The Placer herald., 1860-03-17
Mountain Ordnance--.New Invention.

mountain Urdnance---NeW Invention.
We have examined with pleasure model
of new field piece, the work Of our fellow
townsman, Thomas r. Stoddard. The fol-
lowing description of it which is better than
we can give-we take from late number of
the Sacramento Standard. We are firmly
impressed with the idea that it is valuable
improvement, and we hope it will especially
receive the attraction of our Government
Says the Standard. Sonora Dem.
The inventor insists, that if piece of ord
nance be divided into sections it not only
is more portable, but stronger than gun
cast solidiy. His theory is, that if cannon
be divided into any number of sections, and
attached by a simple screw, that as the screw
is the strongest lever known in mechanics,
when the sections are fitted together tightly,
the piece will burst sooner at any other place
than at the screw. BY this simple means
he is enabled to get the strength of the gun
ust where it is most needed, viz: between
the breech and the trunnion Besides this,
he is enabled 10y making the screw attach
mcnts all ake) to have either long gun
or short one, according to the range de-
sired. Another important arrangement is,
in having moveable breech pin, of the d.
ameter Of the caiber. BY this arrangement,
by having the vent or touch-hole to perfo-
rate the breech- pin, lie is enabled, by turning
the breech- pin one and half times around
to the left, to cut off the current of air
through the vent or touch hole-thus dis
pensing with the ordinary thumbing of the
man at the vent, by obtaining the same re-
c,,lt 81, bo Il
of premature explosion through inattention;
thus rendering it impossible for the gunner
to be blown away from the muzzle, and
thereby saving both life and limb to thou
sands. Nor are these all the advantages to
be derived from movable breech pin, by
simply extracting and carrying off which,
the gun is rendered totally useless to an
enemy, supposing it is found necessary to
abandon the gun; and if again reiaken, in a
minutes time, by inserting it back again, the
gun in our hands is as serviceable as ever
BY this simple contrivauce the necessity of
spiking a gun is dispensed with. Besides
tie gun, when the breech pin is taken out,
can be used to fire rockets with great preci.
sion INTO an enemy's camp. Among the
other advantages claimed in gun made of
such sections, is the finer finish obtained in
the surface of the caliber of the gun, and
facility Of cleansing and polishing it; besides,
Should a flaw at any time be discovered, no
matter how minute, it can easily be removed
by either taking off that section, or if not
deep, by polishing it out. Consequently,
ly if it be rited Another reason why the
gun is safe is, that the breech-pin being con-
ically chambered, and the vent communicate
ing with the apex of the cone, no room is
left in the rear of the vent for the burning
carbon to communicate like in the ordinary
fiat breech of the cannon. For it is well
known that the 'ire," as it is commonly
called, commences in the rear of the vent,
and cannot be eradicated by the sponge"
Another advantage claimed is, that the piece
in heating, heats sloacly and evenly, because
of the small space in the cone of the breech
pin chamber for the fire to accumulate
Various other improvements of minor i'm
portance are attached to the cannon, the
most important of which are an arrangement
to lessen the recoi of the gun, or rather that
of the carriage, by means of spring
in the rear Of the trunnion, and improved
"quoin" moving on a species Of cogged rail
way by means of common winch on the
right side of the gun. Mr.. Stoddart has al
ready obtaied cavcat from the Patent Office
at Washington, and also another from the
British Patent Office in London, and has
certificate of merit from the Mechanics In
sttute Of San Francisco. The improvement
itself is certainly curious and ingenious, and
speaks well for the inventive genius of Cali
fornia.