The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-08-13

cialty. The chef d'9urre is immense steel gun.
being the largest breechloader yet made in weight
no less than seventy-two tons. Herr Krupp
undertake. to prove by actual experiment that he
can produce steel gun which. in proportion to its
weight. shall be more effective than any gun made
OF wrought iron. In addition to the steel breech-
loader OF seventy-two tons. other extraordinary
guns are TO be exhibited. and great is the
variety to be INDUCED in that the experiments will
extend over four long days. That there may be
no doubt as to the nature OF the results
or the merits of his ornaments. Herr Krupp
has officially invited the various governments
OF Europe land. in fact of the world at large-to
send representatives to the spot, such shall be
qualified to investigate the facts and to report
officially and scientifically on that which comes
before them. France. sorry to say, has been
omitted from the list Of the invited-a circumstance
which bodies i'll for the peace of Europe 1t will be
asked What is the motive of all this II Germany
believes in the supremacy of Krnpp guns she can
not wish all the world to have them. But Herr
Krupp is willing to supply all the world. subject to
patriotic reservation against France
THE STEEL GUNS OF ESSEN.
The development OF steel Is OF the most
striking features of modern metaurgy and the
world is indebted to Herr Krupp for much OF
this progress In this matter he really a
sSScA
pairing the way for the inventions of Bessemer and
others. Nearly thirty years ago Herr Krupp was
prominent in setting forth the doctrine that steel
was not necessarily brittle material The ides
that steel peculiarly liable to break and fly to
pieces under violent treatment had fast hold on
mems minds. in the engineering world. To
remove this impression was hard task. The
"mild" steel of Essen by no means readily be-
leved in. Herr Krupp gradually persuaded the
railway engineers that weldless steel tires were
good things aud an immense trade sprang up in
consequence, of which Essen long had virtual
monopoly. 1t is no wonder that Herr Krupp be-
leves in steel guns He has lived to see steel take
the place of iron where such change was long
deemed hopeless; and whereas he commenced with
making one steel three-pounder gun in 1s47. and
made no moro until 1850. when he produced a
six-pouhder, he has now advanced to colossal gun
Of seventy-two tons weight which may be fairly
called /, OO-pounder. In 1896 the cast steel works
at Essen only employed two or three workmen.
Such was the acorn from which the oak grew. In
recent years Herr Knapp has had many as $4,000
workmen his books at one time, besides 1000 or
5000 employed under contractors. The little
solitary gun made in 1S47 has proved the precursor
of many thousands of pieces of artillery including
large caibres distributed the four quarters Of
the globe. The nations that are not possessed of
Krupp guns are few. although Sir William Arm
strong has also several large customers among
foreign Powers including Italy. Turkey. China and
others. 1t is we'll that the British government
should know the precise merits OF these admir- able
guns and the present opportunity is one which is to
be very wisely and properly turned to account.