New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1875-11-24
ARMS AND ORDNANCE.

NoRE SUPPLIES NEEDED FOR THE NATIONAL MILITIA
THE PLAN FOR GRAND ARSENAL NEAR NE"-
YoRK-sATsFACroRY EXPERIMENTS WITH RI
FLED CANNON-A BIG SHOW AT THE CENTEN-
NAL
WASHINGTON, Nov. 23-The report of Bng-
Benet OF the Ordnance Bureau OF the ARMY
shows that dining the past year. the operations OF the
ID, artment and arsenals and National ArIDOry nave
been performed with view TO economy Full occnpa-
ton has been given to the officers OF the corps by the
erection Of public buildings at the Rock Island ana Beea
arsenas; tie manufacture of ordnance stores ana sup
niles and their distribution TO the army militia ana ma
rne corps the testing OF inventions, and experiments
and trials with heavy cannon at Sandy HOOK ana the
care and preservation OF the different arsenas
Tho rcnort contains the following suggestions and inor
nation:
This bureau has for several years called attention 10
ard e1nippng the militia Another reference their i'm
portance is now made. The annual appropriation of
about 900 600. AT the present time, with population
of over 600 the appropriation still the same,
and IL impossible for the department meet all the
demands made upon IT. The last official reports give the
following the aggregate strength OF the militia OF the
or. There is little doubt arms and military
equipments more freely supplied, that the organzedforee
would be greatly enlarged.
Benet oOncus III the recommendation Tor the I'M
1.-THE Detroit Arsenal having been turned over 10 the III
terror Department fOr SALE as required p law ana the
Columbus Arsenal having been transferred 10 the general
recruiting service for depot purposes, Inc Board strongly
recomInr the retention OF all remaining arsenals east
of the Mississippi as essential Tor the hecessiles ana
proper service OF the Ordnance Department unless Con
eTess SHALL BY legislative enactment, permit the eXecu-
lion of plan concentration proposed 10y the Board
on Arsenals IN 1874 which plan consists In the establish
ment grand arsenal of construction III the vicinity OF
NewYOrk CITY, retaining inc 5plusueId AtMVIy ana tue
FrankfOrd Arsenal adjuIets TUr manufacturing par
poses retaining also the Indianapolis Arsenal IND the
kennebec Arsenal Me, Fort Monroe Arsenal, Va, ana
Augusta Arsenal Ga, as places iJr storage andIe
asrapdly as circumstances viii permit IhcprOcceds OF
such be devoted 70 the purchase OF site ana the
erection Of workshops, stOrebouses &e Tor the grand
arsenal The amount tnat can PROBABLY DC realized from
the sales viii DC $3,3lCS24 56 The Rock Island Ar,
sena IN its present incomplete state, now supplies all
the militia of most o inc states ana territories drained
by the great and It's tributaries many OF the fort
resses that guard the coast line OF the uf OF Mexico aud
than One-aii O our army, now scattered from TIE
Mississippi River 20 the Rocky Mountains and beyond.
When completed and fully equipped as manufacturing
arna It's capacity viii equal the supplying Of al the
that may DC organized IN the mississippi valley
in any of the greatest Imaginable" Gen. Bcnet urges
81 appropriation ior tie purchase Of site anu the cree
ton OF MAGAZINES for tbs storage OF gunpOwteI thc de-
pot at Louis beng remote from the Atlantic seat
board 70 be- vi FOX our wants in the Eastern sec
The manciacIuie Of Springfield riaes and carbnes at
the National Arnory has been carried with economy
Not more than lIOJO arms wil DC hide uHuef eAi5ths
appropriations W 10 this date tho entire army has been
thefe IL store supply of these arms OF
about 10000. AT the end Of the present sca year our
supply may ach total Of 10000 arms OF the
mode! aud oabeT about enough III case OF war TO
ARID one army corps ,,.,-.,
war armies Will better satisfied with arms OF Oh
soete patents discarded models than IN the early days
OF the Rebellion they with the OffscOurinss OF Tor
egn markets Men VINO are 10 meet inc enemy IN battie
have Ight 10 demand OF their country, ia whose de
Tense they willing mperl their lives, 10 DC placed
equality with the foe, and he armed with the best
weapon that ingenuity ana Workmanship can produce
aud In country, where armies are 10 De mHOvstd
made up the Instant by recruits from the anvil and
the plOw, the want OF military discipline ana training
should be- as much as possible compensated .! the qlA
ity OF the weapon the soldier IL TO use Our aiseuas
should be, therefore, well stocked at all times with
supply OF the best rifles ana carbnes and
Congress should the spirit OF economy, appropriate
lDeiaIly for their manufacture
Referring the International Exhibition of 1876 the
repOu SAYS The Ordnance Bureau VIII make All exhibit
that will creditaDle TO the country aud prove 10 be
one of The most attractive features Of the Exhibition
During year the proper ARMAMENT Tor our seacOa6
defense has engaged earnest attention. ana board or
officers has been IN permanent session, en-
deayOllg 10 obtain all the data possible with the very
straitcued resources 1t command. Last Winter the
President said IN special message To Congress; The
constant appeals fOf sti0D the armament OF Tor
nfcations ought longer 10 be disresaIded, n Con-
sess desires In peace To prepare the important material
Without which future wars must inevitably lead TO dis
asterD Only small appropriation Was obtained. The
suhect Is again pressed on Congress. -
Te epht-inch rife .in has been successfully nfed 700
rounds with battefing charges ana si remains sound
snd giving endurance that fuily )ustlnes
,he recommendation that large number OF smooth
hore guns ought be converted INTO nes as II 10 ell
tYey give the requisite strength ana con-
seQnsnt endurance, by the insertion Oh "fouShtnon