eans they will sometimes earn as much as one hundred and fifty dollars
per month, although this would be an extraordinary case. The average pay
in the dropping-department is about three dollars per day.

There are twenty-four simple and seven compound dropping-machines in
constant operation. Some of the pieces are pressed into shape under
these drops when cold,--this being the case with the triggers, which
were found to use up the dies too rapidly when they were swaged while
heated; but, as a general rule, the swaging is done while the piece is
at a red or white heat. The operations of the various dropping-machines
are exceedingly interesting, and the amount of labor they save is
perfectly marvellous.

A large number of men are kept constantly at work making dies for the
various pieces required.

When the pieces come out of the swaging-machines, they have more or less
of surplus metal about them, which is cut off or trimmed by passing them
through machines designed for this purpose.

The bayonet-blade is first forged under a trip-hammer, and then rolled
to the proper shape, by an operation similar to the barrel-rolling. The
socket is forged separately, and afterwards welded to the blade under a
trip-hammer. It is then passed twice under the drop, then milled and
polished, when it is ready for use. The ramrod is cut from steel rods
about the size required. It is then ground in the same manner as the
barrel, and the hammer is swaged on by two operations under the drop.
The screw-cutting and polishing are very simple, and executed with great
rapidity.

The cone-seating, like every other part of the work done upon the
musket, is very interesting. The barrel, after it comes from the
rolling-mill, is placed in a forge and heated to a white-heat. A small
square block of iron, cut under a trip-hammer to the proper size, is
also heated to a white-heat, and then welded to the barrel by half a
dozen strokes under the trip-hammer,--the whole operation occupying less
time than is required to describe it. An iron rod is meanwhile inserted
within the barrel to maintain the continuity of the bore.

The sights are struck in dies, and placed upon the barrel in slots cut
for the purpose. They are then brazed upon the barrel, pieces of brass
wire, half an inch long, being used for this purpose. Three men are
employed in brazing on the sights for the establishment.

The rolling, forging, and swaging rooms are all connected, and form,