The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1853-12-18


with instructions to locate and mark the line Of tia
road speedily as possible and 80 to direct his ope
rations as to secure practicable wagon road for the
benefit of the fall emigration and other travel The
commencement Of one Of these works was delayed by
the difficulty with the Rogue River Indians; but .
contract was made for rendering the other from
Walla Walla to Steilacom, passable by the 18th Of
October last and it is presumed its conditions have
been fulfilled.
By the Sd section Of the law approved March 8,
1853, it is enacted "t6at the Secresory of War be
directed to report to Congress whether in his
opinion it would not be more economical proper,
and advisable to cause all the arms of the United
States to be made by contract" In complying with
this requirement / shall exclude all political con-
sideratiOns involved u the question of manufacture
by the general government, and, as suppose, was
intended to conne the expression OF opinion to the
relation the subee. bears to the military service, and
to the relative merit Of the existing system and that
of contracting for the manufacture OF all arms.
Viewing the armories as part OF the military pre-
paration for the common defence, it is deemed es-
sentsl that they should he under the control Of the
War Department arc advantageous, If not neces-
sary that such establishments should exist under the
charge Of competent and experienced officers of the
army, to the end that uniformity may be obtained.
and all the improvements and efficiency secured
which professional zeal and skill would seek and pro-
duce. To this the existing state Of the case, as
standard have referred the proposition to make all
arms by contract, and have reached the following
conclusiOn:-
/. As to the economy of the measure under
proper administration OF National Academy, it is
believed the arms can be obtained cheaper by gov
eminent manufacture than by contract. Labor and
all materials may be obtained upon good, if not
better, terms by the public than by private armo-
res because OF the greater promptness and security
OF payment The permanence OF employment must
constitute an judgement to workmen to enter the
national workshops But, suppose these things to
be equL-and the disadvantages certainly cannot be
on the side OF the governmental follows that the
original cost wou not be greater in the public than
ia the private armory. To this, in the cost of the
government manufacture there is nothing to add.
But, in the case OF the private contractors, there
must he profit on the manufacture not only sufi.
cient to cover the interest on the investment but
also the hazard which will attend contract necessa
rily made for short period.
! Experience has established several facts which
seem to my mind conclusive as to the economy 0
the present mode of manufa ,turing small arms,
Since the year 1910, the cost of making muskets has
been much reduced as to eX ;ude competition, aud
no contracts have since that year been made for the
manufacture of muskets. The prices paid then for
those contracted for were as high as SIC 25, for
some and not not less than Sl4 so for the remain
der. AT the national armories the price averaged
about 80 per musket. Since 1910 thu contract
price for rifles at the national arnories has been
Guced from $l4 so TO $1l 62a each, which exceeds
the cost Of thst arm at Harpers Ferry Armory, dur
ing the last fiscal year, by 81 60:
Without the practical knowledge OF the actual
cost of manufacturing arms now secured to the gov
eminent by the results at the national armories,
there would be no standard for determining proper
rates of contracts, and without the means which
these armOres afford to supply the wants OF govern
ment there is to believe it might be subject
TO extraordinary prices for arms from time to time
required.
LEVIED the national establishments for the manufac-
ture of necessary to improve these models
and to keep up the standard of materials and work
nanship. While the interest and professional repu-
tation Of an officer the army in charge Of national
simory would impel him to introduce all improve
lDepts bis military associations would lead him to
learn, ard his military experience teach him the
value OF new notifications, made either in his own or
other countries. On the other hand the interest Of
the private contractor would be indefinitely to repro
duce the model originally furnished to him. because
every change would require either the abandonment
Of bis Tools machinery, &c, or q modification to
adapt them to the manufacture Of the improved mo.
eel. For this reason, and also because his workmen
would be less expert upon new modification than
upon form to which they we're accustomed, every
change would be to the contractor or evil to which
be woulc seeincreased trouble and unfinished profits.
The national armores are also necessary TO keep
up the standard Of workmanship and finish in the
contract establishments. The arms made by con
tract are subjected to inspection by w0rkmen de-
taehed from the national armories tor that purpose.
Thee Inspectors when not employed in the contract
service, resume their positions in the natl nal armo-
ries, and return to each contract inspection, with
refreshed rec lection Of the standard OF excellence
q the government work. This advantage would be
lost il all arms were made by contract aud the tcu-
darcy would be steady deterioration, by the slow
aDd )mpeIceptlple Elnhlpg OF ioe lHsNd1
offhe improve ment which has resulted from the fur
Djsbing of new models and constant improvements
il the government manufacturers, to which inspec.
tors require the contract arms t. conform.
3. as to the ACCESSIBILITY Of the measure, if the
views taken under the two other heads be correct it
follows that it would not be advisable to make all
arms by contract Neither would think it veil to
sric. the manufacture of all arms to the national ar
nClies Pistols, for instance, now made by con-
tact, because The demand for them is so small that
1t was ceeDed more econ mical to provide them by
contract than to provide the separate machinery and
tools required for their manufactures at least until
model for that shall be adopted more ga. stacto-
ry than the one now in use, and likely therefore, to
be more permanent. Small numbers of peculiar arms
sle sometimes required, and in such cases it may be
better to procure them by contract than to provide
tie macDilery required for their peculiar cOnstruc
ton. But it is still important that the govern
meLt should have the power 10 contract Tor the
nufacture Of arms Ia the event Of exigency under
which greater number might be required than the
public arnores upon O scale adapted to ordinary
circumstances, would be able to supply.
l. stead OF any conflict in the Of the two modes
OF supply they are believed happily to harmonic in
the production OF cheap and effective firearms, In
the last case supposed, the government workshops
would furnish the models 10 private contrac .ors,
aud serve as guides 10 establish the price which
should be PAD, while Il would protect the GO
vernment from beag driven by lis necessity to SUBJ
nit to extraordinary demands, and perhaps inju-
rious DELAY.
II il believed that the excellence Of the govern
melt anuiscture has not been quite equalied by
those OF private contractors with all the ad-
vaDages that exist in supplying models and in
srecloIs. Upon examination OF a report made by
the commander OF tie arsenal, to which the rifles
used by the Votgeur regiment in the last war with
Mexico were returned it appears that OF the total
humber, 523, the 257 made at the national armory
required the repair Of forty five OF their parts-the
266 made by contract required the repair OF ninety
six Of their parts, showing difference in favor Of
the government arms of more than two to one. The
case is believed to be fair one, and to present
elusive proofs OF the higher standard of material aud
workmanship in the COVE rnment arms
1t Is not known whether by the use of the term
all t1e arms OF the United States it was intended
to include the heavy guns or cannon. | will, how
ever, remark, that all cannon are now made by con-
tract-Congrsss having made no appropriation for q
national toundry-and will take this occasion to re-
commend an appropriation for that object. The
just sdmxure OF metals and casting of bronze pieces
require much mechanical skill, and no little scientific
OIL cir Iaxt III xaIinat;x f