Washington sentinel., 1853-12-14

duced as TO exclude competition, and no contracts
have since that year been made for the manufac-
ture of nanskets. The price paid then for those
contracted for were as high as S16 IS for some,
and not less than Sl4 so for the remainder. AT the
national armories the price averaged about $40
| per musket. Since lS40 the contract price for
| rifles at the national armories has been reduced
| from $l4 50 to IL ga each, which exceeds the
cost Of that arm al Harper's Ferry armory, during
| the last fiscal year, bv 81 GO.
/ Without the practical knowledge OF the actual
1 cost of manufacturing arals, now secured to the
/ government by the results at the national armo-
ries, there would be standard for determining
! proper rates for contracts, and without the means
| which these armories afford 10 supply the wants
of government, there is 10 believe it might
be subject TO extraordinary prices for arms from
4 time 10 time required.
/ 2 As to the propriety of the measure. Il is be-
| eved the national establishments for the manu-
facture OF arms are necessary 70 improve these
models and to keep up the standard Of materials
\ and vorkmanship. Xbile thas inierasl and psor
fessional reputation of an officer of the army in
charge Of national armory would impel him to in
troduce all improvements, his military associations
/ would lead him 10 learn, and his military expert
/ ence teach him the value of new notifications,
! made either in his own other countries. On
! the other hand, the interest of the private con-
tractor would be indefinitely TO reproduce the mo-
del originally furnished TO him, because every
change would require either the abandonment Of
3
adopt them TO the manufacture Of the improved
model For this reason, and also because his
workmen would be less expert upon new modi-
fcation than upon torn to which they were ac-
customcd, every change would be TO the contract
or an evil in which he would see increased trouble
and diminished profits.
The national armories are also necessary TO
keep up the standard of workmanship and finish
in the contract establishments The arms made
by contract are subjected to inspection by work
men detached from the national armories for that
purpose. These inspectors, when not employed
in the contract service, resume their positions in
the national armories, and return 10 each contract
inspection with a refreshed recollection of the
standard of excellence Of the government work.
This advantage would be lost If all arms We're
made by contract, and the tendency would be
steady deterioration, by the slow and impercepti-
Bile sinking ofthe standard, instead Of the improve
ment which has resulted from the furnishing of
new models and constant improvements in the
government manufactures, to which inspectors re-
quire the contract arms 10 conform.
3. AS to the advisability ofthe measure. II the
views taken under the two other heads be correct,
1t follows that would not be advisable TO make
all arms by contract. Neither would think well to
restrict the manufacture OF all arms the national
armories, Pistols, for instance, now made by
contract because the demand tor them is SO small
that il deemed more economical 10 provide
them by contract than to provide the separate ma
chinery and tools required for their manufacture n
at least until model for that arm shall be adopted
more satisfactory than the one now in use, and
likely, therefore, to be more permanent Small
numbers of peculiar arms are sometimes required,
and in such il may be better TO procure them
by contract, than to provide the machinery re-
quired for their peculiar constructions. But It is
still more important that the government should
have the power to contract for the manufacture OF
arms, in the event Of an exigency under which
greater number might be required than the public
armories, upon scale adapted TO ordinary circum-
stances, would be able TO supply. Instead OF any
| conflict in the use of the two modes of supply,
| they believed happily TO harmonixe in the pro-
| dnction Of cheap and effective firearms. In the
| last case supposed, the government workshops
would furnish the models to private contractors,
and serve as guides 10 establish the price which
should be paid; while il would protect the govern
ment from being driven by its necessity to submit
| to extraordinary demands, and, perhaps injurious
delay.
II is believed that the excellence Of the govern
ment manufacture has not been quite eqnalled by
those of private contractors, even with all the ad-
vantages that now exist, in supplying models and
inspectors. Upon examination OF a report made
by the commander of the arsenal, TO which the
rifles used by the voltiguer regiment in the last
war with Mexico were returned, it appears that
Of the total number, 523, the 257 made at the
national armory, required the repair of 45 of their
partsthe 266 made by contract required the repair
of 90 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 pre-
sent conclusive proofofthe higher standard ofma-
teria and workmanship in the government arms.
II is not known whether, by the use OF the term
/" all the arms of the United States" il in
tended TO include the heavy guns or cannon.
will, however, remark that all cannon are now
made by contract. Congress having made no APP |
preparation for national foundry and will take
0s occasion TO recommend an appropriation for
that object. The just admixture OF metals and
casting of bronze pieces require much mechanical
skill, and no little scientific attainment The ex-
animation Of ores, and the casting OF iron ntocan-
non, is a subject which has attracted much con-
sidcration from the Ordinance Department. and
presents wide field for further investigation and
experiments. The rigid inspection which each
gun now receives has improved, and is still i'm
proving their quality, but il is believed there
would be more rapid advance in knowledge, and
a higher standard of excellence attained if the ad |
vantage of national foundry were possessed.
While on the subject of procuring arms for the
United States, deem II proper TO referto amatter
which has heretofore received attention, and been
the subject of frequent inquiry-that is the estab-
lishment of a national armory on the western |
waters. The propriety of having such national
establishment in the west is generally conceded, |
and perhaps one reason why II has not been done,
is because the two United States armores al |
Springfield, Mass, and Harpers Ferry, Va, are |
sufficient for the manufacture of all the arms re-
quired by the government and the wants OF the |
country in this respect do not require third |
When the two armories were established, they |
were necessarily both located east of the Ale |
facilities of the west were then undeveloped, and
neither the material nor the labor requisite for
them was OF easy procurement there Now. how
ever, the case is just the reverse.
Besides the more equal and equitable distribu-
ton Of these national establishments. geographi-
caly, the removal Of one of them to some proper
site on the western waters would be more con-
venicnt and economical arrangement than that
now existing. il would save the cost of trans
porting from a manufactory in the east all the
arms required for use and distribution in the
western part of the country, either for the govern
ment the militia Of the western States. All the
materials required for the manufacture of arms
are more abundant and cheaper in many places OF
the west, where motive power either by water
or steam is readily attainable, and where the SER
vices of skillful artisans be readily had 10
any desirable extent, and on reasonable terms.
These considerations alone seem TO render it adj
visable to establish western national armory.
But when TO them is added the fact that the east
rern portion Of the country has for so many years
enloyed monopoly Of these government manu-