Los Angeles daily herald., 1884-10-30
ORDNANCE.
An Important Report from
Chief Benet.
RADICAL CHANGES ADVISED
The Condition of Our Coast Defens
cs-Difliculty of Procuring Steel
Guns from AbrOad-A Rem
edy Suggested i'm an
Appropriation.

Especial to the Herald bv associated Press.
WASHINGTON, d. c., Oct. 29.-Brigadier
General Benet, Chief OF Ordnance OF
the Army, submitted his annual re-
port of the expenditures of the Depart.
ment during the year. which, including
those attending the sales of condemned
stores. amounted to s2,0l5.255 The report OF
operations at Rock Island Arsenal is sub
mitted: "The erection of shops and store
houses has been conducted economically
and thoroughly, and the estimate for the
prosecution and completion of the same
should receive favorable consideration.
The last appropriation Of SIC. 900. for general
care, etc, is not deemed adequate
to the necessities OF the Arsenal
During the year %, l33 rifles, carbines and
shotguns have been manufactured at the
National Armory. Much has also been done
In manufacturing magazine guns,
General Benet says the condition OF our
coast defenses Is matter OF grave concern
and calls for immediate action, and he hopes
before the end OF the ensuing session Con
gress will show to the country its apprecia-
tion OF this national want by liberal and
permanent annual appropriation. The De-
partment was greatly embarrassed In its
work OF constructing several experimental
guns for the armament Of Notifications,
by the backwardness OF foreign manufac
turers In meeting gtheirengagements for fur
nishing steel forgings, 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 recounted
In procuring steel from abroad. even for ex-
perimental guns, makes manifest without
lengthy comment, the necessity for home
production. II Is hoped the very pressing
needs OF the Department, and the
difficulties under which II now la
bors in attempting to SECURE suitable
materials for your construction may be re-
lieved through the prompt and energetic 40
ti0n Of Congress at its next session. The
steel manufacturers In this country will not
undertake the production OF steel on scale
adequate to our wants without the induce
ment OF being fairly remunerated for their
outlays; and the importance for immediate
action on the part OF Congress for holding
out such inducements by liberal appropria.
tions cannot be 0verestimated. The truth OF
this statement is apparent when 1t is
considered that even after ample en-
couragement has been afforded considerable
time must elapse, say two years or more be-
fore the requisite plant can be designed,
OF steel in masses of sufficient size and OF
suitable quality for gun construction can
become practical suepess, Then the man
ufaoture and test OF experimental or typical
guns VIII require, at least. two years more,
even for more moderate sized calibres, before
the manufacture of guns In quantity can be
proceeded with.
The report says. Experiments have been
made by the Ordnance Board in firing shells
charged with explosive gelatine from service
guns and that the practicability OF making
such firings, using ordinary gunpowder as
q prOpelling agent with safety, GER
tainly seems now almost assured. Some
eightinch steel shells have been ordered
with view to increasing penetration into
plates, and with the expectation thrt the ex-
plosive effect OF gelatine will thereby be oon-
siderably augmented,
An estimate has been submitted and an
asked for, to enable the De-
partment to arm the light batteries OF our
army with modern breech-loading field guns.
The passage of a Senate bill now pending in
the House, relating to the formation of vol
unteer militia organizations, Is recommend
ed In the strongest terms.