44 [Senate 



breech pin wilh large head, fitting closely and put in through the 

 barrel, to facilitate an examination of the interior. 



The forgers of this immense engine'of destruction, deserve, in the 

 opinion of your committee, great credit for the able manner in which 

 they have executed their task. 



All of which is respectfully submitted. 



GEORGE C. DE KAY, 

 HENRY MEIGS, 

 MARTIN E. THOMPSON, 

 T, B. STILLMAN, 



Committee- 

 JTcw-York, Oct 21, 1843. 



Report on Hamilton's Saw-Mill for cutting Curved Lines and! 

 beveling Timber 



The special committee directed to examine a Steam Saw-Mill for 

 cutting curved lines and bevelling timber, at the same time respectfully 

 report: — 



That they have examined in conjunction with other gentlemen* 

 Col. James Hamilton's mill for sawing ship timber, having for its 

 object facility of construction in naval architecture which has long 

 been desired, and the attainment of which has challengt-d the highest 

 mechanical skill both in Europe anil America, hitherto without suc- 

 cess. 



Your committee believe that within a few years there has been a 

 spirit of enquiry abroad respecting ship buihiing, which no antece- 

 dent period has exhibited, and its advancement has been proportion- 

 ate. This spirit had its impulse from the late wars of England with 

 her continental neighbors, and has since been fostered more particu- 

 larly, by the rivalry for maritime superiority of the great leading naval 

 and commercial powers of the present day. The dock-yards of both 

 France and England, as well as our own, have sought diligently, for 

 means of effecting the necessary curvature of ship timber by ma- 

 chinery, and in such a manner as that the natural form of the tree might 

 be followed by the saw, and not interfere with, or cut the grain. 

 After all the experiments that have been made, straight sawing only 

 has been found practicable, and that with any degree of advantage 

 upon straight timber alone, as the common saw will cut the grain of 

 crooked timber, and thus weaken it. Col. Hamilton's mill h«s obvi- 

 ated the difficulties which have been, hitherto, insurmountable, and 

 by a combination of mechanical principles, will saw crooked timber, 

 and give it any required curvature; at the same time the saw is made 

 to follow the mark or mould upon the tree, leaving its native strength 

 unimpaired. This is performed with as much facility and precision, 

 and in nearly the same space of time, that the common mill will saw 

 a straight line in timber of the same dimensions. United with this 

 ability to give any required curvature, is a mechanical arrangement 



