Experiments in welding barrels by machinery, with rollers, are in progress. The shop and machine fixtures have been increased in value during the year $4,005 93. Buildings. The racks in the second story of the new arsenal have been completed, and will contain 92,176 muskets. The 66,981 percussion muskets which were temporarily stored in the east arsenal have been removed and placed in the racks. 24,000 of these arms have been cleaned and oiled. The slating and blinds for the new storehouse have been completed; also, inside shutters for one-half of the building. The ground floor, throughout its entire length, has been paved. The south filing-shop has been appropriated exclusively to percussioning flint arms, and the work heretofore done in this shop transferred to the machine and stocking-shops. The pattern-house has been arranged for a fire-engine and watch-house, and the east arsenal for storing patterns and stock in charge of the military storekeeper. The polishing shop has been much improved. By means of a fanblower and conductor, it is thoroughly ventilated and kept free from dust. The "old stores" on the east square have been sold and removed. Grounds. About 46,000 cubic yards of earth have been removed for filling ravines north of the new storehouse, and nearly 600 superficial yards of sodding have been laid. The side-walks on the north, south, and west of the square have been paved with flagging-stone, consuming 17,205 superficial feet. 28,175 feet of rough and dimension stone have been quarried during the year, at a cost of 13 cents per cubic foot. A picket fence 40 rods in length has been built for enclosing the yard in front of the new storehouse, and 54 rods of high board fence rebuilt and repaired on the north line. Street lamps have been erected around the principal square. The large reservoir north of the machine-shop is so far completed as to admit of being filled with water. It will contain over 700,000 gallons, affording an abundant supply of water in case of fire. HARPER'S FERRY ARMORY, COMMANDED BY MAJOR J. SYMINGTON. REPORT OF OPERATIONS AT THIS ARMORY DURING THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 1850. Small arms, &c., fabricated. 9,600 percussion muskets. 5,088 extra cones, for percussion muskets. 2,603 screw-drivers, for percussion muskets. 544 spring vices, for percussion muskets. 2,420 wipers, for percussion muskets. 366 ball screws, for percussion muskets. 14,325 components, assorted, for issue to other posts. 163 lock components, for issue to other posts. 2,676 percussion rifles. 4,701 extra cones, for percussion rifles. 2,989 screw-drivers, for percussion rifles. 5,046 wipers, for percussion rifles. 536 ball-screws, for percussion rifles. 140 bullet-moulds, conical, for percussion rifles. 31 bullet-moulds, round, for percussion rifles. 512 spring-vices, for percussion rifles. 1,983 components, assorted, for issue to other posts. I lock, for issue to other posts. 1,522 components, assorted, model of 1822, for issue to other posts. 200 ball-screws, model of 1822, for issue to other posts. 1,845 wipers, model of 1822, for issue to other posts. Altering flint lock muskets to percussion. 10,836 muskets altered to percussion. 34,502 cones fabricated. 41,580 screw-drivers fabricated. 75 barrels, model 1822, fabricated. Machines fabricated. 1 machine for cutting trigger-blades. 1 machine for drilling cones. 1 machine for drilling hammers-four spindles. 2 machines for turning rifle-barrels. 1 machine for second facing stocks. 1 machine for turning musket-barrels, partly completed. 1 machine for swift boring musket-barrels, double, partly completed 1 machine for turning flats and ovals, rifle-barrels, partly completed Machines purchased. 5 machines for cutting components. 2 portable forges. 3 regulators for water-wheels. 1 punching-press. 1 fly-press. 14 foot cast-iron turbine wheel and flume. Machines altered and improved. 1 machine for cutting bolts and nuts. 1 machine for drilling. 1 machine for tapping cones. 4 machines for drilling cones. 1 machine for cutting barrels. 1 machine lathe for wood-turning. 1 machine for first-turning stocks. 2 machines for second-turning stocks. 2 machines for milling breech-screws. 10 machines for cutting components. 1 machine for milling head of stocks. Machinery, &c., fabricated or put in operation. 126 feet main line of driving machinery. 1334 feet counter line of driving machinery, fabricated, and in operation in the new machine-shop, M. F. 55 feet counter-line, refitted in finishing-shop, M. F. 49 feet main-line 140 feet counter-line driving machinery, fabricated and ready for use at rifle-factory, for drilling and turning rifle-barrels, &c., extensively improved, together with pit-gearing; and 86 feet in length of cylindrical cast-iron fore-bay; and 25 inches diameter for same, laid and fitted, ready for use. 1 cast-iron turbine wheel, with cast-iron flume, placed in position, ready for use, in new tilt hammer shop, rifle factory; and stone forebay of heavy faced masonry, completed. Extensive repairs have been made on the large iron overshot-wheel at bell-shop, and to the old water-wheels generally and tilt-hammer machinery at both factories. Considerable repairs and additions have been made to tools in current service. Buildings, &c.-Musket-factory. 1st. The centre building and north wing of the new stocking and machine-shop, described in last annual report, when partially completed, has been finished. 2d. The new lumber-house, also described in last report, has been completed. 3d. The excavation, stone foundation, and brick-walls, with cut-stone coping, water-table, window and door sills of new tilt-hammer and barrel welding shop have been completed, and the roof is now being put on. This shop is 190 feet-long by 53 feet wide, of one story-floor to be laid with stone flagging, and roof (having a continuous ventilator along the ridge) to be covered with slate. The door and window frames are of cast iron. 4th. The front enclosing-wall of armory yard has been finished; its extent, about 340 linear feet. The gate front is built with piers and low panels, the upper part of the panels fitted with iron railing to the height of the piers. The remaining portion of the wall is of brick, solid, on stone founda. tion; the height of the enclosure, 9 feet; and walls coped with cut stone. 5th. A new polishing-shop has been erected, 40 by 22 feet, two stories high, of brick, on stone foundation, and covered with slate. This shop is built in connexion with the bell-shop and boring-mill, and covers the large iron overshot-wheel that drives in part the machinery in those two shops. 6th. A double annealing furnace and stack of brick-work, with castiron front, has been erected in one of the old smith shops; also, in the same shop, a new charring-furnace, with cast-iron cylinder. 7th. A number of permanent places of deposite for coal and other heavy articles, not liable to injury from weather, have been made under the su perstructure of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, by filling up with quarry rubble and flooring with rough boards. 8th. Various important improvements have been made in the interior arrangements of the shops, as well as extensive repairs to dwellings. Rifle-factory. 9th. The new tilt-hammer shop, 110 feet long by 35 feet wide, the centre projecting in the rear 14 feet, on a width of 354 feet, for office for foreman, has been put up. This building is one story, of brick, over a stone basement, with cut-stone water-table, steps, sills, and coping, cast iron door and window-frames, and covered with slate. This shop will be completed in a few weeks-the laying of the floor, paving the basement, and putting in the window-sash, being all that is required to finish it. 10th There has been a considerable amount of grading done on the grounds around the shops at the rifle-factory, rendered necessary by the unevenness of the surface, the old race-ways having to be filled up. WATERVLIET ARSENAL, COMMANDED BY BREVET LT. COL. R. L. BAKER. During the past year the following permanent improvements have been made at this arsenal, viz: 1st. A stone magazine 105 by 36 feet has been completed. 2d. One thousand and seven yards of stone wall have been constructed to enclose the new magazine-grounds. 3d. The north brick quarters have been repaired by new-slating the roof, removing the heavy centre chimney, putting in new partitions and ceiling, and erecting a hot-air furnace. 4th. A brick building 150 by 8 feet, one story high, has been built in rear of the hospital and quarters, to be used as coal and wood houses, water-closets, and wash-rooms. 5th. The hospital has been enlarged by the addition of the old barrackrooms, which have been newly floored and painted for wards. 6th. The low grounds north of the workshops have been raised three feet by filling in. 7th. The ground and slate rock near the new magazine and north quarters has been graded, and the interior roads leading to shops and magazines have received a dressing of stone. 8th. The percussion laboratory, brick arsenal, quarters, and workshops, have been painted, and all necessary repairs have been made to the several buildings requiring them. The principal work executed in the workshops since the last annual report consists of the following constructions, viz: 368 carriages and chasses, as follows: 32 32-pounder casemate chasses. 50 32 pounder barbette carriages. 6 6-pounder carriages. 2 prairie carriages. 60 24-pounder barbette carriages. 3 8-inch seacoast barbette carriages. 90 24-pounder flank-defence upper carriages. 2 stock-trail wagons. 1 hand-cart. 273 sets of irons for carriages, as follows: 30 sets for flank-defence carriages. 12 tire-bolts, nuts, and washers. 29 sponges and rammers. 5 worms and staves. 8 portable forges, with tools complete. 98 trail handspikes. 43 truck handspikes. 280 manœuvering handspikes. |