, 1861-07-02
A Phflade3pFtfa Bomb RDHudrv.

We visited recently the large iron foundry
OF Mess1s. North, Chase d North, at the cor
ner Of Second aud Mifln streets, and, through
the po1iteness Of Edgar L. Thomas, Esq, a
member Of the firm, were shown over the
premises. This foundry can work up, In ten
hour, four hundred tons of iron, giving over
j thousand bombs Of ayerage size. OF the 10.
inch bombs, the same weight Of iron will
yield 300. The best machinery iron is the
only kind used, and by request Of the War
Eanla. The bombs vary in thickness Of shell.
The thickness of shell 10 inches In diane
ter, Is two inches, leaving hollow core Of six
inches. Two irdeutations are made in the
bomb, to admit the grip Of tonges, similar
to iee.tongea, by means Of which 1t is lifted.
There Is also d hole by which fuse commu~
ricates with the powder inside.
The bomb ts delivered empty, and charged
hy the Government 4 ten-inch bomb con.
thlns four and half pounds Of riffs powder,
end the hole is plugged by a stopper Of beech
wood, through which is drawn q fuse which
When placed In the cannon, the side opposite
the fuse is always placed next to the charge,
the tiame Of which ia burning while on It's
nlission, ard, On arrival, explodes the bomb.
The fragments, from their roughness Of sur
lace AID irregular shape, create iearfal wounds
Formerly, shells were fred from mortsrs at
an angle, 10 the air, with calculation that
thcy should drop and burst where needed
The new coluMbiad gun alters this mode, aid
fires them straight like q cannon ball. They
will either explode while ploughing their
way through the masses Of troops, causing
terrible havoc, or plunglng into breastworks,
burst, creating large breaches. When fred Ut
forts, aim Is always taken at the PORTFOLIOS, to
effect devastation inside. Fuses are Of four
grades, according TO the distance required.
The longest range requires three-fourths Of q
minute to reach the charge-
The first process in the creation Of bomb
is to make the core, which is Of course sand,
baked with tlour, to give 1t consfstence. This
Is placed IN mould Ct very fine sand, and
the melted iron Is poured around 1t. Passing
through this core is an iron tube, which
preserves 1t precisely in the middle Of the
mould, and also shapes the outlet through
which the fuse Is inserted. This outlet, Or
fuse-hole, must not vary, In shells Of equal
size, as much as 1-1000th Of an inch In their
diameter. The bombs themselves must not
vary In diameter so much IS 1800th Of an
inch. and must be perfectly round The sand
used for monlds is procured at Waterford, N.
r, Is perfectly pure, and each grain seen
round surface. The body is good, and being
free from ealt or flint, viii not either explode
in the dssk, or burn with the heat OF the
melted iron. Silt would cause the first Oh.
jeclion, aud flint the latter. Sea shore sand
Lss both Ingredients. jersey river. sand the
Al4lL oAaJ. 401t Eal bG Het4 I1E CuIE4. u I'LL
Inch bomb costs about $425 before it leaves
the foundry and without its charge. It
weighs tride over g hundred pounds.
Small si1-inch shells are filled with 1eaden
m1sket balls through hole in the side. They
| are consolidated into mass By pouring IN
| lathe, 4 hole is drilled down through lead and
sulphur, penora:lng tie whole mass. The
| diameter Of this hole is the same as thst In
| The vail Of the shell. It will contain about
half a pound Of powder. This being poured
| in even with the outer surface Of the shell, Q
fuse is fitted into the oridce, making the shell
waterproof. Mesers- North, Chase sS Nortt
| are under contract to supply any requisitior
the Government may make upon them FOL
these various m;ssiles.-]2di1d. inquirer.