Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1857-04-13
LOCAL INTELLIGENCE.

ships Mississippi, Minnesota, and Germantown, |
lat their respective yards,) which have been or !
dered by the Secretary of the Navy to the Chinese
station Considerable interest is felt by our me-
chancs in the proper outfit of the Minnesota, and
in the various departments of the yard extensive
preparations are being made that no part of her
rig shall fail to be of the very best material and
workmanship. This is to be her extended trial
trip, and our mechanics are justly anxious to hear
good account of her. The building now used
for the purposes of the Naval Store is to be en-
larged the coming summer by the addition of 100
feet to Its length, to supply the increasing wants
The Brass and Copper Foundry and Finishing
SFOp--Here the visitor becomes AT a SINGLE
glance, aware OF the excellent economy which
CharacteTlzes the prosecution of the works of the
Navy department In the brass finishing room
workmen are actively engaged in the construction
OF eoirPanion-way for the new frigate, Mime
sofa Inns Is beautiful exhibition Of the skill
of our brass-wOrkers, and when finished will
challenge the admiration of the most expert me-
Chanlc new branch has within the last wear.
Deen added To the business of this foundry. All
the old sheath copper and brass of every descrip-
uon which Is pulled of from vessels of the Navy
undergoing repairs is collected from the various
Yards and brought here, where II is cast into
sheathing nails (after being refned) and also into
huge pigs, which, in their turn, are again pressed
into the service between the heavy iron rollers of
The Copper Rolling Mill. Upwards of Sc 100 lbs
have been thus cast since last July In the finish
Ing room the manufacture Of Brooks new patent
deep sea lead Is carried on to some extent Mr.
A g. Davis, the geRtlemanly superintendent of
This branch manages, in a most successful man
The Copper Rolling Mil is, perhaps the great
est attraction in the Navy Yard The huge blocks
OF copper, which are cast in the foundry, are
conveyed here where they are submitted to an
intense heat within the great furnaces and after
wards rolled out into sheathing, boiling copper
ana many other useful articles incidental to the
requirements Of the Navy. Perhaps the most
beautiful engine in the country, land which was
manufacted By Washington mac hinistsO is to be
seen In this building, where it is constantly in
motion driving those giant rollers, into whose
mouths the kissing metal, brought from the fur
naces, is quickly thrust and fattened out to the
dimensions required, and keeping the workmen
always on the jump; and stih the mighty ma
chine moves on, unimpeded by these distractions
and still, like Oliver Twist, calls for more y
In the rear division wOrkmen are erecting i'm
inenSe trimming shears, which are required 10
square of the rough edges of the copper sheets
As they come from the MILL and to reduce them
90 the proper weight. Several nail machines are
Kept In operation in this shop; and here also the
manufacture OF sheet lead and braziers' material
lscarried on. MIR. McNallv the polite head of this
branch, seems to understand the bee hive princi-
pie OF cooperative labor, and everything goes on
under MS directions in quiet and orderly manner
The Anchor Shop il a dark. smoky. mysterious
looking place enough to the stranger. but for all
that an extremely necessary branch of the depart
ment- The first impression of the visitor on en-
terlng, from the outside sunlight is that he is in
considerable danger of annihflation from the fall
OF some invisible trip-hammPr, and dodging to
eXade the same, is brought up by punch in the
ribs from an invisible Coal-rake welded by an
invisible agent. who proves to he ii grinning dar-
key, and through whose interpositiOn and eau
.Lon1y LOOKOUT Dan - YOU have just escaped
walking into pig-irOn furnace. After few
moments the eye becomes accustomed to the
smoke, and then one sees huge crane. from which
~ suspended some seven or eight tons of iron
heated TO bright red color and which is being
gradually pelted by some half a dozen sledges
INTO sheet anchor for the new frigate Minnesota
The manufacture of anchors is of the heaviest
branches of the business of the Navy Yard
great deal OF work is done for the BROOKLYN Navy
ard and other stations The principal, Mr.. John
Tucker. Is one of the first mechanics in the coun-
Try. and conducts the business in able and
skillful manner.
The Blacksmith ShOp-Here the men are foro
ing out all kinds Of work for the of the ward:
and also making chain cable to supply the REQUIRE
ments of the Brooklyn Navy Yard. This building
Is some hundreds OF feet in extent. and filled with
forges which are all actively employed. The
smoke engendered 10y this well as several other
branches of the work is carried out of the build
Ing by means Of iues which convey il off under
ground to the smoke stack of the new boiler shop
whence II escapes to the open air at great dis
'anee from the ground. This branch is superin-
Jrnded by Mr.. James Tucker who is an excellent
mechanic and thoroughly understands every de-
f4I Of his business.
Tas AeIr MarhiAs Shop, which is in course of
erection, VIII, when completed, occupy space Of
ground some so feet in extent, and forming three
sides Of square. The steam engines for the use
Of this building when completed will be of great
power, and ali made by the workmen Of our
own yard. No portion Of the machinery except
she heavy castings is to be brought from abroad
The principal business of the old mac hine shop is
II the present time the preparation of machinery
10 complete the new one.
At n, Boiler Shop the new boilers of the steam
fngate Fulton, which is under repairs here, have
just been completed and are being put into
her under the direction of Chief Engineer Hunt
The construction OF sheet-iron buoys for the De-
Partment is at present going to a considerable
extent in this division of the yard
At The Iron Foundry shells are casting for the
ordnance Department and machinery for the
neW Machine Shop.
The Ordnance Building presents a lively as
Pect- The famous Dahlgreen hOwitzers are being
made as also various other eng ines OF human de-
structiOn. The machinery for manufacturing bull
lets, and also That used for making percussion
caps il a great novelty.
The LGbOrdtOry-The visitor is here initiated
;nto the various means employed by civilized
governments to blow up their enemies The
manufacture and loading of fuse for - SHELF and
other purposes. Is an interesting feature Of this
department. Paper of considerable thickness is |
cut into narrow strips, on side of which |
melted glue is spread they are then rolled on an
iron die, which varies in size according 10 the |
distance required and after becoming completely |
dry these little hollow rolls of paper are placed
in an upright position under the filling mac hne
the illuminate Is then poured in, and by turning |
horizontal wheel steel instrument is Shot down |
which forces the loading into the fuse so hard |
that IT becomes perfectly solid. The amount of |
pressure required in the loading process is most |
exactly determined by the machine When the |
wheel IS turned down to the proper point COM |
pound lever is so connected with the loading rod |
as TO hy up at the instant small hammer strikes !
i little bell in the top Of the machine giving the |
signal. The fuse after being thus loaded, are !
marked with black stripes on the outside to |
indicate the length OF time which they are de- |
signed 10 burn; afterwards they are sealed up in |
thick paper packages, to the outside of which a |
coating of yarnish is applied, max king them inn
peTviOus to wet. The only fire allowed in this |
building is small spirit lamp, just sufficient to
keep the glue OF the fuse maker in 4 liquid state:
this lamp Is surrounded all sides by water
and, IL disturbed in the least would be insta ntly
eXtinguished All this precautiOn is demanded |
account of the combustible nature of the mate
rial used in this department.
The 1ldehiHe for Cap Loading is also worthy !
of notice. and also the process of vanishing the
n he car afr he loaAi 10 r..
pressed in, which Is so arranged as to deposit |
small drop Of varnsh over the loading, thus pro-
trctihg il from dampness.
Mr. John ClaPharn the intelligent and careful /
head uf the Laboratory Works, IS a man well |
skilled in his profession, and one Of the kindest |
VI men ~ those in his employ