St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-10-30
OUR NAVY.
Annual Report of Brig Gen. Benet-
The Condition of Our Coast
Defenses.


WASHINGTON, Oct 29.-Brig. Gen. Benet,
chief of ordinance of the army, has submit
ted his annual report. The expenditures of
the department during the year, including
those attending the sales of condemned
stores, amounted to 50, obs, 255. The report
of the operations at the Rock Island arsenal
is submitted. The erection of shops and
storehouses has been conducted onomically
and thoroughly, and the estimates for prose-
cution and completion of the same should
receive faJorable consideration. The last
appropriation, $4,000, for the general care,
ETC., is not deemed adequate to the necessi-
ties Of the arsenal. During the year 35, 1873
rifles, carbines and shot-guns have been man
ufactured at the national armory. Much has
has also besn done in manufacturing the
magazine guu.
Gen. Benet says the condition of our coast
defenses is a matter of grave concern, and
calls for immediate action, and he hopes be-
fore the end of the ensuing session congress
will show to the country its appreciation of
these national wants by liberal and perma-
nent annual appropriation. The department
was greatly embarrassed in its work of con-
structing several experimental guns for the
armament of Notifications, by the backward
ness of foreign manufacturers in meeting
their engagements for furnishing steel forg
ings, and by the inferior quality of some of
the material received and submitted to test
by the department. After describing these
matters in detail the report continues:
The difficulties rocounted in procuring
steel from abroad, even for experimental
guns, makes manifest without lengthy COM
ment the necessity for home production. 1t
is hoped the very pressing needs of the de-
partment and the difficulties under which it
now labors in attempting to secure suitable
materials for gun construction may be re-
lieved through prompt and energetic action
of cons ress at the next session. The steel
makers of this country will not undertake the
production of steel on a scale adequate to our
wants without the inducement of being fairly
remunerated Tor their outlays; and the i'm
portance for immediate action on the part OF
congress for holding out such
inducements by liberal appropriations,
cannot be overestimated. The truth of this
statement is apparent when it is considered
that, even after ample encouragement has
been afforded, considerable time must elapse,
say two years or more, before q requisite
plant can be designed, constructed and set
up, and the production of steel in masses of
sufficient size and suitable quality for your
construction can become practical success.
Then the manufacture and test of expert
mental or typical guns will require at least
two years more, even for more moderate
sized calibres before the manufacture
of guns in quantity can be
proceeded with. 1t was under clear
apprehension of these facts, and deep con-
Tiction of importance OF saving time, that
the department determined to procure, if
practicable, tubes, jackets and trunnion
hoops for the first experimental guns from
abroad, hoping, in that way, to establish
starting point in the manufacture of steel
guns, and thus avoid, as far as possible, the
delay that must hereafter inevitably arise
when the steel shall be procurabIe in this
country, for want of some well tested and
definitely established types of gun construe-
ton as standards. Thus far its efforts in
this direction have been attended with little
success, nevertheless il viii continue to
persist in its purpose, believing that
the importance Of the object sought fully JUS
titles such policy. Types of guns, at least
eight and ten inches calibre, should be fully
established by the time our steel makers are
in condition to furnish the steel required
for such constructions, in order that there
may be immediate demand for their pro-
ducts The steel forging, for guns now IN
der construction, which the department has
been able to procure from American manu-
facturers, as hoops, breech blocks, etc, AMI
whose production came within the capacity of
the existing plant, are of the very highest
quality, and are an earnest of what excel
lence it may be expected viii be attained
here under larger facilities for manufacture.
The report SAYS experiments have been
made by the advance board in firing shells
charged with explosive eelatine from service
guns. and that practicabiiity making such
/ frings, using ordinary gunpowder as the
propeliinE agent, with safety and certainty
seems now almost assured Some eight
inch steel shells have been ordered With a
view to increasing the penetration in iron
plates, and with the expectation of explosive
effect. the gelatine wiz thereby be consider
ably augmented. An estimate has been sub
1itted, and an appropriation is asked for to
enable the department to arm the light bat
ieries Of cur army with modern breech load
ing 6eld guns. The passage OF the senate
bill now pending in the house, relating to
the formation Of volunteer militia org1niza-
tons, is recommended in the strongest
/ terns