft Flour Mills. The governme mt, however, carry
a rolling mill here, where yery scrap Of iron,
iron filings, o., produced in the process Of
"a n tad and rallad int IN ha
consumed, 50 that not pound Of iron Is thrown
away or sold ct less than its value. This rolling
mill Is furnished with complete set OF machinery
for rolling and Sitting iron, two tit-hammers, one
cuttirg shears for bars, and three water wheels
the driving power
At the Middle Water shops, the process of forging
barrels, ramrods, and bay )nets, is carried
There are here eighteen tilt hammers. carried by
twelve water-wheeis. These shops, with the
Lower, employ thirty-'our men,. ne~ invention
has just been completed here, and Que which will
be OF great Importance TO every large forging estib
Gshment in the country. The old method Of
driving n tilt ha nuer is by water heel TO each
BANNER, or TO every two hammers The Deces-
sly Of compelling this arises from The fact that If
the hammer was driven by n belt from regular
moving power, The speed Of the ha inner could not
be increased or deere asod suddenly mt will. The
new invention consists Of a loose driving belt-so
loose, that " hen IL Is not frightened by bearing
against 1t, the driving crum has no action upon it.
A pulley is attached to compound lever half way
between the drum and the pulley, where the power
is applied to the hammer, and by acting upon the
lever, the pulley presses upon the belt until it Is
80 far frightened as to drive the hammer at the ut
most speed Of the drum. When smaller speed IL
required, the lever is partially released, allo wing
the belt to clip, and in this manner, by increasing
or diminishing the tension Of the belt any required
speed is attained. The resul, Of this simple ard
beautiful invention, rs that q thousand tilt ham
mers. If necessary, may be driven by one water
wheel, or by steam crgre.
At the Upper Water shops there are iftys seven
men employed. Here the boring, tirning, grinding,
andpolt hing Of barrels, ramrods snd bay onets
Effected, and also the tempering az polishing
Of the lock.wofk The machinery in these shops
consists Of thirteen boring banks, nine turning en-
gincs, seven large grrdstOnes, four turning athes
ten milling machines two barrel polishing machines
one for bufipg bayorets, two screw cutting ma
chimes, one pun ,hing press, one wood planer, oae
circular Jaw, ore machno for splitting leather, ana
all driven by four water wheels. The polishing
shop and the shop on the south side Of the stream
have been condemned. and are 10 be rebuilt. We
retct d, in the polishing room, most Ingenious
cOntfivancc, Of comparatively recent Introduction
for sgsrirg the lungs ard lives of those who w0Uid
Otherwise live (or die) ia co slant atmosphere Of
emery dust. lotg BOX runs the length of the
room, by the side OF which are statioaCd che po.h
uF Wlttls. Tubes With mouths CptnLg upOa each
Wheel proceed from this long box. In the room b..
l1w, blower is arranged M such connection with
The Lon box rs TO exhaust the air vi hin 10, aud of
course, tboie is a strong current OF air passing
from each wheel into it's appropriate tube. The
ttpsCquence is that al the dust of the IQJm is