The weekly pioneer and Democrat. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn. Territory) 1855-1865, 1859-06-09
The Gun Foundry at WOOlwlch.

We cOndcnse an account OF the immense
resources at Woolwich, for the supply Of
ordnance. together with few OF the extra
ordinary characteristics OF the Armstrong
gun. With regard to the former, VIC learn
th At the store OF cannon of all calbres now
in the arsenal is sufficient TO supply all de.
mands tor years to come, there being be.
tween $4,000 aud 10000 pieces OF servicea'
bic ordnance on the various wharves, which
could be prepared and despatched to any
part OF the world at the rate OF two hundred
per week With the six furnaces which will
shortly be in working operation in the gun
foundry, it will be capable OF turning ten
sixty.eight Founders per week. When tue
whole OF the ten furnaces are erected, the
foundry will be capable Of producing twenty
new guns per week, u number Of which,
without taking into account the contract
entrusted to the Gospel Oak and Low Moor
works, would be sufficient to supply all
ordinary peace demands for cannon.
A very large series OF workshops is now
in course OF erection close TO the foundry for
the manufacture Of the Armstrong guns.
This weapon may be familiary described as
hollow tube, the bore extending from the
muzzle out at the breech The upper por
ton OF the bore from the chamber to the
muzzle, along which the projectie passes, is
rihed by about thirty grooves, l.l6th OF an
inch wide and l-l0th Of an inch deep, which
have spiral pitch OF one complete turn in
sixteen feet. The other portion oi the bore,
from the chamber TO the extremity Oi the
breach, through which the charge IS intro.
doced. ia smooth, and rather wider than the
riaed part. Immediately behind the cham
Der In which the Charge Is aud about foot
or 30 from tie bre .ch, there is a square slot,
some four Or FIVE inches across, which ex
tends from the upper surface OF the gun, and
cuts right across the bore. When the
charge has been inserted through the breech
asod piece OF iron is dropped into the siot,
and by sscrew pac'd in the bIeech Is firmly
forced against the conical base Of the cham
ber, forming An effectual break, which is
capable OF resisting the explosion. To the
projeciile, however, Is owing IN great nsa'
sure the efficiency Of the gun. IL Is formed
of iron, elongated in shape, like the Minnie
bullet. Two grooves are cat at different
places along its length, into which are cast
belts Of lead which project about one quar-
ter ot An inch beyond the diameter oi the
shot. The projectile and the charge Of
powder are, as we have said before, INTRO
dueed through the breech. The plug which
fts into the slot is then dropped and screwed
INTO its place, 20 As effrctualy 10 prevent
say lateral escape OF the explosion. When
the chsse IS iguted the conieaI shot is
driven forward into the rtied portion Of the
bore, which being rather narrower than the
diameter Of the saot, the ieaden belts are
firmly forced into the grooves, and the whole
bore 20 edectaally weiged up during the
passage OF the shot that there is absolutely 10
wIDdage," or escape % the explosion, until
the shot has seit the muzzFe Thus the whole
OF the prOpulslve power Of given charge
of powder is utilized, aud All enormous
range obtained.
The iron niBety.iwo poaDder, Armstrong; Q
gun, tried AT oboebsryDes~. Was found caps
bie OF throwing It's proJec,iIe. WITH perfect
accuracy Of aim, distance Of Ave miles with
iEe pounds oi POWDER one half the charge
VI an ordinary thirty-two FOUNDER, which
carries but ODe aud three loorths mIle. AT
distance oi three thossahd yards, (the ex
tre1ne range OF long thirty .sO Founder J
u twen,yfive shots iir-d at a target teu feet
square by an ordinary runnsr, every one
struck the mark.
At the prcsen, time. the " OooiSich Ia
b~atsry department ar, producing from
26,OOO 10 - UOO -ho, aSi shell psr wees or
between seventy and eighty tols ier da!
Working dag and ngnt II would bs p~s'-
bh, M case OF an emergency. 10 prOioce q,
tir rae II s0.0o0 pr .ok 10 the small
Nn Sp.iImeut tse .appiy . 90 40 eqasi
sca.e tss prts-sui IaaehiG.. mscb b'Des, u ksp,
eouslALuy al sOrs, oil FOdace 2O00OOV
Miuic bG.,t. pr s.k No,s i,b,tAOdi az
thai '., 10 .iae ian ~ .hl' an1 .h.ll y car