Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1860-11-27

In the New York Journal Of Commerce, oi
the 2lst inst, VIC find the following:
"rhc Southern States, living until recently
in peace and happiness under the root-tree oil a
common Union, have neglected the establish
ment Of lirc-arIn factories within their own
borders. During the past year, Virginia first
recognized the necessity OF starting State ar
lnory, and appropriated 500, 600 for the work.
Some commencement has already been made
on il, but il is certain that the armory Will
not be completed within one year, and in the
meantime she must depend on the North. Va
rious statements have been circulated about
the present armament Of Virginia. 1t IS be-
licvcd that she can, rs asserted, bring twen-
ty five thousand men into the field, but
the tremendous batteries Of rifled cannon
which have been said to belong to her, do not
exist. We understand from good authority,
that she has but one riiie,l cannon. Indeed,
in the matter Of heavy ordnance, all the South.
ern States appear to be far behind the North.
South Carolina is the only Southern State
which has an armory Of her own. t'llas been
in operation some years, and turns out good
work, though al a cost not less probably than
that oi the same class Of arms in the North. :"
As the editor, no doubt unintcntonaly {,
makes some misstltelnents as regards Virginia,
and lacks information on some points, we think
it well to give statement which will set him
and our Stale GIT.
virginia has an Armory in this city, erected
under the provisions OF an act passed so long
ago As the 23l January, lI9s, entitled AN
Act To- establish ArsrI.als and Manuiactory
Of Arms, ald empowering the Executive to
establish IL ManLiuctort OF Arms within the
vicinity Of Echmond." ArlnS Of various kinds
have been manufactured in this Artnory; there
is large number Of them, in line condition.
now OH hand, and arlnorcrs are ever engaged
there, cleaning altering and repairing weapons.
Attached to tie hrnory is Il State Guard, first
organized undtr the provisions Of M act passed
22d January, 1901.
At the LAST session Of the Legislature, i2lSt
OF January 1850; an act entitled "An Act
making an appropriation for tho purchase and
manufacture oi arms and munitions of war,"
was PASSED. BY this act an appropriation of
$500, 000 was made $50, 900 Of which was t"
be appropriated "lu purchase such arms, equip
lncnts and munitions, as may be required for
the immediate use Of the State" and the
balance to tue remodeing Of the present
Armory, SO as to fit i, for the manufacture of
the best modern weapons, to the extent Of
5, 900 pieces n year. with capacity Tor 10000
per annum if necessary.
Already the three commissioners appointed
to carry out the act hive made large purchases
Of arms, unl Capt. Dimmock IN West Point
officer and comnand1nt OF the Arnory Guard
is busy experimenting the necessary nltera-
tions for the introduction Of the new machine
r. which Mr Anderson, Of this city, has ob-
tanned The contract for, and which he engages
TO have in full operation on the lst December,
1861.
The editor says: "ln the meantime she must
depend on the No.th'--that is, until the Ar
nory is complete. The best reply We can give
to this is the following statement, which we
gather frun returns now in Adiutant General
Richardson's otii.c:
ARMS Is DEpur OCTOBER lsr, lSGG-rERlon OF
ANNUAL RETURNS.