The Hancock Jeffersonian. [volume] (Findlay, Ohio) 1857-1870, 1861-10-25
Tho All nf Mnr IN Eurnpe.

Sir William Armstrong addressed
an annual meeting of tie Institution
of Mechanical Engineers, held at
Sheffield England } ON Wednesday,
July 81:
Sir William said: II is sald, and
believe with truth. chat in America
the manufacture Of cast iron ordi
nance has been so lar improved by .
applying water to cool the casting
rom the interior rs to enable Sur
viccable guns Of this material t. be
produced Of much larger bore, than
have been made in England. But
it appears that these guns have not
been rllcd, and are only intended to
be used with hollow proiectiles. -
This success, therefore, affords no
redstn for coming to q different con
clusion as 10 the uniitncss OF cast iron
tor the construction Of riil'd guns
designed to project solid shot, es.
pecially. when. tho dimensions are
large. Even when strengthened by
wrought iron hoo.', the tendency Of
cast iron in gun is to become
weaker bv every succeeding die.
charge. This is owing TO minute
fractures occurring in the bore, gen
orally in the vicinity Of the vent, and
gradually extending until they ter
inmate in the rupture OF the gun. -
I If therefore, cbst iron guns arc to he
utilized at all az rifed ordnance, it
can only be BY confning their use to
hollow projeciilcs and light charges;
hut, if tie same indulgence were eX.
tended TO wrought iron Runs, equal
efficiency would be obtained with
hblt the weight OF metal ond oD t'is
ground alone the superiority Of the
latter Is decisive.
( With regard to the great question
Of tho ultimate effect OF artillery
against ,hips protected 10y defensive
aImor, | believe TINT whatever thick
nees OF iron may be adopted, gnns
will be constructed capable Of de-
etroying it. st the same time am
of opinion, that iron plated ships will
he infinitely more secure against ar
,illery than timber ships. The for
mcr will effectively resist every spc.
ciea OF explosive or incendiary pro
jectilp, gs well -s solid shot from al
nut the heaviest guns, which car
never be used ia large numbers
against them. In short, it srpoar,
tn me. to be n question betwecU
, r,stcd ships or none at all, at al!
, rate So lar I'D liue o!.battle ships ar'
Concerned.
= With respect 10 the quslity OF Ih'
material best adapted 10 r.sist tl,'
, impact OF shot, Tho subject 10 en
gazing much attention in the tow
, OF Sheffield and the iron districts gen
orally. So lar ~ my own obs"rva
=. Upn ard experience go, ! may 90
>. that harducss and lnmin6tiou are th'
-, conditions most essential to avoid
:. In striking plate the tendency G
tlIv rhut il to fracture rather than {
, pierce tie material When pene
:, trstion is Effected, the hole ia of
broken character, Sni not such a
!, would he mad, by the cutting sctio
= 1T punch. The softer, therefor,
. thc iron. the lcse injury it will su'
-, t,iu; ani eplteheud that steel, i
b, every form, viii, from lie great,
- hardness, he found Ices efbc,ivr the
~, wrought iron, While its c"et wou'
: he very much greatcv.
L. | am tempted to advert, before
w. conclude, 10 II snhject intimate
~. connected With me hsnicsl progr,e
-. Lut upou vlich mucl difference
=, opiuion may exist, Under our lrt
81 cnt ratrht IHws we are borne dow
,n w,ju AN excoss ct protection. "
"a ere oh,tructed in every direction
=, patented invcrlions which will ne
hn r., cr be reduce to practice hy tho
" who hold them, but which e,nbrs
i3c,s capable Of useful spp(icati
NJ { reed rom inonupuly. The nae
or cf invention scllNm lies in the IN
int aH'' "."' y; r'., 'u '' W ho,s.i 70 W
A., sni in the succ,eorul struggle vi
.rs difficulties, unknown TO the m,
yrd throrist, and often requiring ye'
of labor, blended with !iesppott
zen mcnt. TOR their removal. Nothi
nh can ao more irrational, thereto
,na %" ,h,u to give cqn,A privileges to ,