>?o, 124.] 45 



by which, at the same time, any given bevel is imparted to the timber, 

 while it is passing through the mill. This arrangement is based upon 

 mathematical principh'S. and by turning it upon ils bed by means of 

 a lever and screw, will give to the tiu.ber any amount of bevel, more 

 or less, with the greatest possible certainty and accuracy. The v;hole 

 forms a beautiful combination of the principles of science, with prac- 

 tical mechanical skill. 



The mill is simple in its construction, and can be managed in all 

 its parts by any judicious workman. His bevel will always enable 

 him to adjust readily the angle required, and his timber beino- laid 

 out for the required curve, he has only to direct the saw accordingly. 

 This invention is one, which your committee think will mark an 

 era in ship building. It is difficult, if not impossible, to estimate the 

 quantity of labor economized by the invention of the common saw- 

 mill, so various and vast are the purposes to which it is applied, and 

 its introduction into those departments of labor where the hand alone 

 was before available. Col. Hamilton's mill may be said to bear the 

 same relative value for crooked timber, as the common mill bears for 

 ordinary purposes. Its saving of labor, time, materials and expense, 

 entitle it to this rank. All the drudgery of toil and the employment 

 of time, which have hitherto been bestowed in sawing and hewino-by 

 the hand, are no longer required, and the economy of materials so 

 costly and valuable, is attained in its highest degree. 



Another advantage which should not be overlooked, is the greater 

 degree of strength and durability given to the timbers and p'ank after 

 being put together, when all these timbers and plank have been 

 sawed by the mill, inasmuch as they will have a more peifect rco-u- 

 larity of surface than the manual process could give them. Con- 

 structetl as ships aie, of timbers of the most varied dimensions and 

 iorms, and exposed as they are to strains so changeable in directions 

 and quantity, the compact and perfect adjustment of the surface?, 

 whetlier regular or angular, will afford a more effectual resistance to 

 the elements. The vliole fabric of the ship is then strenfjthened, as 

 any partial weakness does away the wholebenefit of general strenoth. 

 To the military and commercial rnaiine, this invention, as your com- 

 mittee believes, will take a high stand among the improvements of 

 modern times, and having seen one of these machines in practical 

 operation, sawing any given angle at any required bevel, there can 

 be no hesitation in strongly recommending the invention of Col. 

 Hamilton as well worthy tiie fostering care and attention of the 

 Inslitute. 



The same is respectfully submitted. 



GEOPxGE C. DE KAY, 

 MARTIN E. THOMPSON, 

 H. MEIGS, 

 T. B. STILLMAN, 



Committee. 

 ^''ew York, Oct. 23, 1843. 



