Connecticut western news., 1871-08-25
AMEs IRON WORKS.

in whatever direction you will, you arc sure to meet with graduate of this es- tablshment, for they are to be found in nearly every iron works in the country. Some of them having amassed small for tune, have settled on the rich farming lands of the far west. Others have been led to seek their fortunes in the gold mines of California, and even in Australia can be found the workers of Salisbury iron. Wher- ever the NEWS finds one of these wanderers, he will read with interest whatever relates to this, his old home. The days of his apprenticeship can never be forgotten, some having served nearly quarter of century. Now while the closing up of this far famed establishment is fresh in the minds of your readers, it may be of interest to them to know the origin and history of gun making here.
 For several years previous to 1861, this establishment was devoted to the manu- fracture of locomotive tires, cranks, car axles and steam boat shafting; working two setts of hands, day and night, and giving imployment to 25O or 300 men, making pretty lively times, as the company were disbursing nearly $5000 monthly, and as our merchants can give ample testimony. The decline of business here began about 1856, partly owing to large Importations of English iron at reduced prices. For four years the company struggled manfully to compete with it. but English low priced labor proved too much for them. Run ming the works only part of the time, the men had sought labor In other fields until there was scarcely working gang left. During the winter or spring of 1861, about the time of the breaking out of the Rebellion, MT. Patrick Danvers, mechanic from New York, came here with the plan of a wrought iron gun, he having made and tested one on this plan, which proved of great strength and endurance. Mr. Ames caught the idea, and immediately set about making preparations for the manu- fracture of 80 pounder. In the mean time, MT. Danvers applied, and obtained patents, not for a gun made up of rings as many suppose, for that had been granted to Professor Treadwell of Cambridge Uni versity some years before, but on the man. ner of putting together such rings, which was by horizontal hammer or steam ram I; Treadwells' guns having been welded by hydraulic pressure. The first gun, 30 pounder was begun the summer of 1861, and when partly finished, they (Messrs. Ames & Danver, for they were working coujointly,) had so far matured their plans for another and larger gun, and being somewhat encouraged by the government, gave it up and commenced on the first or der for six 50 pounders.
 The army and navy officers looked upon the enterprise with distrust, as they invari- ably do upon every thing not originating within themselves, nevertheless MT. Ames, with that tenacity of purpose for which he was noted. laboring under great disadvan' tages, fighting and overcoming all obstacles, performed the herculean task of making and perfecting ready to be transported to the seat of war, five wrought iron guns in 1862, in little less than year from the commencement. At this time, having be. come somewhat embarrassed in his finan. cial affairs, the property, including the guns, passed into the hands of the receivers. Subsequently the guns were taken to Wash ington and partly tested but afterwards lost among the de6ris of war. From these he received but little benefit. From that time till the fall of 1868 the works were idle. MT. Ames remained in Washington earnestly pleading his cause, until the fall of 1868, when he succeeded in obtaining the signature of President Lincoln to an order for fifteen l50 pounders. Once more business revived and the ring of the anvil and steam whistle was heard through oul l village. The first gun of this lot was fin ished in the summer of 1864, taken t. Bridgeport and subjected to the severe test If firing over 700 times, with from 20 tO 30 pounds cf powder, and pronounced by the naval and military board, success, u n which decision depended the order for the manufacture of the rest. The or. der was filled, accepted, and paid for, except the two that burst during proof, and was followed by the order for the eleven 100 pounders that have lately been proved. In the summer of 1865, MT. Ames, having taken out patents in his own name in England and France, visited those countries and also Prussia, with a view ot selling his guns or the right to manufacture, | oE 1oh ss, countries, enabling them to make guns much cheaper than eau be made here, he accomplished but little aside from gaining some information relating to the manufac- ture of guns. Mir. Ames labored inces. sanity to establish this system of making heavy ordnance, but the government gave him but little encouragement, although they had the benefits of all the experiments, still acknowledging them t" be superior gun and just what was needed, and am firm in the belief that the day will c, me, when this country's battles will be won, by the aid of the "Ames wrought iron gun. " Mir. Ames returned from Washington in tue fall of 1870, broken down in body, but not in spirit, still sanguine of success even to the hour of bis death, which occurred the 2sth If Jan. 1871, in his 65th year. With his death also passed out of existance the "Ames iron works" CLARIo. [We have received from another cores. pendent, 8 most interesting description of the peculiar process of manufacturing these guns, also the steel lined guns, which are now finished and remain in the 'works, ." ready for the government test of 1000 charges, soon to be given to one of them, in Falls Village. We expect to have space for this communication in g week or two. ED. NEws.1
 Daring Burglary and Robbery fin