300 Miscellaneous Intelligence. 
the gun-mould could be seen the boiling metal slowly rising toward the 
top. The moisture of the sand yielded up its hydrogen: the rope fur- 
nished carbonic oxyd; and the sticks with which the surface of the metal 
a 
perature of 36° F, had been admitted to the core-barrel before tapping 
the furnaces, and it then left at the same temperature, the flow being 30 
gallons per minute. At 1254547, the mould was full and the flow from 
the furnaces was stopped ; the entire time of casting being 214 minutes. 
At this instant, the water left the core barrel at 42°. At 4™ thereafter 
52°; 8™- 654°; 14™—814; 25m~91°; and at 30™-913°, One hour 
after casting, this flow of water was increased to 60 gallons per minute, 
t two o’clock a collar was put on the flask and more metal was added 
to increase the length of the ‘sinking head.’ More effectually to retard 
external cooling, grate bars were placed near the bottom of the pit, 
around the flask, and the fire on them was lighted at 3% o'clock. The 
uously through at the rate of 2000 cubic feet per minute. This air com- 
menced to flow at 24 57™ on the 12th, and continued uninterruptedly 
until the gun was cold. On the 19th at 35 30™ p, m. the air issued at the 
temperature of 70°F, the fire in the pit having been extinguished the 
night previous. On the 23d, the gun was stripped; i.e., the flask was 
top. But in removal it fractured across the spongy portion, about 
- inches from the exterior. So that of the thickness of the gun 144 inches, 
was therefore continued until the 25th. Then by means of two immense 
steam cranes, this huge gun, weighing 86 tons, was lifted from its pit, and 
prepared for the lathe. The casting was perfect. All these facts, there 
re, indicate that 20-inch guns are as easily made as 15-inch. tal 
The dimensions of this gun when finished will be as follows ae 
men could load it as easily as five now load the 15-inch gun. 
mentioned, in crushing 
the sides of a2 
