The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1859-08-30


co,reepondence Of the Richmond pispsso"c r.,
n, r..,,.~ ar Cawaes at Forfrsss mon,s :, al
Wheaf.s BrsstA -ionffng CdaaoH. -
i, T,yr,nta-. 7as Hggeta-- DyiH ga as,,p 1890
r.,.. U.,ra annointed by the secIeu., u -
u ~ -. .pa insneciion and trial OF .as @.,.,
ana rifle-canron that had been .I a,ys hut
point have been inactive fer eeses ~ fonr davs
wan reshIa me-, NJ hreecb. loading rifie-cannon
1bieh weighs several tons, = ..atar
mounted on a carriage ~ III y. tha rars
near the Light-House, ana - ,hesa ~uns
gnn To receiye attention. Ohe Va .M1s0 800
pu,, liar than this one however, mas al
ready been tried by the omCsIs, WIN $3.50 s
rahie satisfaction Col. Wheaf, hiMseII, un-
dcr,ook 10 onerate with IL on one occasion, IN
~. .ts.nce Of the Board, and, getting ball
$1,000 in 1, nv some means, Hired ana Dursted
l., The one now being mouh.eo, however,
,nobs a. 81 II would stand any KIND OF usage
Tha ord;nance Department are engaged in
80 ,he qualities and strength OF three
80 .,yo ri which are from Richmond. and
sha cher from West Point. One Of the Rich
mond guns is from the Tredegar Works and
,ha other from BeloDa Arsenal. One thou
s"nd shots have been fired from ons with a
siyfee pound charge of powder at each shot.
Tins we see that sixteen thousand POUNDS o.
nowder have been used in testing the quality OF
IRON of which this gun Is composed; the otner
Gun has had about eight hundred shots with
the same charge Of powder, and has only two
hundred more to pass the test. Balls are used
In each charge, which are fired into sand
bank and afterwards dug out ana USED over
and over again.
Iii gratifying fact that the guns made of
Virginia iron have stood the seyerest tests, and
stand higher with the Ordinance Board than
any other which have been subjected to their
inspection. This is no doubt owing to the fact
that the quality Of the iron is superior, ecu
pied with the fact that the manufacturers in
Richmond understand casting guns better than
any one else The operations of the Ordinance
ord OF lie ina hux rolf m
qualities of the iron of which future guns are
10 be made; for it is a fact not generally known,
that each individual gun is not received until
tits proved by 4 certain number Of shots with
one ball, then with two, and finally three balls
are used; the addition of balls being fourd
severer test than an increase of powder.
The operations on the Rip Raps are progress
ing slowly, and by present appearances 1t VIII
take fully twenty years to complete Fort Cal
houn There arc sixty or seventy men at work,
which is probably rs large force as could be
worked in that limited space to advantage.
The late contractor for stone having found
that he had taken the contract too low. has
been released by the Secretary of War, and
simple engagement now exists with gentle
man in the upper part of the State for the
supply of stone. This gentleman has sub-let
a portion of the job and this fact accounts for
another fact-that part Of the stone comes
from Petersburg and part from Richmond.
The Crany Island Iight-boat is to be super
coded by screw pie lighthouse, similar to
tnUSe now III use III UH piicS
are already down and the frame braced, and
week or two more will find this light shining
out from the top of q neat, substantial house.
The hotel has small but agreeable party Of
about one hundred, who are feasting on the
iuxuries of land and sea. and who are having
a more pleasant time than has been experienced
this season. As hundreds of persons who are
now at the springs will want to stop here
they return home, the proprietor has deter
mined to keep the hotel open all the fall, and,
indeed all winter, too.
The large building close by the hotel, which
is being built for the Ordinance Department, is
nearly done, and hands are now engaged in
covering in the roof. This, we learn, is to be a
work shop and is to take the place of the ar
mory which was burned in the garrison some
years ago.
A bark from Richmond, which arrived in
Hampton Roads Friday morning, went to sea
early Saturday morning, with fair wind. We
understood that she was bound to Rio.
The parade in the garrison, on Saturday
morning, was one of the grandest sights we
have seen for some time. There were six COM
panies on the field, numbering over three hun
bred men, all of whom were in the same kind
of uniform the only distinction being the small
brass number on their hats. Their mannu-
vres We're excellent, and reflected much credit
upon the officers who had them in charge. We
noticed upon the field three or four awkward
squads, who were being put through by SER
gean1s while near the gate we noticed two
poor fellows marching up and down with
pack upon their backs, which we suppose was
intended Il punishment for some INSIDE
meanor.
We notice. also, the erection of new sun
dial in the Fort. This dial rests upon a granite
pillar which is placed near the main entrance
or guard house, and will be of considerable
20 the soldiers, in clear weather
PERCUSSION.