Daily Ohio statesman. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1855-1870, 1861-05-04
From the Scientific American
Military and Naval Inventions.

The inventive faculty of the country, reused
to extraordinary activity by the intense mental
excitement pervsding the community, will now
be directed to an unusual extent TO improve.
ments to implements Of war and in all mechan-
ism connected with naval and military opera
tions. Of the thousand elements in this broad
field ofinvention, the most prominent at the
present time are riaed cannon and the iron plat
ing of ships. The great military powers -Esg.
land and France-after expending hundreds Of
thousands ofdollars in experiments, have adopt.
ed both of these important improvements; while
our own government, which, notwithstanding its
peaceful policy, usually occupies the front rank
in the quality of its small army and navy, ID
strangely behind in the movement.
The riAed cannon Of the French army are load
ed at the muzzle, while the British government
has adopted the breach-loading gun invented
by Armstrong; though, since the recent astound
ing revelations In regard to that famous weap-
on, it is probable that its use will be abandon
ed, and the British government also will adopt
the simpler pieces which are loaded at the
muzzle. A great deal of attention has been
given by English inventors to the forms of the
rife grooves; whether they should be rectang-
uar, triangular or rounded-whether they
should be broad or narrow, few or many, &C.
and many of these points remain entirely unset
tied. laH
The plating Of ships, too, Notwithstanding the
fact that both nations are expeDding millions oil
dollars upon these shields, is regarded by the
most intelligent English engineers as still oper
for experiment and Improvement. A great dea
of discussion has been expended upon plans fol
making the sides Of the ships which were 10 beal
these plates sloping; it being ascertained that {
much thinner plate is required to turn away
shot striking at an angle, than will resist O per
pendicular impact. 'iA'
1t is easy TO conceive Of numerous modifica
tions Of this idea by which inclined plates will
be offered to the reception of the shot. On,
plan invented In England is to have the platel
fastened upon independent floats, to be carried
by the sides Of the ship; and the intellect O
the nation seems TO be teeming with an endless
variety of ideas in connection with the subject
But the rifling of cannon and the plating o.
ships are only two Of an innumerable mnltitud,
of details connected with naval and militar,
mechanism. The shot, the wad, the cartridge
the lock, the gun carriage, the cartridge box, th
tent and tent equipage, the cooking apparatus
preserved meats and other provisions, and, il
short, everything relating to the operations, tn,
armaments and the supplies of navies and or.
mics, will be examined with eager scrutiny, b.
both comprehensive and acute intellects, i
earnest efforts TO make some improvements
either in their general plans or In their minut
details. Ag' tl
IL is very Important for the country to hay
the military operations carried on with th,
greatest possible efficiency; and all Of these In
ventions which are really valuable ought b
be promptly adopted. II is impossible for th
responsible officers ofthe government to devot
their time to examining the various scheme
offered, and we would suggest to the Admins
tration the appointment OF a competent commits
sion for this purpose. There can be hardly
doubt that such commission, II the member
wero properly selected, would contribute i'm
mensely to the efficiency of our naval and mill
tary operations, and would save its expense {
/ the country thousandfold. H