18T 
lower part are the forges, and in the higher stories, workmen 
who use no fire in their work. In the working of iron I saW 
nothing new. The iron employed for barrels, comes from Ju¬ 
niata, in the state of Pennsylvania, and is in plates, of which 
each is calculated for one barrel. The steel is German, called 
Halbach’s steel, furnished by Mr. Halbach, of Philadelphia. 
Every gun must pass through one hundred and twenty hands 
before it is ready. A particular workman is appointed for every 
part and paid for it separately, when the work has been duly 
examined, and proved to be good. A skilful and diligent work¬ 
man can gain two dollars per day. When the workmen have 
prepared all the parts of a fire-lock, they deliver them to a man 
who examines, tries them, and puts them together. The barrels 
are turned by means of rings, which can be rendered smaller or 
larger. The machinery for making gun-stocks was the most 
interesting to me, because it was formerly a very laborious 
work. A piece of iron is screwed upon a piece of wood, which 
has been made in the form of a stock, at the place where the 
barrel is to be placed. After this the piece is screwed into the 
machinery ; in a parallel direction to it a piece of iron is screwed, 
having the same form that is to be given to the stock. The 
planing is performed by means of a wheel, to which are adapt¬ 
ed ledge-planes. The operation begins with the muzzle, and 
ends with the breech of the gun. The gun-stock moves together 
with the iron model, each round its axis, having a parallel direc¬ 
tion with the axis of a plain wheel of brass, which is rubbing on 
the iron model, and following all its prominences and cavities. 
This wheel is also put in motion and drawn towards the breech by 
means of an endless screw; during this motion it planes the gun- 
stock off, and gives it the proper form. This operation lasts six or 
seven minutes, and there is nothing to prevent it from turning at 
the same time another gun-stock on the other side. The gun- 
stock being duly formed, is taken out of the machinery, and 
another put in its place; then the iron piece is taken away from 
the turned gun-stock, it is fixed in a cramp, and applied to a 
bore-plane for making the groove to receive the barrel. 
This manufactory, and that of Springfield, the only ones be¬ 
longing to the government, furnishes at present in time of peace, 
fifteen thousand guns yearly. These guns are generally brown¬ 
ed by the process indicated by Dupin, also, the rings and bayo¬ 
nets, the last of which are kept bright by the British. 
Mr. Stubbersfield conducted me also to the arsenal, in which 
the finished muskets are delivered, and are either here preserved, 
or packed up in cases by twenty, and sent to other arsenals. In 
the interior of the arsenal, every thing is of wood, notwithstand¬ 
ing the great importance of being fire-proof, as it contains such 
