Ta-ign, Director of the Kiamgnsn Arsenal, she members of the Shanghvi Society. of Engineers and Architects were enabled to pay a visit on Saturday last, the 2nd inst., to that extensive and well-equipped establishment, and observe in aillts states the evolution of x great gun. About fifty gentlemen, all of whom, with two or three ceptions, were members of the Suciety, ailed themselves of what was unques-ably a unique opportunity forthe inspec-ion of a Fictory ut uncommon interest and the vast. complicated and jealous y guarded industry therein pursued: At 12 Yeluck a speci tutin was provided for the party at the Suanghai ub after which, ander the leaders p of Mr. A. P. Wood, who -as succeded Mr, G. James Morrison m the Presidency of the Society, and Mr.
H. Godfrey, Hou. Secretary, the excursionists proceeded on board a number of ge and powerful steam-nunches, which Me-srs, S.C. Furnham, Boyd & Ca., with he liberality which has aways be-n charac-eristic of the munazemen: of thit firm, had very kindly pl.c-d at the disposal of she Society forthe purpose sot thelittleexpedition, These lunches were moored to the Canton Road jetty whence, shortly after one o'clock, 3 Sturt was wade up River. The Hide was strong flood and the trip was therefore a remark bly fast one, the Arsenal being teache in alittle more than half-an-hour after 1 aving the jetty. The afternoon, unfortunately, was et and misty, but notwithstanding this drawback, everyone enj yel the run up-River very wuech, and was deeply interested in the junk life, s-me what more than a impose of wich was ubtrined abreast the native city, in the work in progress ab Tungksdoo Dock, in the gunboats, and in all the other things that usually engage the attention of those who make an excursion on the busy Huangpu. Arrived at the entrance to the Arsenal Dock, close to which was moored one of the old Foochow built cruisers, which is now used asa training ship for the Peiyang squadron, and which was undergoing repairs, the excursionists were received and very cordially greeted by Mr. Bunt, the Superintendent of the Stee! Works and Euxin: ering Department, who, huvine bid-den the visitors must hearty welcome, proceeded to conduct them over the estublishment and exp ain the nature of the works in progress. As the party walked along the Duck, which is one of the oldest in Shang hai, very f.vourable comment was expressed upon the admirable condition in which it is sept and particularly upon its absolute Irynesx, arguing a nicety of adjustment with regard to the cofferdam which spanks volumes for the engineering ski involved its construc ion and care devoted to its maintenance, place visited was the shop are situate! the titanic Siemens furnaces employed in the manufacture of steel in bulk. Here the visitors were joined by Mr. N. E, Cornish, Superintendent of the Ordnance and Projectile Departments, who supplemented all that Mr, Bunt hind said by way of welcome by many kind expressions of greeting. Mr, Bunt ined that preparations had been mide for a big casting of steel for the xprci benefit of the guests, and told them in language not too technical for the unprofessional understanding a great deal about the different grades of steel, the mild steel, and gun steel, of which heavy ordnance is made, and steel of many 0 varieties used at the Arsenal, describing the different processes e.nployed 10 obtain th" respectiv kinds and going into much detail about the proportion of manganese in each, the tensile strength, ductility and other ime resting puticulars, The workmen were jus about to cast sixteen tons of steel "into ingots weighing a ten, a ton-and-a-half and two tons, and Mr. Bunt inf rined the visitors that this tremendous mass of metal lind all been made from native iron, the produce of the Hunan mines, and tha in ths matt-r of raw material at least, Ciinn was quite independent of the out side world for her supply of arms. The temperature of the furnaces over which tthe steel was melted was 3,000 degree Fahrenheit. All being ready an adjournment ws made to the casting: pir, in whic a long row of moulds fr the ingo s was placed ready for the recep ion of the molten meta, and a a word from Mr, Bunt the furnace was tapped by means of a long steel rod, ey raled bya yung of workmen after the manner of an ancient bettering ram, and the living stream of liquid fiery meal issued forth into the vast cauldron prepared for it. The scene at this part of the proceedings was a highly picturesque and impressive one; the murky
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.