The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1853-12-11

standard for determining proper rates Tor contracts and
without the means which these armores AFFORD 10 supply
The wants OF government, there 10 believe
mie be subject 10 extraordinary prices Tor arms iron
time TO time required.
I'd A. to the propsly OF the mssssre II 10 believed
thai national Tor the manufacture OF aims
necessary improve their models and to keep up lhc
standard Of materials and workmanship. Whilst tho
interest and the professional reputation Of Odicer oil
The army IN charge OF a national armory would impel
him ntroduce all Improvements, his military associa-
lions would lead him 10 Learn. and his military expert
ence teach him the value OF, new notifications made
either his other counes On the otter hand,
The interest of the private contractor would Do indeh-
Dtely reproduce The model originally FURNISHED 10 him,
because every change would require either the abandon
meni OF his tools. machinery, &c or mobilization TO
adapt them the manufacture OF the imgrose model
For this reason, and also because his wofkmen would
be less expert upon modification than upon form
which they were accustomed, every change would De
to the an evil which he would Increased
trouble and diminished profits.
The national armories also necessary to keep up
the standard OF workmanship and hnish In the contract
establishments The arms made by contract are sub
jeced to inspection by wokmen detached from the ma
tons aimoes for that purpose These inspectors. when
not employed in the contract service resume their posi-
ton al the national amories and return 10 each
tract inspection with refreshed recollection al The stand
ard OF excellence Of The government work. This advan-
tage aid be lost II all made by contract ana
The tendency would be steady deterioration by the slow
and mpefceptle sinking Of the Standard instead of The
Improvement which has resulted IRON the furnishing OF
new models. and constant improvements in the govern
ment manufactures TO which The inspectors require Inc
cont act arms 10 conform.
a. AS 10 the ACCESSIBILITY OF the measusc II the views
taken under the other heads be correct il follows
that would be advisable make all arms by con-
tract Neither would think wise to restrict the man
nfac,ure of all arms the national armories Pistols
for instance, are made by contract because the de-
mand for them is so small that it was deemed
nomica to procure them b contract than to provide Inc
separate machinery aud tools required Tor Their manufac
ture al least nn model Tor maj arm shall De adopted
satisfactory than the one no" IN use, aid likely,
thereto 10 be permanent Also small numbers OF
peculiar arms are sometimes required and IN Sc cas.s
may be better procure them by contract than to pro-
vide the machinery required os lisr peculiar cons'ruc-
ton. But il is sill important that The government
should have The power TO contract Tor The manufacture OF
arms in the event oil an txgtney under winch greater
number might be rsqared THAN The public armoias mon
scale adapted 10 ordinary circumstances, would oe
able TO supply. Instead OF any conflict IN the nse OF the
two modes oil supply they are believed happily 10 mar
monize IN The production OF cheap and effective firearms
In the last supposed, the government workshops
would furnish the models to private contractors, and
serve guide to establish The price which should Or
paid whlsi would prot CT the government from being
driven by It's necessity to submit to extraordinary de-
mands. and perhaps injurious eelays
believed that tue excellence OF the government
manufacture has not been quite equacd by those OF PR
contractors, with all the advantages that now
exist in supplying models and inspectors. Upon exam-
nation of repar, made by The commander OF the arsenal
which the rifles OF the voltisear regiment IN the war
with Mexico returned, il appears that OF the total
number 523, the 237 made al The national armory re-
qnred the repair OF 45 OF their parts the 900 made by
contract required the repair OF 96 OF their pas-showng
difference in favor OF the government arms OF more
than The is believed 10 be fair one.
and present conclusive proof OF the higher standard
OF material and workmanship In the government arms
II is not known whether, by the use oil the term all
The Of the United States" it was intended 10 IN
clude the heavy guns or Cannon viii, however, te-
mark that all now made by contract. Goa
gress having made no provision Tor national loundfy,
and will take this 10 recommend appopria
lion for that object The just admxlure OF metals. and
casting oil bronze pieces require much mechanical skl
and ltiie scientific attainment. The examination OF
ores and the casting OF iron into cannon IS suolect
which has attracted much consideration from The ODD
department, and presents wide held Tor urher IN
vesligaton and experiment The rigld inspection Whch
such guns receive has improved and Is still i'm
proving their quaiy bai i, believed there would pe
more rapid advance in knowledge, aud higher standard
of excellence attained, il the advantage oil a national
foundry were possessed.
While on the subjec, OF procuring for the United
States deem II proper TO refer 10 matter wnich has
heretofore received aeaon and been the subject oil Ire
quent nquryihat is. the establishment oil national
afnory on The western wa1ers he p,9pey OF havlns
such national establishment IN the West Is generally
conceded and perhaps reason why II has not been
done s the United States armorss al Spring
field, Massachusetts, and Harpers Ferry, Virginia, are
Sufficient Tor the manufacture OF all the arms required by
the government aud the wants oil the country III hs re-
specl do require third When The two srmoes were
they were both located east Of me
Allegheny mountains, because the manufacturing tacil.
ties OF the West then undeveoped, aud neither the
material the labor requisite for them was OF easy
there. Now, however, The case Is Just The
reverse.
Besides the equal and equitable distribution OF
these national establishments the removal
oi oil them to proper se on the western waters
would be more convenient and economical arrange
mcDi Than that existing. II woald save toe cost OF
transporting from mandatory ~ the East all the
arms required and distribution in the western part
OF the country, either Tor the government or The militia
oil the States All The materials required Tor the
OF arms abundant aud cheaper N
many places 81 the West. where motive power. either by
sea, isready aainable and where the services
of skfu artisans 10 be readily had TO any desirable
alone TO render Il advisable TO establish western
national srmory But when TO them Is added the Tact
that the portion OF the country has Tor 80 many
years, enjoyed monopoly OF these government manuac
tories, appears settle the question and as bu, two
anores are wanted to supply all The small Tor the
seems the bes, way OF eiecing the object The tools.
machinery aud many OF the most costly paris requisite
Tor ulacturing, not difficult oil transportation and
may easily and al little cost be sent from either oil the
afmores and SET up in suitable bulldogs previously con-
srucied for The western aiHory. The Transfer will thus
leave no government properly behind but the buildings.
which may be nseinDiy applied 10 purposes OF private
and doubtless readily be Disposed Of
The work for the extension OF the Capitol. which by
your order oil the 23d OF March transferred IRON the
Department OF the Interior 10 the War Department, has
been prosecuted with due diligence under the special
charge OF Captain M. c. Megs Of the corps OF sng-
neers and IT gives pleasure TO bear testimony 10 the
manner which that ohcer has discharged ms duty,
fully sustaining his reputation for professional skill zeal
and fidelity. He was placed upon thus duty April 4,
1853, and directed specially 10 examine into the cond
iiop OF The foundation winch had been previously la,5
aud minuieiy to inquire into The arrangements Tor
I0a, ventati6g, speaking, and hearing
thorough exsnnailUn OF the foonjaton was made
by excavaling down TO The sod upon which il rested,
and by cutting different points INTO OF through the ma