Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1867-12-19
Harper's Ferry and Springfield.

The following is an extract from General
Grants report as Secretary of War:
The land and other property at Harpers
Ferry, formerly used for an armory. are not
now required by the Department, and their
sale is recommended, il it be decided that II can
be done under the government title. If not
sold, it is suggested that it be leased for term
of years.
There were 2s.0SS Springfield rifle muskets
converted into breech-loaderS during the past
fiscal wear at the national armory, and about
100 600 muskets, carbines and sabres were
cleaned and repaired there All Of the con-
verted arms have been issued TO troops, and
nearly all the infantry serving in the Depart
ments of the Missouri and the Platte have been
armed with them Monthly reports received
from the commanders Of the companies So arm
ed have been highly favorable ID the arm, aud
furnish abundant evidence of its excellence and
fitness for the military service. The almost
unanimous opinion expressed by the officers Is,
that the musket is simple strong, not liable 10
get out Of order, aud extremely accurate IN
firing. Not a single officer has expressed the
opinion that the calibre reduced from that oi
the muzzle-loaderl is too small, while lew
have recommended further reduction. These
arms have done excellent service in an Indian
campaign during the past simmer very few
of them have been reported as rendered unser-
viceable, and of these more were made unSer-
viceabe through careleSsnesS than from all
other causes. In July, 1866, the Secretary OF
War directed the conversion of 25,0OO Spring
field rifle muskets into breech-uaderS, aud the
preparation of an adequate supply of proper
ammunition. He afterward ordered the con-
version Of these arms to be continued, without
fixing limit as to number; aud the work was
carried on rapidly until August, 1867, when It
was directedto be suspended, after 10000 arms
had been altered. That number is nearly COM
peted, aud there have been preparedthe requi-
site number OF tools for converting about iuur
hundrad muskets per day, at which rate their
conversion can he resumed at short notice. lt
! is confidently believed thitno converted breech-
! loader in this country or in Europe has been
| produced which is superior TO the converted
! Springfield musket as altered at the arln"ry,
aud that none equal to il in seryiseabe quail
| ties can be produced at less cost In view OF
/ the fact that the 80 600 converted muSkets will
! very soon lie issued to troops, leavngno breech-
! loading muskets on hand IN store 1t is recon-
/ mended that the conversion of the Springfield
/ muskct be resumed. Inc Cblcl hlulSuitlep
which have been iuterposed against the pro-
duction of goud brcech-loading musket by
the Ordnance Department have been the imne-
/ date claim Of almost every Improvement under
some of the many patents which have been
I granted for Improvements IN firearms, and the
extreme eagerncss aud strong efforts of some
/ inventors and others interested in patents have
/ their particular inventions used in the govern
1 mcnt military service. There are many claims
/ of patent rights in the methods used to convert
the Springfield muskets. Several parties, IN
some instances, claim to hold patents for the
same thing; and every improvement. II is he
! lieved. is claimed by more than one inventor.
The validity of such patent claims for the i'm
provcments used ut the national armory in con-
verting the musket have not been ACKNOWLEDGED
by the Ordnance Bureau, which believes that
the proper course for the various claimants to
take is to establish their respective rights, and
then apply to Congress for remuneration Tor
their use by the government.