Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1861-07-19

TIC tiittlSiCI VI lHS '"-
Arscncl.
I'm yirw, therefore, ui the facts herein referred
to, the question naturally suggests itself
whether or no, it is cxpcdient or proper to
any division OF the machinery from Har-
per's Ferry. seeing that neither set can DC mace
Mute counlctc, particularly TINT for tho rifle
,renuf,r,ur. which would lack the entire set
machinery necessary for the production OF
locks, and one o. l~o very Important machines
in connections with the stock, together with
the means Of forging some parts d inc mount
ing. In addition 10 those machines herein re'
rcrrcd to. which il has been found Impossible 70
remove from the rife works at Harper's Ferry, it
is essential also that | should mention the TACT Of
the machinery generally being much broken in
its removal and transit to Richmond, naSmuc
as a large portion Of it was forwarded without
being boxed or packed. Somc machines arc
so ysey much broken AS to render 1t exceed
iurly doub;lnl whether they are worth The
expense Of repairing.
Tn.se machines must lie replaced and made
good FROM some source: ana, II al! The rifle
machinery is 10 be sent out Of the State, or
scuaratcd from the Whole, the State must incur
the cSpcusc OF constructing new machines,
which might, to Il great extent, be avoided II
the separation did not occur, to say nothing OF
The d,}sy that would necessarily result. !
am. therefore. compelled, to favorab!y consider
tho cspediency o! the State OF Virginia retain
ing all the machinery from l~larper's FerTy for
The Pichmnnd .Armory, with 4 view to the
carly ,,,naiciiur IL the set Of machinery
essential 10 the manufacture Of the RTE mus
ket. by drawing upon the rilla machinery for
s,;cl, machines. or parts Of machines, us may
be necessary to replace those missing or
broken pertaining to the rifle lnuSket, and
which will have the effect Of enabling this
arm 10 be turned ont much sooner in Rich.
mond than would otherwise be the case. In
tho meantime steps can DC taken, if desirable.
TO reulacc the machines thus borrowed
from the rifle; 50 that eventually the man
~ufac.ure OF both classes Of arms may be car
ricd on in this Armory to much better nd.
vantage than cen possibly be the case if Il sep.
ara,ion is made, particularly in view Of the
fact of 70 much oflhe machinery being used in
common for both. This leads Immediately TO
the consideration of tine question Of ro"m in the
Richmond Arnory fur The accommodation OF
all the machinery from Harprr's Ferry; and &c
this poin. ! will now address myself. quoting
facts as evidence Of tn. correctness OF my rep
reservations.
The best comparison I can make with refer
cncr 10 the rcouiremeu.s in this particular is
with the Enfield Rife Factory in England
which establishment | developed, and managed
during z period Of over five years, up to Ucto
Der last, =: which time tho production OF arms
sas 1T the rate Of one hundred thousand rifles
per annutn.
find. on reference to my notes, that thu
total area ofail the shops Of that establishment
containing machinery ami otherwise e~ssentia
to manufacturing purposes, ii very nearly rs,
900 square feet. This amount Of room | iount
sufficient to accommodate the means Of prOduc
ing loo, 600 rifles per annum. Tn total aTet
of the shops or the Richmnud Arnory will be
gAen the present building, in process o.! cree
ton, is completed. very nearly $1,000 square
feet. In order TO furnish additional ace >inmo
dation for machinery and complete the quad
ranglc Of Arrnory buildings, propost
to erect atwo story brick building at TIT
Southwest angle, now occupied by some DC
bsrrack buildings, which will add about $4,000
square feet Of floor room. In addition to This
| propose 20 occupy the site Ct the cid flour
mill at the back Of the Arnory, and erect
thereon 4 building 100 By 40 feet, iii which &c
place the machinery for railing barrels, &c,
making use OF tl" water privilege already ey.
is,in2 at this point. It will be necessary to erect
three additional water-Thesls in order to sup
Div the amount Of mo.ire power required hut
the canal will not require to be tapped ut anv
new point, rs the water will BE- used q second,
and in The CASE Of the barrel rolling mill, a
third time. the total area Of the -irmory
shops, with the proposed additions, will be
about 81, 900 square feet, which, when coin
pared with the requirements OF the Enfield
Factory, will g. once ne seen TO be quite ample
for the accommodation OF all the ~lIarper's
FcrrY machinery, which has heretofore pro.
duced not over Il, 0ln to Is. 900 arms cf both
kinds per nnnum, o. about one fifth Of The pro-
duct ol the Enti:ld Factory. As I have stated,
IN n former rtpGrt on THIS suhiec:, Inc expense
Of erecting the proposed additional buildings.
&C., will DC more t:lcn met by the saving OF
lurds resulting from the abroGat;o7 Of the
contrac. with Mcss:3. Joseph r. Anderson
& Co., Tor machinery, which will not noT
be wanted. I NAV with propriety, here OBJ.
serve. that some OF the machines commenced
by !Mtessrs. ,To*eph i. Anderson i Co,
on their Arno7y contract, arc Of the class
required now, in consequence Of the failure to
remove from, ~Elarper's Ferry the machines Of
the same description, and it will he well for
the State to come u some understanding with
Mcssrs. j. L. \. & Co, 20 lhR! the machines
they haze in progress may he rendered avail
able.
Another question OF mncls Importance to the
Richmond Arnory is one in relation to the
workmen lately employed at Harpcr's Ferry.
| have been counting upon supplying this ar
mory in this essential particular in part, 1t
least, from the workmcn at that Elacc but in
this have been greatly disappointed, in con-
sequence Of nearly the whole Of them following
the machinery transferred to Fayetteville, so
tina. | have had offers Of the services Of but a
very few of them, and those Of inferior
abilities. The result is that my hands arc
comparatively lied for the wan: Of suitable
woTklncn, as they cannot be obtained at The
time from any other source. New
workmcn can be educated to the business, but
at the cost of II considerable expenditure Of
by the workmen from l~Iarpcr's Ferry, in iustiG
cation Of their desire 10 pass By Richmond, is
that the expenses OF living are So high here.
This is, to a certain extent, acknowledged; bat
such fair and reasonable advance in their rates
Of wages us would hare met the case would haze
been conceded freely, [ an sure, and should
have recommended it strongly.
Bnt | fear tbs is not the only and Chief
Cause Influencing them in their determination.
The transfer Of the machinery to Fayetteville
has created Il demand in that quarter for tnc
services Of these men, and | do not doubt but
that they are oaly accepting the better offer OF
our competitors for their services, This would
not have been the case had Virginia retained
all the machinery and supplied her own wants
first. As it is, very great cmbaTrassments
will result in consequence Of these woTkmen
not being now available for tho Richmond
Armory as contemplated.
Respectfully submitting the foregoing re-
marks TO yourself, and to the honorable com
over whGm you preside, ard express.
the hope thai you will be induced thereby
to agree with re in the suggestions make,
the sole vicw Of promoting the welfare
md best interests OF the State,
have the honor 10 he. sir.