The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1846-01-14

power. Should steam power be adopted, the mrs
cost Of the establishment would be less while III,
annual expenditure would be greater than for watel
power. As regards suitable location for foun.
dry, the great weight aud bulk Of the materials
used 10 the manufacture Of cannon, and the weight
Of heavy guns which are required for use only on
the seaboard, would seem TO demand that particular
Attentions should be given 20 the of transport
alton both TO and from the foundry"
| This, be IL remembered, was the condition Of the
country in l639-'40; yet needless Of the arguments
then so ably urged, and again reiterated by another
select committee so late as the third session Of the
9th Congress, (l643,) when also was given the re-
suits Of the observations made by the board Of Off
who were sent to Europe for the purpose Of ex-
aiming the foundries Of foreign countres-shutting
eyes ~ the experience Of the past we'll the
foreshadowed events of the future, year has fol-
lowed year, report has succeeded report, and while
all admit the policy, ay, and necessity Of making
timely preparation 10 meet those exgencies 10 which
Ill governments are liable, nothing, or comparatively
nothing, has been done; for by the report from the
Ordnance Department, submitted at the present ses-
sion, il will be that the number Of pieces OF
ordnance which the different Notifications piu re-
quire are as follows, yiz'
For works constructed 1888 pieces.
For works under construction 1892
For works projected, constituting
part Of the system Of fertilization 2,056 "
Total number of pieces 6,s76
"of these, there are already provided and on hand
al the forts and arsenas, including all, old and new
and ''haisDsr quality, pattern, dale, or place Of fab
rcaon, 4, 1876, Omilting such for peculiarly OF
pattern bad metal length Of service or other reason
not s6ieisni and safe for use, there will remain
2 900; leaving to be provided 1916, the cost Of
which will be about 81 500 000 emitting the guns
OF the last noticed works, 800 pieces cost $780,
400. The number Of carriages Of all kinds required
is the same as the number Of pieces Of ordnance.
There are already constructed and on hand, at the
forts and arsenas, 1879 carriages, leaving to be
constructed 5,497. The supply Of timber on hand,
and under contract to be delivered is sufficient for
the fabrication Of 1857 carriages. There conse-
quenuy still remains to be provided, timber for 8 GAO
carriages, (cost about 1918 000 in order to supply
the forhcatons constructed, under construction and
projected; emitting the last the supply required and
uhieh should be laid in al once. would be 5S4 car
rages; or considering the surplus which should al
ways be on hand, for repairs and replacing worn
out carriages, at least tcies the quantity zoe nop
hare. The cost Of this timber, delivered and stored
will be about Sl4O 900. The amount of tho alp
preparations for this object heretofore usually made
from year TO year, has been too limited to allow the
provision OF such a stock Of suitable material as
will insure the prompt and efficient meeting Of such
demands as an emergency may require" al
though not pertaining strictly to report Of opera
tons for the past fiscal year, may state, in evidence
Of the urgent necessity Of furnishing to enable
the department to proceed rapidly with the arma-
months, the engineer department has reported forts
ready to receive their armament to the amount of
636, heavy sea-coast guns; which are recommended
TO be msuned Without delay The carriages are vel
10 b. made for these forts, which among the most
important to our defence, including ssrtral for The
protection ofthe harbors Of New York and Bos tom
The report further states that minute inspection
Of the metal of iron guns IN depot and at the forts
has been made 10 er,snt under the supervision
Of the colonel OF ordance; and from the results OBJ
ained it will appear that, according classfca-
ton made In conformity with the experiments upon
579 guns, there were Of the
Is. class 10 a FOUNDERS 100 50 pounds 14nt FOUNDERS
Sd class - lW 10
These included in the first class are regarded a.
the best in the service. The guns of the second
class are, for the present. considered doubtful and
they reserved for further examination while
those Of the third class should be condemned a, unfit
for serrics"
Those experiments, be it remembered were made
at Fort Monroe the pride and boast of the country:
and if this is the condition Of the armament at one
OF the most important Notifications on our sea-board
how much worse, is there not reason TO fear it TO
be, at other points ~here less effort has been made
to provide for defence.
What the condition of our naval ordpanc. !. -,
the present time, l have not the m,-na of fnlIv
showing; but from information to be relied avon |,
is believed to be worse than it exhibited 4,
be in the elaborate report made by Commodore
Thomas APP Catesby Jones, some years since; GER
tain il is, that the amount of projectiles on hand
for the naval as well as land service, is very made
quate, when we consider the quantity which may
be required i'm a single seige. In the memorable
sege Of Gibraltar in l779, there fired from the
Spanish batteries and sun-boas less than 272 5S7
rounds of shot and shells; and in the attack on the
castle of ST. Juan de Uoa in 1888, the French fired
during the action, which lasted only six hours $50
shot and shells from ninety -four guns.
In the details of the report of the ordnance de-
partment the advantages resulting from the estab-
shment of national armores for the manufacture of
small arms is most conclusively shown. These ar
mores have not only been emnently successful in
supplying the country with arms, but also in i'm
proving the quality advancing the Of fabrication
and reducing the cost of manufacture; all of which,
it is believed has been owing the fact of these
establishments being under the management of faith
full public agents, and the direction Of scientific Off
GERS The same degree Of perfection and success,
could not have been attained by the divided efforts
limited means, and diversified interests of individ-
uals. Might we not expect similar and as highly
beneficial results in the improvement of the ma
terials, and in perfection of the fabrication of
cannon, if the government had foundries of it's
OWN The committee from whose able report
have already so largely extracted say "there is no
argument for the establishment of manufactures of
small arms which will not apply with greater force
10 the establishment of national foundry for the
fabrication of cannon and other ordnance"
In view of all these facts, considering the necessi-
ty Of prompt and immediate action, and referring to
the reports and documents themselves for stronger
arguments than any could advance, respectfully
call upon you, sir, in the name Of common
country, go in your efforts to prepare the ma
ton to preserve her honor as well maintain her
rights; and, the FIRST great measure for national
defence, to take immediate steps for the establish
ment Of TWO NATIONAL roUNpRIEs-one for the At
lanc seaboard and the other for the western coun-
try--to be located at such places as the Executive
shall select the most convenient, advantageous,
and suitable.
In another number propose to take brief view
Of the condition Of our navy, and offer for your con.
sderation some arguments in favor Of steam gun
boats for the defence Of our coast and harbors.
LOWNDES.