Connecticut western news., 1885-04-01
THIS IS NEW IN STEEL.
MAKING SIFGE GUNS OF THE WEIGHT
 OF FIELD HOwITZERS.
The IaKicsI Change that Is Wrought in the Character of Mild steel when It Is Pushed by R hIundrel Through n Die-SteeI MILK Cans.

Cans.
 Following the recent developments in the use of dynamite shells in common field cannon charged with powder, is a new departure in the manufacture of cannon. It comes from the apparently endless variety of uses made of mild, or Bessemer process steel, and is probably the most astonishing application yet made of that metal.
 In 1880, about the time mild steel came largely into the market, the presi- dent of company manufacturing seam- less brass and copper pipe concluded to try mild steel as a substitute in certain directions for the more expensive brass, copper, and other metals used in kis es- tablishment. The process of manufac- ture was simple. A plate of metal was placed over die and a mandrel forced the plate into it just as a lady might place a piece of tissue paper over her thimble and then force it in with her finger. The mandrel would force the metal into shape like deep bowl, with sides of uniform thickness. By repeating this process with other dies and man. drels, hydraulic presses being used to shove the mandrel through the die, the steel plate eventually became a steel tube of uniform thickness and perfect bore and circumference. The steel was found to work as easily as the brass or copper and no change of tools was nec- essary.
 As steel was cheaper than copper, the advantage of substituting drawn steel seamless tubes for brass or copper ones WAS manifest. But the saving in price was altogether the smallest gain. To the astonishment of those engaged in the experiment, the steel was found to have radically changed its character in the process. It went into the machine soft and pliable. It came out, although drawn cold, a beautifully tempered spring. If tube was compressed, il would instantly resume its shape when the pressure was removed. If struck with a hammer it rang like bell while tests of the increased strength oi the metal showed a change that was wonderful. To fully test its strength a 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 ar inch, and it then stood pressure of 600 pounds to the square inch, giving way when that limit was passed.
 After this and other tests the experi mentors began to wonder why a guI barrel could not be made of steel by thi process that would be superior to an, other. They first made a tube of sil inches bore and half an inch thickness of metal. This was drawn cold. Thel another was made of the same thicknes, of metal, and of a bore that would per nit it to be showed over the first one b, the hydraulic press when it was warmed the first remaining cold. A third wa then drawn over the two, and thus wa completed cannon. It was found ths it would stand water pressure of 75, 900 pounds to the square inch. Thi cannon has been sent to Sandy Hook and the officers of the artillery corp will try to burst it by the usual test applied to new cannon. They hay before them the astonishing spectacl of @ gun that will throw 8 soli shot weighing 100 pounds, although tn metal is only one inch and half thio around the powder. To people accuE toned to seeing the common cannon enormously thick at the breech, it vii seem incredible that an inch and a hal of this metal will serve the purpos better.
 It is well known that one cause of tn high price of Illuminating gas to tn consumer is the great quantity lost b leakage through the cast iron pipe used. In Pittsburgh it was found tha this leakage of the natural gas was s, great that serious and fatal explosion occurred. Every foot of the cast irol mains there has in consequence been or dered out. The great size of the Dor needed prevented the use of lap.welde wrought iron pipe, and the seamless pip of paper thickness will be used, its grea density being proof against any leakag of gas or liquid under any pressure. Tn tendency to corrode even under grouno is very small, but this objection to stee will be wholly obviated by coating either of tin or aluminium bronze with n and without. The steel pipe is no only better, but cheaper.
 Milk cans are being made of the ne1 steel tubing. The bottom is an eightl of an inch thick, and the sides abou one-fourth of an inch. The banging O the most vigorous Yankee cheese make or of the most reckless brakeman ol a milk train cannot dent them or seri ously iniure them.
 The experimenters have also turned their attention to clock springs, am they have found that the new process not only makes cheaper, but superio quality of spring. Just what chang the metal undergoes in this process O drawing has not been determined That it becomes fbrous is plain. Irol drawn out into wire becomes fbrou also, but it does not become tempered spring.
 Forces of England and Russia.