Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1856-12-04

SUi Is atSut 4 t AEuiS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. At&A
pauy at Hartford, ranks second to none, in the
extent and success of its operations. Yet it is
OILY about eight ears ago that Mr.. Colt COIN
menced the manufacture of pistols with D small
capital not exceeding IS 900, and few men,
hazarding the little he possessed in what might
have been naturally regarded as a doubtful ex-
pertinent. Now, the estimated value Of build
ngs and machinery, forming his. establishment
is about 81, DOC. 900 nearly 500 meh are en-
ployed /; the pay roll ranges, from s 600 to
$50, 900 per month, and from $50 to 900 pistols,
widely circulated for their. superior qualities,
are completed every day. The buildings are
the most extensive of the kind ever erected.
They are built in the form Of an II, wholly Of
Portland stone, the main structure being 500
feet in length by 60 in breadth, and four stories
high. Parallel to this is another 500 feet by
40, and one story high and the Building which
connects them, is 800 feet by GO These com
pose the Offices, machine shop, engine rooms,
blacksmith, iroh and brass foundries, store
rooms, shooting gallery, &c., The whole are
enclosed bv q high wall, with houses for watch
men at either end of the enclosure thus made:
There are about fifty dwellings, mostly. occu-
pied by workmen. The whole are erected on
tract Of land embracing $50 acres, formerly
inundated. by the Connecticut river, but now
enclosed by two miles Of strong dyke. The
motive power is furnished by an enormous en-
CINE, equal to $50 horses The boilers are
two in number, each 30 feet long, The dry-
ing-wheel is remarkable for its size, being thirty
feet in diameter, and of such accurate dinner
sions that there is no perceptible variation from
perfect circle in its circumference. No gear
Ing is used iii running the machinery, belts alone
being employed--so that the movement of all
is noiseless. For this reason strange sensa-
ton is experienced on entering the, immense
apartment use for the afmory, which presents
an tnbroken area 500 feet in length by 60 in
BREADTH completely filled with mao hinery, and
not less than 200 men engaged in operating it,
all in rapid motion yet, comparative quiet
prevails 1t is believed that no where, in any
country, can another shop be found, of equal
extent, occdpied by such ah amount Of ma
chinery. The eye Of the spectator can scarce
" penetrate the labyrinth Of belts and bars
and moving forms, Or distinctly deBhe an object
in the hazy distance: All the machinery in
each story is driven by single. continuous
drum, extendiiig from bhe extremity to theother
The character IF the several machines en-
ployed cannot fail to elicit attention, ON account
of their simplicity and beauty; as well as the
celebrity of their movement, and the extreme
eomplexity of many of the operations performed
The larger portion of it is the invention of f.
K: Root, the superintendent. The machine
shop is another very extensive apartment, $50
by go feet, and containing something like SO
wotRmeh Just at present, most of the avail:
able force is directed to The manufacture, of d
newly-hodeled pistol; of very superior kind,
which is b, ginning to be put into the market:
1t is small pocket arm, Of Eve chambers,
compact, and Of symmetrical forth. The whole
frame work is from single piece of metal. The
demand for this arm Is already greater than
the ability to supply The various parts Of
every pistol are struck into shape by passing
through series Of dies. Another new arm,
the manufacture of which has been commenced
within short time; Is d rifle constructed on
substantially the sane principle as the pistol;
but With several improvements. Its proposed
to engage IN their manufacture very soon, on d
large scale Of the improvements referred to,
is "ldbricator" for the internal SUI face Of the
barrel, designed to prevent its fouling. A con-
siderable space might be well occupied By d
minute description Of this weapon. The total
number Of pistols made by Mr. Colt since tie
commencement of operations is as follows -
Pocket size, 125,S69; belt, SILT holster
1923 new model, 1877. Total; 195,9S6:
II Navy size tevoltets Used BY The U 8: gov
are Wholly made By the saine manu-.
Jour. Of Com. ST.
TIE SEcKEL PEAR:-specimshs IF the fruit