--There is no subject to which we allude with more pleasure than the accumulating evidences of the superior skill of our machanies.
In point of local ingenuity, we think
Richmond is able to compete with any of her sister cities, and is to all intents and purposes independent of the
North.
We saw yesterday at the foundry of the Messrs.
Talbott, two beautiful
steam engines, just completed for the
Confederate States rifleworks at
Fayetteville, North Carolina.
Their capacity is seventy-five horse power each.
They are superior in design and finish, even to the minutest portion.
The mirror-like polish of the steel and brass work imparts to the intrisate machinery an appearance which no one can survey without expressions of admiration.
The pedestals are made of cast-iron, which is a decided improvement upon the fashion of mounting an engine upon a wall of brick.
There are four boilers, each thirty-three feet in length and forty inches diameter, with two return flues, thirteen inches diameter.
These have iron fronts, steam and water gauges, and all the modern improvements.
The whole will be shipped for
Fayetteville by the last of this week.
