The Plymouth weekly Democrat. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1860-1869, 1861-05-09
From the Scientific American.
Military and Naval Inventions.

anu NGNdl 4uVSutlOuo
The inventive faculty of the country,
reused to extraordinary activity by the in
tense mental excitement prevailing the
community, will now be directed to an un-
usua! extent to improvements to imp le-
ments of war and in all mechanism con
nected with naval and military operations.
Of the thousand elements in this broad
field of invention, the most prominent at
the present Time are rifled cannon and the
iron plating Of ships. The great military
powers England and France--after ex-
pending hundreds OF. thousands of dollars
in experiments, have adopted both of these
important Improvements while our own
government, which, Notwithstanding its
peaceful policy, unusually occupies the
front rank in the quality of its small army
and navy. is strangely behind in The move
ment
The rifle cannon of the French army are
loaded at the muzzle, while the British
government has adopted the breac load
ing gun invented oy Armstrong though,
the recent astounding revelation in regard
TO that famous weapon. it is probable that
its use will be abandoned, and the British
government also will adopt the similar
pieces which are loaded at the mnzzle. A
great deal OF attention has been given by
English inventors to the forms of the rifle
grooves whether they should be rectan-
yular. triangular or rounded--whether
they should be broad or narrow, few or
many, &c: aad many of these pcints re-
main entirely unsettled.
The plating of ships too. uotwithstand-
ing the fact that both nations are expen-
ding millions of dol ars upon these shields,
is regarded by the most intelligent English
engineers as still open for experiment and
improvement. A great deal of discussion
has been expended upon plans for making
the sides of the ships which We're to bear
these plates sloping it being ascertained
that much thinner plate is required to
turn away shot striking at an angle, than
will resist perpendicular impact.
1t is easy to conceive Of numerous mod
itications Of this idea by which inclined
plates will be offered to the reception of
the shot. One plan invented in England
is to have the plates fastened upon inde-
pendent floats, to be carried by the sides of
the ship and the intellect of the nation
seems to be teeming with an endless variety
Of ideas in connection with the subject
But the rfling of cannon and the plating
of ships are only two of an ipnumerablc
multitude Of details connected with naval
and military mechanism. The shot. the
cat:idge, the lock, the gun 6 rr;age, the
cartridge box, the tent and tent equipage,
the cooking apparatus. preserved meats and
other provisions, and. in short, everything
relating to the operations. the ornaments
and the supplies Of navies and armies Will
be examined with eager security, by both
comprehensive and acute intellects, in
earnest efforts to make some improve
ments, either i'll their general plans or in
their minute details.
1t is very important for the country to
have the military operations carried or
with the greatest possible efficacy ; and all
of these inventions which are really val
liable ought to be promptly adopted. 1t is
impossible for the responsible officers Of
the government TO devote their time to ex-
amining the various sche mes offered and
We would suggest to the administration the
appointment OF a competent commission for
this purpose. There can be hardly a doubt
that such commission, if the members
were promptly selected, would contribute
immensely to the efficacy OF our naval and
military operations, and would save its ex-
pense 10 the country thousadfold.