--Since the advent of the present war, 7th street, west of the Petersburg Railroad bridge, has become a place of much interest the buildings comprising the
Laboratory Department of the
Confederate States being located there.
A visit to these buildings is full of interest, for we can there get a good insight into the preparations which are being daily made to discomfit the invaders of our country.
In addition to a dozen large warehouses, used in preparing munitions of war, a village has sprung up on
Brown's Island, where over three hundred girls are daily employed.
A handsome bridge, constructed across
James river, leads to the
Island, across which is conveyed the ordnance stores to and from the storehouses.
The island, being owned by an alien enemy, will doubtless pass permanently into the possession of the
Government.
Work in all the houses is pushed forward with untiring vigor, the Sabbath sometimes, in cases of urgency, not being spared.
The Laboratory Department is divided into the following branches, viz: No. 1, for the manufacture of
percussion caps, friction primers, luxes, signal lights and rockets, war rockets, &c.; No. 2, for the manufacture of chemicals; No. 3, for the manufacture of small arm cartridges; No. 4, for fixing and packing artillery ammunition, the red boxes denoting case Shot, the black, shell; the olive, shot and canister, by which means the arch arise has no trouble on the battle-field in laying his hands on what he needs; No. 5, for sea-coast defence ammunition.
In this department may be seen some monster balls and shells, among which are some steel wedges, intended to bore through the
Monitor.
No. 6, for pistol and breech loading ammunition.
It is said that the works of the Confederate Government exceed in completeness and capability those of the
United States.
This state of affairs has only been brought about by the most persevering assiduity on the part of those entrusted with the important work of getting them up. The Laboratory Department is under the charge of
Capt. W. N. Smith, formerly in the employment of the
United States, who was called from
Washington by
Gen. Dimmock to establish a Laboratory Department for the States in
Richmond, and has been in the performance of the duties since February 1st, 1861. The State works were afterwards turned over to the
Government.
The State and Confederacy were badly off at first for ammunition or the means to make it. There were no buildings, tools, materials, or operatives.
At first a small number were employed, who were practically instructed until they could be entrusted with the completion of the work.
Next the Laboratory tools were gotten up, the department organized, and the number of operatives, as the necessity arose, increased to six hundred.--The works have never failed to respond to a call for ammunition, despite the disadvantages under which the
Superintendent has always labored.
