Seattle daily post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, W.T. [Wash.]) 1881-1888, 1882-11-23
AMERICAN ARMS A.ssA,.

Some facts obtained from the Cen
sus Bureau show that if Europe real
ly means to 90 to war, all or in part,
that the United States will be ready
TO act as q sort of second" by fur
nishing the arms required for the oc
casion. This remark applies especi
aEy 10 the question OF small arm,
and not to nesvy ordinance.
Egypt already has some Il large
number) Of American guns in her
army. some zoo. 900 having been .pur'
chased from manufacturers in this
country some time since, aud their
value being thoroughly recognized,
efforts were made 70 thoroughly 60.
tsblish an American mandatory Of
guns in Egypt. This was partially,
at least, successful, and quantities ol
American machinery for the manu-.
facture Of guns were purchased and
taken TO Alexandria, and though the
order was never completely filled, il
had progressed so far that it is pre-.
sumed the mandatory was complet-
ed and put in operation, probably
adding many thousand American"
guns TO the large quantity already in
the hands of the Egyptians before
the war began. OF course, however,
the American mandatory at Alex
andria, Whatever may have been its
condition during the past few years,
is probably that now operating, since
the destruction of 30 much of the
city by the events of the past month
The superiority Of American guns
has been acknowledged by nearly all
the leading nations. England, Rus
sis, Prussia, Turkey, Denmark,
spain, Sweden. Japan, Peru, Chile.
and Mexico have within the past few
years bought of this country arms or
machinery for manufacture of this
class of war material. Not only is
this the fact with regard to guns, but
also 10 relation to fixed ammuni-
tiOD," or cartridges. The United
States is the leading manufacturer Of
this article, In the community OF ma
tons. Joshua Shaw, an American,
was the inventor of the metallic per-
cussion cap, the precursor Of the
American cartridge which made
breech loading guns possible.
He was u Yankee. of course, and
his invention of the percussion cap
in 1922 revOlutionized the fighting
habits of the world. The value OF
his invention was SO far recognized
during his lifetime. that Congress in
1915 appropriated $50. 900 to him in
recognition of his great invention.
Soon after this the system was ap-
piled to metallic cartridges, and the
methods gradually improved until
the present perfected system has
been arrived at, and the United
States stands as the recognized head
Of the manufacturing world in the
excellence and ingenuity of liked
ammunition.
There are now in active operation
in the United States thirty-eight
manufactures of firearms, and five
devoted solely to fixed ammunition.
These employ about 1000 hands and a
capital of about $40, 1000, 600, and are
capable of turning out about SIS,
OOO. 900 worth of finished products
per year. With these facts fully re-
allied by all the nations of the world,
as is proved by their having adopted
and purchased largely of American
guns and machinery for their manu-.
facture, it is pretty evident that in
case Of need for an increased supply
the manufactures of this country
will be called upon to add this to her
large sales abroad.