The Central Nevadan. [volume] (Battle Mountain, Nev.) 1885-1907, 1885-05-09
SOMETHING NEW.
Uses to Which Mild Steel can be
Put,


Following the recent Developments
in the uses OF dynamite shells in
common field cannon charged with
powder, is new departure IN the
manufacture OF cannon. 1t comes
from the apparently endless variety
of uses made OF mild, or Bessemer
process, steel, ana IL probably Inc
most astonishing application yet
made OF that metal.
In 1880, about the time mild steel
came largely into market, the Presi-
dent OF company manufacturing
seamless brass AMI copper pipe CON
cluded TO try mild steel as rub-
stitute in certain directions for the
more expensive brass, copper, and
other metals used In his establish
,nent. The process OF manufacture
was simple. A plate OF metal was
placed over a die and mandfel
forced the plate into 1t Just rs lady
might place piece OF tissue paper
over her thimble and then iorce 1t IN
with her finger. The nandte would
force the metal into shape Ike
deep bowl, with sides oi uniio III
thickness. By repeating tiis process
with other dies and mandrcls by"
drauiic presses being used to shove
the mandrel through the die, the
plate OF steel eventually becams q
steel tube OF uniform thickness and
perfect bore and circumference. The
steel was found to work as easily ~
the brass or copper, and no change
OF tools was necessary.
As steel was cheaper than copper,
the advantage OF substituting drawn
sieel seamless tubes for brass or cop
per ones was manifest. Bli the saw
ing in price was altogether the small
est gain. To the astonishment OF
those engaged in the experiment, the
steel was found 10 have radically
changed its character in the process.
IL went into the machine soft and
piable. 1t came ont, although drawn
cold, beautifully tempered spring
II tube was compressed, it wonld
instantly resume its shape when the
pressure was removed. II struck
with hammer it rang like bell,
while tests OF the increased strength
of the metal showed . change that
was wonderful. To fully test its
strength boiler OF the size and style
used beside every range in New York
flats was made from the steel by this
process. The metal of the boiler was
drawn out to thickness OF about one
thirtieth OF an inch, AMI it tlen stool
a pressure OF 600 pounds 10 the square
inch, giving way when that limit WAS
passed.
Alter this and other tests the ex-
perlmenters began 10 wonder why
gun barrel could not be made ot steel
by this process that would be super
ior to any other. They first made a
tube OF six inches bore aa3 ha I an
inch thickness OF metal. This was
drawn cold. Then another was male
OF the same thickness OF metal, AMI
OF bore that would permit II to be
showed over the first one by the hy-
draulic press when 1t was warmed,
the first remaining cold. y TIN q was
then drawn over the two, and thus
was completed a cannon. 1t was
found that 1t would stand q water
pressure ot 5000 pounds to the
square inch. This cannon has been
sent to Sandav Hook, and TIE oiiicers
OF the artillery corps will try 10 burst
1t by the usual tests applied TO new
cannon. They have before them the
astonishing spectacle ot a gun that
VIII throw solid shot weighing ioO
pounds, although the metal Is only
one inch and han timex around the
powder. To people accustomed 10
seeing The common cannon, enor,
mously thTk et the breach, 1t VIII
seem incredible that an inch and a
han oi TINS metal Will serve The pur-
pose better.
1t ls well known that one cause oil
tne high price OF Illuminating gas 10
the consumer IS the great quantity
lost by leakage throngil the cast iron
pipes used. IN pittsburgh 1t WAS
found that this leakage OF the natural
gas was so great tnat serions ana Ia
tai explosions occurred Every 1901
oil the cast-iton mans thefe mas IN
consequence been ordered out. Inc
great size OF the bore needed prevent