New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-10-20
THE ORDNANCE DEPARTMENT.
GENERAL STEPHEN V. BENETs REPORT.

PRoPRIATIoNs FOR TARGET PRACTICE, EIFliNC
CANNON, ETC, UTTERLY INADEQUATE.
lBY TELEGRAPH THE rEBUsE.i
WASHINGTON, Oct. 19.-The report of the
Chief OF Ordnance has completed ana submitted te
the Secretary OF War 1t gives the usual financial state
mont from which II appears that the OF funds
available for the Bureau OF Ordnance during the yeaT
ending June 30, s7G was Sl,733.6l7 General Bene'
says that ample employment to the officers OF the corps
has been gwen during the past fiscal year by the
manufacture OF small arms at the National AT
Inory, aud OF metallic ammunition, equipments Ioi
infantry. cavalry and horse, ana all manner VI
ordnance stores aud supplies with their care
and preservation at our several arsenals, the
distribution OF supplies to the army militia and Marine
Corps and designated colleges the inspection aud test
ing Of Inventions the conversion OF smoothbore can
non into rifles at tha West Point and South Boston
foundes and the proof and trial OF heavy cannon hcd
guns mtraeusc powder projectiles, etc. at the prov
ing ground at Sandy Hook and the care and preserva
ton Of the several arsenals with their many million dol
lars worth of public property.
During labor disturbances in July 1t was necessary
afford the required protection 10 Government
property make up panes of marines and to uti-
ne guards OF citizens because Of the small number OF en-
listed men allowed 10 the department On this point
General Benet says:
strength ordnance departments Al the arsenais Is
not sufficient for tGer prosecuon in trouolous tunes
from sudden and DeXpected attacks even rom MOD
t that the vast accumulation OF pnbilo prOpert'
at tnese establishments valued at over s6O,OoO,OOo
ought always be kept under strong mIit ry
guard would Insure It's safety under emef.
gences. IL Is needless to s'iimse what would
he the result II n mob Possession
of win its large resources Of arms, aminIi-
iion etc; and >et at tue very hosht anu IN the MUS
the recent OtOus disturbances, one OF our arsends
had only nty soldiers Ia protect H. la my ophiOn
he thousand enlisted men VIII not DC 700 many 10 pl
important ana imperative duties 10 the sats
ina tue number OF ordnance sold ers so Increased
for ho
en- fiscal year, made necessary the closing OF the Ma
tona Armory on to first OF July last. Tae records OF
the Ordnance Bureau show that on the first
OF August there were IN store, as reserve
supply, only 1852 rifles, ami 1888 carbincs.
An estimate OF 100000 is submitted to enable
the Department manufacture during the next fiscal
year nc least fifty thousand On this subject Gen
era Benet says: Believing that such country this,
with its great natural resources abundant wealth an
exposed frontier OF many thousands OF miles with
line many thousands more, should, as a meas
ordinary safety have always in store not less than
half million OF the best ana most efficient arms. The
manufacture Of tenth OF tuat number during the next
year necessary as to call for no argument"
Admitting that pOcy is one Of peace, the CGef OF
Ordnance the question If it ia to be expected that
continuance Of such peace policy will, in the present
century Of the countrys life. be successful III
keeping Us from far proportion OF conflicts In
which peace only he maintained at the sacrifice OF
mon and means, tIan in the past century. lie saws:
To be prepared for is OF the most effective
OF preserving such preparations to be e
and complete, must be made at leisure with all
skill and expe cuce Of which We are capable In max
ing them. time Is an element not be ignored de-
spsrd Tue progress in invention and OF the mechanical
aIts must o. consulted aud kept IN view in the work
OF ur paiatOn, because the approved article OF tne
become the mere stepping stone 10 tDc
Perfected improvement Of the present what, fifteen
Years ago, deemed perfect muskrt Is classrd
rs Obsolete wltl hardly maj RELIABLE value; aud tIat
marvel OF mcchaniclsm Of to-day, the blcecload.ng
+ Il
lcy and effectiveness. Ia our preparations we must
kceI OF progress of tAe age Get the best
to-day the certainty that II must yield TO the best OF
tomorrow.
Ia DO one particular are lamentahv deficient
rs suppy II IN talIc ammunition. Until recently
only Ten rounds per man per month Tor taIset pIacuce
has been allowed. making total OF 3OJOOOO Of
cartridges required annually for this important
purpose. Experience mas concluslIely proved Inat
this allowance is entirely inadequate to teach the
solder The use Of ms rife and perfect MN as
a marksman. Constant APPLICATIONS from the troops and
from commanding Generals for larger supply clearly
indicate its absolute necessity and upon my recon-
mendaion the allowance has On doubled, making The
expenditure 6,OOO.O0O Of cartridges. Our
reserve stock OF Cartridges c'dibie 40, IS only
9OOO.OOO.
The present annual appropriation for the arming and
equipment Of the militia amounting to only 100000.
Will not, the Chief OF Ordnance says, and equip
more than sGC0 infantry. II it be the intention cf Com
grrss to provide the organized militia much larger
preparation is Indispensable, and the appropriation
should be increased from year year. the organized
militia is being recruited from great OF the
organized. On this subject General Bcnet says:
Not olly should the permanent annual appcopria ion
for arIung and cquiplug the militia he increased tp
~ .OOO,O 600 but there should be sOne positive lcgs-
Iiiou liking The responsibility. and prescribing the
mctaod OF accountability for these arms and equip
mens. Under the laws as they now exist
issues are made to the States thor respcc-
live quotas upon IequisiuOn from the Governor
thereof aud the rcspOn biily Of this oiicc ceases with
the contamination OF the transaction time since
the question whether, under existing laws. the
right Of property IN the arms issued for arm
ing and cquppiDg the militia OF the United
tate Is
power dispose OF them by SALE or otherwise,
without accounting TO the United states The opinion OF
the atiorncy neral 4 Tie UnIted States TO be
conclusive on TINS point 10 VII, that me States are
strictly speaking. invested with nothing more than
qualified property in sucn arms. and ia thcy cannot
make any disposition or use o s'ch arms when oeeats
purpose referred TO-" though THIS should bc done
there could seem to be no remedy without further les
ianOn OF Congress.
reference this opinion OF the Attorney General in
duces iue to call further legislation OF Con srcsS 1t
TIE arms etc. not the property OF The sovereign
Government tren some law should be enacted fixing
responsibility and requiring the necessary properly
returns be made at stated intervals 10
TINS office, and wnen any Of this property
shalt he rendered unseryceabe or unsuitable 1t should
be returned TO the War department, and II sales are
made the money should be covered into the Treasury
used in replacing those sod.
An estimate of $4,000 .or the armament Of fortilca
tons during the next fiscal year Is submitted. On TINS
subject the report says
The conversion Of our useless because obsolete ten
inca smooth-borc guns into efficient eightucn rifles Icy
the Insertion OF wrougnrUn tuDes OF American manu-
facure has been satisfactory and has progressed nap
idly 40 the mail appropriation made by Congress would
admit The tua gun, with American tube, has already
been fired 500 ana stii remains IN gOotnd SEP
Viceable cOndtiOn. There hama at iOris
100 OF tncse smooth-bOrc guns that Dc couyen-
cntly made rifles for casenatc batteries
there is enough 10 accommodate heavier metal
They also compose, III the main, the armament q
smaller forts, protecting shallow channels that VIII
not ADMIT the heaviest ship. At loo yards they
wall be very effective against the ordinary iron c!ads
protected with less than eight inches of iron plate
They constitute very essential position OF arma-
meat, and he prepared IN our own country vita tue
ore from oar mines, and the skill and labor OF own
mechanics One Thousand OF these guns could he JUDI
cIOilsy mounted forts along extended
llue aud recommended That liberal Appropriation