small fraction of ten
pounds.

Besides the finished muskets fabricated here, there are many parts of
foreign arms duplicated at these works, for the use of our armies in the
field,--the most numerous of which are parts for the Enfield rifle, and
for a German musket manufactured from machinery made after our patterns
and models.

In the arsenal there is a case of foreign arms, containing specimens
from nearly every nation in Europe. None among them, however, equal our
own in style or finish, while all of them--excepting the Enfield
rifle--are very inferior in every respect. The French arm comes next to
the English in point of excellence, while the Austrian is the poorest of
all.

There are three steam-engines in operation at the works on the hill, one
connected with the stocking-department, and two with the other
operations carried on here.

Twenty-five thousand dollars' worth of oil is used yearly in lubricating
the machinery, and the various pieces of iron and steel, as they are
being turned, bored, milled, broached, etc.

At the water-shops there are five miles of leather belting in use, while
at the works on the hill the quantity greatly exceeds this amount.

In this establishment there are employed at the present time, as already
remarked, twenty-six hundred workmen, who complete, on an average, about
one thousand muskets daily, and the works may be increased to almost any
extent,--a large square cast of the present works on the hill, and
belonging to the Government, being admirably situated for the
construction of additional shops.

This extensive manufactory is under the direction of a principal who is
styled Superintendent, and who has the chief management of the business
of the armory,--contracting for and purchasing all tools and materials
necessary for manufacturing arms, engaging the workmen, determining
their wages, and prescribing the necessary regulations for the local
government of the establishment. To aid him in the important duties of
the armory, there is allowed a master-armorer, who manages the
mechanical operations, and is held accountable for all stock and tools
put under his charge for the use of the armory, and for the proper
workmanship of the muskets,--also a paymaster and storekeeper, whose
duty it is to liquidate and pay all debts contracted for the armory by
the superintendent, and to receive the finished arms, for which he is
held accountable, as well as for all other public proper