The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-08-08

put out, and the when the writer visited IL,
two hours after the accident, was MADE no OF
tumble OF charred and broken ammunition boxes,
pieces OF tin roof curied up like paper, torn and
splintered boards from the sides OF the building,
blackened benches and stools and cartridge shells.
Nothing was left OF the building but It's iron frame
ana piece OF woodwork at one gable On the
turf lay scattered here and there pieces OF torn
and burned clothing little jackets and trousers
ana other garments, whose wsarers were lying
dsngured ana suffering in the hospital or at
home.
WHO is TO BLAME.
There can be no doubt but that the disaster &C.
CURED through the carelessness OF one OF the
lads employed in the laboratory. This IL the
opinion or all tue oficers OF the post, including
Captain Phipps, in command. orders have re-
peatedly been given by the Commandant TO those
scraping the hardened powder never, under any
circumstances, TO strike the end or the cart
ridge with their wire implements. Every ef1ort
was made to have this caution observed rigidly,
but, or course, nothing could be done by the ON
cials but to point out the danger. rubber hose
was kept lying close by the building, at
tached to hydrant 80 as TO be ready
FOR Immediate use in case OF acci-
dent. Conversations with the lads VINO
were In the laboratory at the time make 1t
evident that careessness In the non-observance
OF this order on the part OF some one OF the boys
was the cause or this accident. The officers OF the
arsenal cannot In the least degree be held respon-
sble forIt. Captain Phpps, Captain Prince and
the others did everything IN their power to aid
the sufferers
HISTORY OF THE ARSENAL.
The following sketch OF the Bridesburg, or
Frankford Arsenal as IL Is commonly called Will
be found nteresting:-
The FRANKFORT "Arsenal' Is what It's name i'm
plies, "a magazine OF military stores,n and is
from It's location and the nature OF It's products
one OF the most important OF the military posts OF
the United states Army. Here. under the control
OF an able stan OF educated and SCIENTIFIC oncers
is manufactured all the fixed ammunition for
small arms for the whole array. Here also are
made all the instruments OF precision inspection
and verihcation, such as standard gauges scales
ana weights, cahpers. scales OF proportion
throughout The country, and the production
OF these requires the employment OF the
most highly skilled mathematical and scientific
instrument makers Here also was commenced,
and Will probably be completed after the next
meeting OF Congress, the manufacture OF the
great WOODBRIDGE gun OF steel and bronze, which
weighs twenty-five tons, and Is being made as an
experiment. at cost TO the governments OF nearly
quarter OF million OF dollars. To the rigid in
spectlor of the oticers OF this arsenal are sub
United all improvements IN small arms fixed am
for adoption by the Oronance Department ana
here the hopes OF many an inventor have been
United to the crucial tests OF the exquisite ma
chlnery and the formidable calculations OF thou
Bandths OF inches or seconds through which II must
pass before the question or lts adoption will be
considered by those in power at Washington. OF
course 1t Will be seensrhat 10 accomplish all these
Things successfully broad space Of ground, many
ana substantial buildings costly and delicate
machinery, learned and experienced officers and
skilled ana industrious mechanics, are all neces-
sary, and they are all to be found at the Frank
| ford Arsenal.
THE LOCATION OF THE ARSENAL.
The plot OF ground upon which the arsenal
stands contains s1xty-two acres and eigntytwo
square rods, and is situated at the confluence OF
| iuar IN thn
| Twenty-third ward. The western front OF the
property Is on Bridge street, the principal thor
|. the northern boundary Is the Tacony road, the
eastern the Delaware River and the southern the
Tacony Greek.
the buildings now on the property consist OF
four ofices; two story brick barracks vita ca
| pactty for 100 single men, and two buildings with
! quarters Tor twelve enlisted men and their fami-
lles eight large storehouses principally of stone
and brick; twelve frame laboratories; a magazine
| with capacity Of 1000 barrels OF powder; hos
pital containing four beds, dispensary and quar-
| tiers Tor the matron; large IRE proof machine
shop OF brick and iron; large rolling
house, proving houses, stables icehouses.
&c. In former years the officers and soldiers sta
toned here suffered somewhat from fever and
| ague, but rev years ago an extensive manulac-
tory OF sulphurc acid was erected on the opposite
bank OF the cr1sS, and although the fumes are
somewhat disagreeaDe at times 1t has mad the
efect OF entirely driving away the ague, and the
post Is now remarkably healthy. Like all military
strictest discipline Is maintained, and the grounds
and buildings are Kept in the most perfect order.
! The following are the names of the officers at
present stationed at the arsenal:-Brevet LIeten-
ant Colonel, I. j. TreadwelL commanding; Cap
tain Frank d. PAipps, Captain William Prince and
Lieutenant ). l.. Blunt DR.. Robert Burns, OF
Frankiord, Is acting assistant surgeon OF the
post ana Mr.. William NJ. o'Reilly, chief clerk.
There are stationed here one hospital steward,
four sergeants five corporals thirteen first class
prlvates lat ST. per month"; and eight second
class privates at $l3 per month. The civilians
employed are one chief clerk and three assistant
clerks one master armorer, one master carpen-
ten, one master painter, thirteen mechanics,
foremen, &C., one engineer and 156 laborers, in
Guiding men, women, boys and girls, their wages
ranging from 81 upward per day of eight hours.