Baltimore daily commercial. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1865-1867, 1865-10-26

ward yesterday our attention was suddenly arrested
by the large pile of bricks and mortar known ~ tbe
Merchants Shot Tower" at the corner of Favettc
and Front streets, and being seized with an irresist
Bile desire to know the height Of the structure and its
other dimensions, we made our way to the main en-
trance Front street. and quite regardless of the
'posiigeiy adnihoace" posted on the door, pushed
on through score of workmen, to the Office where
we were c0urteOusly received bya gentleman. whom
we subsequently learned was Mr.. Henry D. Harvey
President of the Company
Mr.. II. being unable TO CRAFTY our inquiring mrd,
referred to the Secretary Mr.. Richard Kemp. but
that gentleman being absent our curiosity could not
be satisfied then and there. We determined how
ever, TO turn our visit to some practical account
and give an account of the process of shot max
ing, one of the most interesting of manufactures
Few people have any definine knowledge of how
shot are made the idea, ndstinct one which most
persons have being of huge and lofty tower
through which melted lead falls into water pits at the
bottom
Stepping from the office, We passed through great
barcades of shot in bags in the sale ROOM into the
tower, where one of the workmen, who had been for
years in the establishment. informed us that the
tower two hundred and fifty feet high and abopt
eighty ninety feet in circumference at the base.
the walls for considerable height being about five
feet thick. Being built upon a rock it is very solid
At the bottom three wells of cold water the sum
nit being entirely devoted to the melting machinery
the pan seve through which the shot falls being
situated in the centre, and quite small say foot and
a half in diameter.
By means of an endless iron chain, very thick and
heavy, passing rollers ut the bottom and top of
the tower, the lead in pigs bars weighing from 50
to $50 lbs, is conveyed to the summit, and there
melted. Before being poured into the pan it is mixed
with crude arsenic to prevent oXydizaton. With
ladies it is then dipped into the pan and the molten
shower begins. Great has tc be observed in keep
ing precise quantity of the metal in the pan that
the tide may be uniform.
Passing over a certain mark the workman hastily
dips out the overflow otherwise the extra pressure
would make it run. 1t sometimes happens that
much of the lead in passing through the holes of the
seive out in elongated drops, in the same way
as the dripping of water, thus causing great deal
of imperfect shot, which is still further increased by
the soft shot touching each other when but short
way down. and adherng together.
Towards the base of the the fall of lead bears
precise resemblance to an ordinary shower bath
but any one holding his hand within the leaden
shower will be speedily convinced that with the APP
pearance above noted the eresemblanceceases Lead
en- hail. rain of bullets, storm oflead were f;-
yorite expressions with the late correspondents,
and their accounts of bat ties plentifully inter
larded with them. but thlC these (stcreotypedl
phrases were the height of hyperbole would be
quickly demonstrated by Il view of the actual lcaden
showers to be witnessed at shot tower for certainly
no body of men could remain standing against them
for the space of five minutes.
Now and then some struggling drops shoot off to
one side and are fattened they strike the walls
machinery, as though beaten out with a hammer
When the lead is falling all the doors below tight
ly closed, as the slightest cold besides chilling the
material before reaching the water has the effect of
driving the column the floor to the injury of the
workmen. Standing the ground floor, the shot
can be and heard falling and kissing into the
wells beneath, the water of which is splashed up
high. it receives tic IRVING seething rain.
From the wells the shot is transferred TO 4 drying
machine whence, after being lightly rolled about,
and after being thoroughly dried, it is passed into
large revolving barrels coated with black lead and
polished From this apparatus the shot is projected
bright and shining beads of glass.
The next process separates the imperfect from the
perfect shot This consists OF long inclined plane,
with several breaks or openings The round perfect
shot in rolling down this plane, leap the opening,
while the imperfect ones. not having the same mo
mentum, fall through, and are gathered up to be
melted again.
BY means Of chest Of scveS graded from coarse to
ire which arc worked by hand. the different sizes
separated from each other The various sizes are
then thrown into boxes, and thence transferred to
bags by boys who prepare them for shipment.
BBB o, Gu, 900. The B's and rs are mostly buck
shot l. and shot are used for shooting squirrels,
rabbits ducks and wild pigeons; 4, D. s. = partridge
and other game Of like size; $ 9. To- II, T. fine
shot used for small birds and shooting mt marks
larger sized shot dropped at this tower than III
any other establishment in existence The shot nanu-
actured by the Merchants Shot Tower Company are
said to be the finest in the country and is the
demand present that they unable to fill their
IL. III, l,,.v,
now very brisk. and more shot being shipped at
the present time than there has been for number of
years.
Some years ago the fall Of large lead tore
away several of the lower platforms in this Tower
and they were rebuilt. not being absolutely
required The ascent Is made part way by means Of
ladders, that he who would visit the summit Of
this Tower must know how to climb and be possessed
of a strong nerve.
1t may not be aTniss to state here the manner in
which the making of shot was first discovered An
old church in remote portion Of England, which had
leaden roof, required repairing. The sexton. to
the parish expense, undertook the job himself.
Melting a kettle of lead, lie carried it to the top of
the Stcepe, hut had his trouble for nothing. the
metal hardened before he got half way. lie then
carried up furnace, which he melted the lead,
but being somewhat clumsy, he overturned the ket-
tie, when the molten mass fell into water which
was standing ON the ground floor. The old mans
wife put her hand into the bucket and drew forth a
quantity of little round particles Of lead, of which
she notified him. Upon coming down, the old man
became cxstatic with JOY, declaring that he had found
out how to make shot and he could henccorth enjoy
himself in hunting to the fullest extent. For years
it is said he suucptousy used the church tower as
shot tower, keeping himself and friends supplied
with shot.
Tue INDIVIDUAL ENTERPRISE STEAMBOAT COMPANY
The that has attended this enterprsng Steam
boat Company has caused general Quitting of the
entire line with additional facilities for transporta-
tion including the latest improvements in the way
state rooms sleeping apartments etc. for the
modation Of the travelling public. As has been pre-
viousy announced the large and commodious steamer
Long Island, formerly in Government employ, has
| been purchased for this line and has been en-
| tireIy remodeed and improved, making one of the
handsomeSt. well as most durable steamers plying
in waters. According to old act Of Congress
| no steamer after being registered could have
| her changed for any other except by special
application to Congress; but at the last session il
enacted that the name of any vessel that had been
| the employ of the United States Government, could
by the purchasers thereof be changed, without any
special application. The Long Island will hereafter
bear the name of one of the efficient officers of the
| company. Samuel J. Pentz." The following is &
| description of the new steamer-2G0 feet in length
with 80 feet BEAM and so feet ALI and propelled
! by 46-nch cylinder low pressure engine, with l.
feet stroke together with 80 foot wheel. This beau
| ful and well built steamer will be ready for sea IN
about 90 days. and will be Of the most attractive
and fastest vessels in the Chesapeake bay She vii
| run between this port. Oxford and Cambridge.
The Samuel j. Pcntz" is now lying at the ship yarl
| of Messrs. Skinner & Son. by whom she has been re
| fitted: the shin n-joners work was done by Mr. Wm
| Wartham and the mechanical part by MessTs. Ciart
Co., Peoples Works, city yard, all under the super
| ntendencc of Thomas Roberts ESQ, general mechan
cal superintendent of the line. The steamer Kent
also of the same line,-and which it will be renem
bered was run into some weeks since by the "Georg
| Appod' and sunk having been raised, is also hein
entirely reltied and repaired by Messrs. Hazcn Co
and will after thorough renovation, be ready 70
sea again in about two weeks. The Massachusetts,
of the same line has also been thoroughly oyerhaule
| by McsSrS. Ila2en x Co., and made one Of the hes
! steamers on the line, containing state rooms an
sleeping apartments for the accommodation of abou
one hundred and fifty passengers new boiler Is t
be added to the Massachusetts,
Both the Massachusetts, and Kent will he ready io
the winter route. The Pioneer is also To be re
built and rehullel ready for the opening Of til
fprng trade. The steamers Champion and lligl
land Light now form the line between this city an
| points on the Eastern and Western Shores. The
| steamers will also during the winter undergo tho