New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-02-14
THE NAVAL ORDNANCE BETORT
ON TIE gURsTING OF GlNs.

We with TO place the character OF this re-
ma,kable Official production, in the full scope
OF lis spirit and details, before the public aud
the powers that be, to exhibit Jarfdnerdoy in
It's true light, and to introduce. il possible,
within it, routine guarded portals, an INFUSION
Of tbl, outside nor -oiiical inventive gcniCs and
mechanical skill which, un,etlered by formulas
aad rod-t0pc, has made so much, hitherto, OF
the material progress, prosperity and glory OF
our country. We desire Ia give the representa-
lives ortbcsc elements of National strength an op-
po-tunty 10 act cCncurreully with those, who
sustained rs the Nat onal Treasury lavchitlerto
exclusively dominated tie designing and iabTi-
eating Of ordnance, 30 as TO insure m exhaust
i've INQUIRY INTO tie cause or eau cs Of the me-
fconcy and failure Cf al large guns that have
been officially designed or adop,ed; also 10 Sc
cure an honest and intelligent examination and
practical testing of all proposed designs, new
methods cf fabrication, ard al probable RENE
dies calculated to result in the greater efficiency
strength and durability Of such guns; and,
moreover, 10 secure the adoption and introduc-
ton ocall such improvements az can be pracil-
ca'ly demonstrated, under the direction OF the
bcs, olfcnl and private engineering and me-
clancal ability, acting with equal authority,
u.dcr regulations hoHesil;' and intel. gently
based upon official and unofficial suggestions.
We also desire 20 see manly, patriotic and
wlo.e.soulod management of the Navy Depart
mont, in all its bureaus, which shall make
layoritism the exception rather than the
rule, which shall compel ncpo,isln and
personal friendship to keep their appropriate
places-which sLail consider oil national and
public questions and Interests from an intel
ireut and stGtesmaniike STANDPOINT, ard whose
reports shall be ,impc, direct aud Trustworthy
d. those of Farragu, ins.oal of mere shu.!lii {,
withdrawing efforts 10 goze over and cover up
damnging fact, TO bew der and mi.load the
judgement Of all WHO read item.
Th' report oG0rds internal evidence, in al
most every paragraph that tie essential purpose
Of The Board from w. II { emanated Was to
mv-t'.y the ficts sui mite, to its consideration
With a view & sLoaltlen endangered Official
hands, protect the OFdance Bureau and its
favored contractors and friends, regardless OF
truth. The interests Of tho nation, lis tax
PAYERS and defenders, and to crush with re-
sisle5 hand all troublesome innovations
urged b. private citizens, mot in the official
ri,g," who may have dared TO crilicisc, or have
Lad the genius 10 discover and the teInerity to
. o. I Il Of al
or new and superior methods of design and con
strrcl ON. unthought Of, or ignored by selfish,
mor-eycd representatives, Of brreacra,c au-
thoritg aad prrtcnsiou. The creation and COM
position Of tho Board whose official act is under
con Iteration ford, matter for suggestive com
mcut. The Board was created by an order from
tic Navy Department, and is composed Of Com
modorc J. S. Missroon, Commodore Il. i.
Hitchcock, the special Naval Ordnance Inspector
OF Parrot Guns; Commo lore T. A. Hunt,
Lieut.. Commander Il. Aulick, Assistant Chief
OF Ordnance, and Lieut.. Commander WIN. n.
LETTERS, Superintendent Of the Washington
Nayy-Yard mos', if not all whom, are
evidently the confidential official and per-
sonal associates Of the Clief OF thc Bureau,
whose immediate superior is the As.istout-Sec-
rotary Of the Navy, to whom is awarded the
credit Of introducing the class of lo-inch
guns into the navy, two OF which, out Of eight
that We're PIT to = severe test in The attack on
Fort Fisher, di-astrously burst in the turets Of
two Of tie monitors; one it is stated from "the
premature bursting of q shell, AMI the other
from " thc shot not being rammel home;" aud
still another OF the same class Of guns burst on
board the Lchigh last Summef--the inevitable
"premlturo bursting of the shell" being al
legged az the Cause. How many more Of tie
Assistant .Secrelay's experimental ordnance
ban;lings may have burst or been injured while
in service We have no present means OF know
inC, a. there seems 20 be IA remarkable official
reticcnce concerning injuries 10 these pet guns.
Another significant fact is that the only person
summoned before this Board Of high Ordnance
Officers, personally testify concerning the grave
matters submitted to it, solemn consideration,
involving the sacrifice of many valuable lives,
much injury to and manning ofmany survivors,
and extensive Generalization Of the morale Of
the service, the wasting of millions of treasure,
and a weakening Of the offensive and defensive
power Of the nation, as appears by its Report,
was Capt. Il. 7. Parrot, graduate of West
Point, and the contractor and fhrnisher of the
7O3 riAed guns mentioned in the Report, and of
q very much larger number Of tho same kind
of guns to the Army Ordnance Bureau at cost
Of many miiliors Of dollars. and tho manutac.