Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1855-03-19
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP.

~ eaAs Wy rs nOs a. IsSu IN us uispity u
new successful labor saving inventions and
applications as 1t hould have been, for the
last year has perhaps been more prolific Of
such things than any Of its predecessors, as the
records Of the Patent Office testify. Nevsrthe'
less, there were a few mechanical novelties
exhibited there which are evidently destined
to result in revolutions in mechanical methods
and modes of great Importance to society
Chief among them may be classed the results
of the experiments Of Capt. Joseph JAWS, the
veteran inspector of timber in the Norfolk
navy yard, extending over period Ct some
twenty five years, and embracing the applioa.
ton Of all plausible expedients whatever, to
the end Of preventing the ravages Of the sea-
worm on ships bottoms. Nothing at the Fair
interested US more, as nothing else had an end
in view Of greater Importance to the world !;
while nothing else to be seen there gave evi.
dence Of the application Of as much mind,
care, patience and valuable experience to the
noble purpose Ct benefting society. Some
weeks ago We took occasion to publish an &C
count Of these experiments and their grand
result; which was that zinc paint, and zinc
paint only, proves to be an insurance against
the 50 destructive ravages Of the sea worm.
The affair of next greatest importance to
society which was exhibited the ere, was a series
OF machines for cutting barrel slaves and
heads, which, as whole, we're as perfect in
their operation as any thing in the WY of
machinery we ever beheld. few moments
reflection upon the Immense demand through
out our land for kegs, barrels, casks, hogs.
heads, &c will suggest to the reader the pub.
lie Importance of an invention or series of
Inventions, by the use Of which one man
may make, in a day, as many slaves or bar
rels as forty men can make by hand or ten
times as many As through the use of any other
machines to the same end previously invented;
and more especially when, as in this case, the
now process enables tho barrel or s.ave-maksr
to apply to his purposes twenty-five per cen
tom more of the timber of a forest than has
heretofore been found applicable to them. II
will be Iecollectsd by all who know aug ht Of
stave getting or cooperipg, that a very large
per centags Of the timber originally cut down
to be so worked up by hand or other machines
must necessarily be thrown away as unsuited
for tAs purpose This machine, however,
works all such timber up, never casting out
an imperfect stave or section Of o head from
sound timber large enough to make either
Before putting the timber into the stave cut
ia NJ int knl
are worked on by ell stave gstters by hand,
o. otherwise. These bolts are then steam
soaked with the waste steam Of the engine
driving the machines, and otherwise. In the
machine for cutting the blocks or bolts into
slaves, along, keen, sndheaVy blade is constan
ly moving up and down throug b a range of about
seven inches, in an arc OF a circle of about
foot radius. At the sam. time, By simple
and beautiful arrangement, it is made to move
back and forth, end wise, through space Of
about two feet-ihe combustion Of the two
movements giving to the edge of the knife
peculiar ard most effective spiral motion or
stroke, by means Of which the large blocks of
weed, above referred TO, which are fed by
hand up under the knife as it rises, are worked
up with marvellous rapidly INFO slaves, dressed
to the proper shape on both sides, perfectly
smooth and sound, AID with the greatest pos
sible economy OF material. This machine
makes from ninety to one hundred strokes per
mioute, cutting eff staEe at every stroke
when there Is timber for it to work CT and
after making all allowances for time los. in
whatever way, it may be relied on to turn out
two thousand staves per hour, day after day;
or more than enough for one thousand barrels
day! Thug, it is very clear that the labor
OF one man in working this machine is ten
times as effective as when employed on tie
best previously krown apparatus for saving
our slaves, aud forty times as effective az in
getting them out by hand, to say nothing of
the saving Of material, which is about fourth;
and Of the still more important fact that tim
Der can be used which will not rive, and which
does lot cos. more than half az much as tim
Der suitable for irving
In al previous machines for cutting slaves.
the knife comes square upon the wood, like .
erisei, making the save shakey, aud ma:erial-
~ iInpairirg its strength, which has created
great p.eju dice against cut staves The draw
ing stroke in this machine entirely obviates
This difficulty, the slaves prepared and finished
BY it's process being worth fully one third
mora in market than any other cut slaves.
The machinery in question includes appa
ratus for join:irg and crossing the slaves, and
cutting and turning the heads, a. stated above,
leaving nothing to BIO done by the cooper but
the Eotting up and hopping We were esps-
cially pleased with the principle ard opera.
ton Of the machine of thu series Designed fer
Jointins, which shapes the edge of the save.
The workman has only to feed in the slaves as
last As he cen handle them, and they come ont
eich with the precise degree Of biIge or swell
and Of bsvel which its width requires. This
beautiful result is effected by the simple ap.
plication Of we'll known ma thenatical prirci.
pies through ths use of guagss, which remind
US sOmexhat Of those applied by Blanchard in
nis low celebrated as so very useful apparatus