| From the Macon (Ga.) Telegraph |
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| May 1, 1862 |
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| Necessity the Mother of Invention |
| Down in the Southwestern Rail
Road Machine shops the other day, we found various manufactures in
progress, born with much labor of the necessitous condition of the
country. We found armorers at work making swords -- a great many of
which, of various patterns, have been forged and polished in these
shops. The artillery sword, a large number of which they are making
for the government, is in truth a most beautiful weapon of classical
shape, short and heavy, with brass mountings and handle. The pattern
of the sword was designed by Mr. Elfe, the ingenious Master Machinist,
and has been highly approved by the government. Besides these, swords
for all the other branches of service have been made in large numbers,
as also a great many pikes. Much trouble was experienced, many
experiments made, and a long time consumed in acquiring the art of
tempering these blades; but they have it now in perfection, and are
carrying on the business of manufacturing tools of all kinds for their
road. They were making a lot of augurs at the time of our visit, and
informed us that the superintendents of repairs reported their
domestic augurs worth in point of durability and effectiveness, double
as much as the old Northern tools, which were got up cheaply and of
inferior steel. Lastly, the Master Machinist, after much study and
experiment, had succeeded in making the composition for crucibles to
be used in melting brass, all the foreign crucibles having been
exhausted. As the reader is aware, the principal component of these
crucibles is black lead, the brass requiring so great a heat to fuse
it, that no metal can be used for a melting pot. Thus it is, that
difficulties develops the enterprise and ingenuity of a people. If the
war endures two or three years longer we shall know a good deal three
years longer we shall know a good deal more than we do now! Who doubts
that? |
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