The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-07-14
THE SUPPLY OF SMALL. ARMS.
THE SPRINGFIELD ARMoRY-FlvE THOUSAND RIFLE
MUSKETS FER MOSrU

From the Springfield R PUBLICAN, jay III
year ago the United states government had half
million muskcs III all its senas and the hands of its
army ahG the militia Nov, its arscna,s depicted,
the great stack Is scattered the country IN the
hands OF our opposing armies and many Of them
doubtless broken and worthless Fore this tinn and tho
ony COVE. nncnt armory nitke them as fast AS
new ones are wanted Only some fifty to sixty housand
ol TINS great number were hwcve, Of the modern rio
style, So vastly superior 10 the othe in effective service
as 10 render the latter comparatively useless in contest
where one dcscrion was ON one Size aud the other
he opposing The soldiers Will not accept the old nus
kcts except where absolutely necessary and all that de-
sciipnOp Of viii be thrust out of use as fast
rs possible. Whether this war be long or short
the government must therefore greatly enlarge it's
nna"iactdie OF small arms, until not only 1t can
mlskets known 10 civilization, but lay up large reserve
store in It's arsenals for such other emergencies
lure as that now upon us How shall the immediate ne
cessily anu me permanent want sbc supplied The de-
sructon of the Hapers Ferry arinory leaves the
inent only the Springfield establishment; but hs-aways
The chet reliance, and the model workshop-is now pro-
ducng greater number Of rifle muskets per month than
both armories ever did before When Mr.. Dwight the
new superintendent, assumed charge here in April the
manufacture was only 500 per month. Already he has
Increased the number to $500, and less than three
months viii 600 per moth Never before was
its production $500 month"; This great and rapid
increase has been gained by filing all the shops with ad
ditiona machinery and men, and by working parts
fourteen to sixteen. Yet, while the production has
already more than quadrnpled, the number Of work
vanced from nearly 800 to $50, the present number
This is the result Of the working extra hours and
the advantage which u duplication Of machinery and
tlnuous employment Of 1t alike gives The large
nal on the south State side the arory grounds
becoming vacant by the removal Of the muskes being
fitted up for workshop, and will be occupied by
those branches that do not require machinery giving
in the other shops for the additional machines now
Demg prepared for the continued enlargement Of the pro-
ductiOn
The springfield armory may therefore, soon be relied
upon for five thousand Of s best rife muskcts per month";
indeed they will be required If the number named be
permanent production the present crowded state of
tho shops and the unusual hours Of working arc alike
unhealthy to the men and uneconoical 10 the govern
mcnt While thus stimulating the production Of
this armory 10 its utmost capacity, the War De-
partment has made several contracts with private ndi
yiduals for further supplies Of rifle muskets. But
there private establishments yet provided with
the machinery FOR their productions unless there
FORE these procure their mrskes in whole or
in part from abroad, some time capse before they
Gun begin to furnish arms.
These two means for suppiy-the enlargement Of the,
Springfield armory and engagements with private
tracors-seem 10 have been chosen by the War Depart
ment as both the quickest and cheapest for PURPOSES
II has yet given favor to the propositions new
armory in Pennsylvania at Rock Island
Illinois. No such establishment could be set operation
for several years. while the expenditure in founding it
would be immense The Springfield arrnOry could be en-
larged to produce the same results two add
tonal armorcs in quarter Of the time and at one
quarter Of the expense.
Both the musket and the machinery by which it is
made have furnished the models for the first Powers Of
Europe The machinery invented at this arnory by
workmen at day wages, has been copied by all the
mores OF Europe, and IS the basis Of tina, upon which
their operations. But the comparative cheapness at
which the musket produced here for the United States
government Is less generally known, ari will excl,
prise when KNOWN In 1852, when the Springfield
mory produced about rs 600 msketa Of the old Dor
year the cost about 50 each. This every
expense, salaries Of officers care OF grounds, &cveg
thing but interest ON original investment Since thea
new and more expensive rifle model has been introduced
and the production decreased to less than 10 eco yca
upon which the general expenses had to be div l,
and the cost has been from $l2 to S14 per B tla
present increase III production with the dropping II te
May naid primer drawback to the usefulness " tia
musket, has carried down the cost, and the s
produced in its highest perfection for about $40 II -
believed that IS 600 to 600 muskcts Of tho present
model could be prodGced here yearly by enargcicit
and slmplfcaon of the shops at cost Of between SIS
and 50 each
Contrast these facts with the cost Of the small arms 1T
other establishments, and shall how greatly The
United States government las reason to cpngratu.
late itself upon the economy Of one branch at least Of its
public service and how justly the Springfield armory
may claim the respect and favor VI Congress. The prca
of the small revolving pistol and Of shot guns averages $40
The cost to the English government Of its rifle iasAct Of
which makes 100 0U0 year ut single establishment
ranges from $l3 TO $l5 This estimate is made up the
same way that the ccst is computed at tie Springfield
nory, counting IN all expenses for officers &C. but cXcind
ing interest buildings, machinery ard ians Tie State
Of Massachusetts, is so piece for the English rifle
mnskes, which 1t Is row importing to arr the rcg
mens. Yet this is an inferior arm In style an work.
manshp, to that produced at the Springfield afory; and
though modelled upon the Enfield or English government
rife, is not made at the government establishment but
by private Probably the private contracts
which the War Department has made FOR rife
at the rate of $40 each, and is likely be
nearer the price paid for the English imported rifles.