The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1861-07-19
TIL T. CALEDON1AN. .
From the Daily of Wednesday.
Improvements in Cannon.

We have been Interested in various arti
cles descriptive of the rlhed cannon and its
manufacture and from them We gather the
following facts. This cannon, in modern
warfare. is rapidly taking the place of the
smooth bore gun. and the conical ball in its
various forms is taking the place of the more
clumsy round shot o! former days. Two re-
suits have been reached by this change in
artillery practice namely: Largely increased
range OF the projectiIe, and certainty OF aim.
The Old smooth bore Ca. rarely De served
with effect at greater range than two miles
aud with no great certainty even at that dis
lance, while the modern rltied cannon will
project the conical ball distance OF FIVE and
il hail miles, witt. much precision.
The French and Engiish have experiment
ed largely with these riied guns, and have
left but little to be desired in the way of i'm
proyemcnt. except in respect to the materia!
used for their composition. 1t is said to be
one Of the greatest military problems of tie
aye 70 find material possessing the requl-
,.;e tenacity. density and elasticity to allow
these guns being made in the lightest man
uer. 50 that they can be easily and rapidly
transported, while at the same time they sh al
%, OF sufficient strength to resist the pxplo-
>:,- force Of the increased service charges re-
ql.re! to project the bail Of concai shape
and therefore Of superior weight, to much
greater distance, and Of greater density to
.-.st the action Of the ball as it bounds along
'.e bore, and OF greater elasticity SO that the
90 shall return is nearly as possible to its
original condition, after the expansive force
@. the charge has subsidized. This latter Gual
~ :, dYS;defatum. as well as tenacity, in
gin metal. 1t is known to experienced ar
;..eri>;S, as well as to those who have theo-
r,,ica..y Investigated the subject, that at eve
r! ..,charge Of a gun the bore is more or less
enlarged by the tremendous force of the ex
I.'.!on. while in subsequently contracting il
never returns precisely 10 its original size
i.., fact demonstrates the Importance Of e.
.4>.Icty N the composition of gun metal. and
A,Ece very great attention is paid to it. Ho-
Hagenety is, however, a quality so absolutely
essential that other qualities must, in great
4r,rcr be sacrificed 10 it, unless, indeed,
modern discoveries shall have succeeded in
combining them all. Hitherto cast iron and
ycJlzc have been the metals chiefly used in
ne manufacture Of cannon, because degree
Of homogeneity could be obtained by their use
which sntil recently It has been impossible to
oJ.,in in wrought irCn and steel. The diff
cI.ty OF welding large masses OF iron and
s.eel has been overcome by the introduction
f steam, and atmospheric hammers, which
az now found in all well appointed establish
m~ats. As heavy blow, and as o:,-repeated,
e.a now be truck upon large masses, as is
>,-o>,ary TO be struck upon small bars 20
rr,.uce 5, perfect weld through all the parts.
h.1pp Of Essen, Prussia, the most celebrated
rpe. i manufacturing rihed cannon of this
n..,erial in large quantities.
Tia celebrated Armstrong gun has hither-
I, lccn made Of wrought iron. Steel, how
ry,r, .s TO be preferred. OF late much at
;c.! .on has been paid in England to a mate
-. called muIIled steel, and from its COM
tdra.Ne cheapuess and greater certainty Of
,.atment under the steam hammer, there is
.els3u to believe it will come largely into use
. The manufacture of cannon, as it is already
n rai.way ser, ice.
HE Troy American says that the firm of
'sMlag. Winslow \ Go. Of that city are en-
s.I.'s largely in tie manufacture of modi-
.eltlon OF this material which they designate
y TIE name OF semisteel. Samples have
been prepared and proved upon the govern
Mt.t proving machines at the West Point
i'uAdry, which show a most remarkable te-
aacitv, the highest point reached. as yet, be-
.ng over llS,000 pounds to the square inch
This very close " approximates to the tens
o...ty Of the best cast steel, while the expense
O.: manipulation is very much less and the
'e';aInty Of homogeneity is quite as great
las tirm intend TO enter extensively into the
t-.uilcture of rihed cannon from this mate
;..' ia! some have already been ompleted
las source of supply, together with the old
S.', Low beng riiled at Governors Island
such foreign supple, as may be available
w.. soon ? ace the government Of the United
S;''-s on footing superior to the rebels, as
','trtt, this important arm Of service.