Condon globe. (Condon, Gilliam Co., Or.) 189?-1919, 1897-07-16
MORE SOLID THAN ROCK.
A New Plan to use Iron In For,
Wallis

The interest manifested In coast de-
fenses will be greatly enhanced when
the full scope OF the possibilities OF the
use OF iron in fort construction is fully
considered. 1t Is claimed by the In
ventor Of the new method, MIR. James
Acton Miller, OF New Haven, Conn,
that forts can be constructed by this
means, practically ndestructible and
at small part of the present cost.
A writer In the Army and Navy Jour
nal says that ordinary plate armor, ne
qulring supporting structures, Is not to
be considered for moment ON account
of cost, but in defenses OF the nature
here described, the fort Is made direct
ly where II rs to be used, and with n
very simple plant.
One very important feature Of this
Invention is the fact that almost any
kind OF metal that can be. melted may
be used as 1t Is a well-known fact that
mixtures OF scrap Iron run in ordinary
foundry practice makes very hard
casting, aud this Is to be desired, and
II Is thought by the inventor that only
small part OF new metal viii be re-
qulred for casting the body walls OF
forts and. for that matter, where great
haste is required, not sufficient time TO
procure new material, the entire fort
can be made out OF old material by sim
ply setting up plates OF any thickness
that may be got hold of conveniently
sufficient distance apart to keep the de-
sired thickness OF the wall, and these
plates ean be bolted together by means
Of running long bolts through iron pipes
cut Off the proper length TO hold the
plates apart, and the intervening space
between the plates can be filled loosely
by old WIRE long pieces Of scrap iron.
old pipes, rails, etc, or anything that
can be secured of the wrought metal
kind, then by banking up outside OF the
plates above mentioned, the cast metal
may be rum between the same, 80 as to
form solid wall re-enfomed with the
wrought metal before mentioned.
This construction Is not recommended
by the inventor, but Is simply mention
ed showing the innumeable ways OF
utilizing tin scraps. old cans, hoop
skirts, II they should ever come In FASH
Ion again and, In fact, almost anything
of the metal kind, either fusible or not,
in this manner Of fort building, but Il
Is the intention Of this ARTICLE TO de-
scribe the regular construction OF this
class of forts as above referred to. 1t
is necessary to have proper substruc-
ture, and 1t Is thought better to provide
foundation for the walls at suffi-
cient depth below the ground to avoid
any possibility Of projectiles piercing
below the iron walls, and to guard
against this 1t might be well to cast a
wall Of iron, few feet outside OF the
regular wall, with view OF making Il
stop for projectiles that might strike
into the embankment around the fort
or the ground surrounding the founda-
tion, and under this head It Is thought
better to cast a number OF walls formed
largely OF this scrap material, cast 50
as to defect the projectile downward,
aud II will be seen that when the outer
wall is struck by low shot the project
lie will be detected downward and the
force weakened; this increases as II
comes through a bed Of sand to the
next wall, which increases the defiec-
tion, until Its force Is spent.
After the foundation is provided 1t is
desirable to cast a floor right where II
is TO be used, having supports of brick,
stone or iron work, In addition to the
regular ground formation under the
floor, and providing for tracks for hand
hing the guns, ammunition, ETC., inside
the fort, also for pillars to support the
overhead roof where required.
The material recommended for use
as superstructure Is channel and Il
beams, and these are cut In lengths and
used either straight or bent as the
shape OF the iron work demands, first
having the web punched through with
large holes, say three inches in diam
eter, to allow the cast metal to inter-
lock when run through the framework
OF the fort, but before the superstruc-
ture Is put In place all wrought parts
around which metal Is to be run should
be timed, so that the cast iron win be
united with the beams In such manner
as TO be practically inseparable, as It Is
well-known fact that the use Of tin
with cast iron hardens and toughens
the same by chemical action so as TO
make It almost am hmpossbllity to drill
or break the casting.