New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1863-06-26

The continued MANUFACTURE VI '"0 D" e''
anv other cast iron smootb-bore for use ID the navy
exoites the profound astoni'hment OF tue country
Oar moot eminent naval commanders, VINO nave
had an opportunity to use the rined gun nave gwen
their opinion against the smooth-bore. IL mss ooe"
condemned by our bet scieUtfc prohc!ents III gun
pery and prac ca gun manufacturers Inc eAPei'
epce of two years has been daily illustrating
the comparative worthessDess OF this kind Oh ofu'
nance. and experiments with other guns "inheu
and martial NJ thew have been in this country bu'
thorough and complete abroad, have been attended
NTH sncb .;onsl ,nccess as induce rapid change
in he n.va srmanepts Of chief European rivals
When then. the use of the old gun il obstinsetly
ne,ss,ed in in tho face OF these facts and In spite OF
;pte,iceDt remonstrauce can we wonder at tue
general aud growing dissatisfaction.
We do not propose 10 discuss scientifically or
elaborately the relative uerits Of the rifed and
smooth-bore, or of the wrought-iron and csst-iron
gun. TIE day has gone by for this discussion
R.fed wrougtt-irOn ordnance Las come he regarded
by all whose Opioious are authoritative rs the ndls
pens ,ble armament OF every nation which maintains
an amy aud navy-tne essential condition OF success
in war, and the only safeguard against inevitable
defeat. If in other respect it were superior 10
the smoolh-bore, It's longer raDgeat least one-tbiri
in guns of equal caib'r-gives it superiority
which, other t1Ings being equal mast turn the scale
In favor of tue nation which has the advantage OF
its use, ard would often enable an inferior force
successfi " TO compete with vastly superior which
had TO rely upon the Old gun. 1t Is quite apparent
that single vessel armed with rfied cannon might
&c, near enough TO a considerable fleet armed only
with smooth. boes to batter il to pieces, withou,
coming herself under fire, provided only that her
sailing qualities such as would enable her 10
maintain her relsiive distance; or that a laval
force With the improved ordnance, attacking fort
defended only by the common guns, would render
its reduction merely question of time, mourning
not the slightest danger IN the encounter.
Not only, however. in the extent OF its range, but
in the accuracy OF it's shot, is the red gun superior
to the suootb-bore. With the latter 10 success.
full result in this respect can be secured ANY I'M
perfection, however slight, OF tns shot Of the in
terror surface of tbs guu, cius detection OF the
shot from It's normal course With every discharge
of the riece enlargement OF the bore also takes
place, which gradually increases IN ii the windage
becomes great that the firing is very much al
random. In the ri0ed gun, however the effect Of
the wear 10 obvised by the construction Of the pro
iectie, the base OF which, being formed Of softer
metal. expand. aud stops the wi0dage. Coopera.
ting with this the double motion OF the shot
almost mathematical precision in the firing. The
advantage aceruug consists by no means in the ac-
Cursey of q slnsls shot, but in the fact that shots
continuous, or from dfsrent pieces, may be thrown
~ hit the same epot or Its Immediate proximity.
TIE third superiority of the Tifled gun over the
smooth b0re IL IN the destructive character 0flis
proleolie BY lite conics form, it secures greater
range from meeting less resistance In passing
through the air. 20 it does vastly greater execution
on reaching lite destination. This Ia important III H.
self but new element Of terrible dsstructiveness
10 introduced into the cotcal shot thrown by q rifrd
Cannon, wuich can newer be gwen 10 any projecife
thrown from smooth-bore, VIZ: that the shot,
When used az a she'll, eau be made 10 explode upon
infringement, and thus sfatter and denolish ss ii
enters the object fired al whether it be the side Of
ship or the wall Of fort.
In the three essential requisites OF good gun
the raed Is therefore iumeasurablv the superior.
ln length Of rang In accuracy Of shot, and 10 the
execution OF Its projectle, the oidiasioned, cum
beSoDe, uncertain aud ineffective smooth-bors can
bear no comparison with the new and improved
ordnance.
Bot il ia the indispensable condition of good and
effective rifed guu that IL should be made OF the
best material The strain upon IL from tie explo-
sive force required TO give It's prQjectle double
motion the loneitno al and the rotary rs such that
Ii fulfill every condition Of strength, both in
the character and guilty Of lts material, and IN the
mode Of its construction. Cast iron is compare
lively worthless for mpositoD a1d should lot be
tolerated low thai the mode OF its msDuiacture
Of wrought iron has Teen discovered. Before this
1t was q necessity.
Indeed cast iron is emphs'ically a base meta,
at least, where strength and reliance required.
1t is only sort of pottery, having no fibrous or
tenacious properties. Ieacherous, uncertain, gran-
ulOus and brittle, us cbeapuess lie tie only apology
for ito use. In ell the forus Of Its manufacture
utensils and implements, fixture and furnll ure fss-
teuing and hiLge-lt Is Continually breaking and
reqninng replacement. EoI ecially is il unfit Tor
cannon, III regard " which safety from exp!osou is
vital consideration. 1t has neither the requisite
degree uniformity of strength. And this defect
IL Lot remedied by increasing The szs OF the gun
for, beside that it thus becomes cumbersome and
uDwiedy, increase Of size does not give correspond
ing increase of strength. 10 a gun Of great thick
the Inferior Is expanded by the hest OF the Cls
charge. while the exterior is Unaffected by It, Con
sequenty the s,rau is Tot equally diiius,d and a.
the expansive force when reaching certain pOiul
must find vent, explosion ensu.s; IN which care
cast iron flee into fragments, while the wrought
iron gun if il should burst is rather torn than bro
ken. There is also ;sny in the cisl-iron gun.
Il may be tested by the requisite number charger
and at the next finn. explosion ensue. The differ
enc teweeD the two guns Is the sain; as between
cut Iaii and screw.
BroDz,, winch answers so we'll for the smooth
bore gun, fails tor The red as from the sottness o.
che metal The grooves are 80 worn as not to give the
reqnisd accuracy OF spiral uOtlOn 10 the prolecte
Cast-steel Is perhaps TIE best metal for small riiied
cannon bot process OF ts manufacture into heavy
ordnance bes as vet been discovered. Tue rlied
wroagbt-iron is made ia di,ren ways ana upon di-
trent principles, which it is not necessary 10 our
present OBJECT psrtcularize since upon any OF the
modes Of ito construction ii is superior 10 the com
mon gun
In speaking of the almost exclusive manufacture
of smooth bore guns for the navy 1t Is proper, per-
haps TO note tue exceptions. We understand that
q lumber OF guns have been manufactured by or
under the the superinteDdence Of the Bureau OF
Ordnance. This conservative body, under the pres
sure OF q pubic sentiment that it could not with
stand, iell compelled ~ make some move IN tho di