The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-09
How Shot urc Made,

SAW RAANN - sNhHNN
Passing a few days since through that
dingy, smoky, and not altogether clean
" northern portion Of tho city Of ST.
Louis which lies near the river, l en-
countered u lofty stack OF brick and
mortar, which, on inquiry, | asCertained
to DO the tower Of tho st. Louis Shot
Works, l had often had occasion to use
shot OF various denominations, in the
prosecution OF small game, hut knewno'
thing ofthe process OF manufacture, be.
yond vague idea that the molten lead
was dropped from q height, and in 0bodi'
ence to the law OF cohesive attraction,
assumed q spherical form in the descent.
It occurred TO me that this was probably
the best opportunity I would ever have
to acquire knowledge ol the shot bust,
ness, and accordingly presented myself
at tue office and asked Tor permission to
look through the establishment. The
Superintendent, u muscular looking gen
tlemau, with iron gray side whiskers and
Butlerihn eye, took my card, aud cOur-
teously accorded permission, provided
would keep out Of the way Of the work
men. "You had better go 10 the top
first, said hc. So / started for the top
climbing dark spiral staircase and heSi-
Eating at each turn for fear Of pitching
of into space, or walking into the jaws
of machinery. There was rush and q
roar like that OF Nagarn, the noise being
produced, US I afterwards discovered so
soon As my eyes accommodated them.
selves to the dim light, by the descent
OF two streams OF shot into q great tank
Of water ut the bottom Of the tower,
The ascent was tiresome, the distance
being 1856 feet, but the top was finally
reached, and the first stage Of shot maxi
ing was M open book. There was fur.
mace, three kettles Of molten lead, and
two Erhny workmen ladling it outof the
kettles, and pouring it out into tin cups
set in frying pans, portion Of tho metal
being allowed to run over from the cups
into the pans. As each vessel was FILED
the metal was seen to snk away, SO that
by the time the workmen got another
ladle full ready to pour in, the cup and
pan wero nearly empty the bottom OF
tho cups and and pans being perforated
like Stoves. The globulCB formed in
passing through the sieve are uniform in
size, In tho two streams which are seen
descending are pellets Of all sizes, aud
the asserting is done after tho shot is
taken out OF tho tank. After falling in
tho TANK the shot nrC' taken up Ivy con.
trivance similar to those in grain elnve-
tors, aud are passed into circular re-
volving tube, or hopper, heated b. steam
for the purpose Of drying. After being
dried they arc placed in Il revolving iron
barrel, little emery being put in with
each barrel full, for the purpose Of i'm
parting polish, The next business on
hand is the asserting OF sizes. the shot
arc conveyed TO series Of machines,
looking something like n job printers
cabinet Of cases, each rack containing n
series Of sleeves representing the different
sizes Of the shot. These rclis are shov.
ed violently forward mud back by the
steam. thus forcing tho smaller shot
through the various sleeves. The larger
nre stopped by the first sieve, while the
| uut blll buObl Nnth " nuOAAVNiNh 81
quail and snipe shooting, pass on to the
last. After sufficient amount Of shak-
ing tho wolkmen in charge stops tic
machine, takes out the draws, two ut u
time, and empties their contents into the
bins prepared for them. Tho next OPP.
Grafton Is that OF weighing and bagging
the shot. Tho scale is set tat twenty-five
pounds, and tho workman, expert by
reason Of long practice, scoops ont what
he thinks will be enough aud pours into
the scale. Scrupulous honesty seems to
be the rule in bagging. There must he
just twenty-five pounds-not the weight
Of a hair more or less. The workman
vino scoops the shot usually gness0s
within few pellets Of the weight, and
these arc added and subtrnCted until the
beam is on evonpoise. AftcrN sufficient
number OF bags arc filled, along comes
another workman with sailmaker's
needle, WHO sews up the loose ends with
astonishing dexterity, and the shot are
ready for market.