National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1884-08-15
Material for Guns.

Two committees Of congress are now
engaged in conducting an inquiry into
tho steol-producinR capacity Of the coun-
try. Geu. Hawley is at the head Of tho
senate committee. and oN.Spoakor Kan
dail is chairman Of the honse committee.
The specific object Of tho investigation IS
to ascertain tho existing means for pro-
yiiing heavy ordnance for coast defense
and for armiug vessels Of war, but this
involves an examination OF tho whole
steel industry, including the facilities
for converting the raw material into the
kind of steel used in making guns.
We have some effective guns at Fortress
Monroe, but, with this exception, VIC arc
practically without coast defenses. If
hostile fleet should succeed in getting
past the guns at Fortress Monroe thore
would be nothing to prevent 1t laying the
cities Of Baltimore and Washington un-
der contribution. Baltimore could be
shelled with long-range guns without
exposing tho vessels to the fire Of the
batteries at Fort McHenry. Philadelphia
is in still more defensoloss condition,
and the Notifications in New York harbor
are utterly inadequate.
The matter Of coast defense has been
for long timo neglected, and the exist
ing fortihcations are falling into decay
for want of necessary repairs. Of lato
there has been an awakening in tho pub
lie mind on this subject, aud the opinion
Is growing that considerable portion of
tho surplus revenue ought to bo devoted
to strengthening our forts and providing
them with the best guns that can bo made.
The science Of warfare is progressive
ono, and guns that would have been con-
sidered effective at the close Of the late
civil war are now utterly out Of date.
To provide new armaments for all our
| forts would be no small undertaking, but
it is of the highest Importance that be-
ginning should be made. and to this end
the Hawley and Randall committees are
looking after tho stocl-produCing estab-
lishments. 1t is question whether til o
government ought to do tho work itself
or whether it should bo intrusted to
private enterprise. OF course no manu-
facturors would caro- to go into the bus-
ness without some guarantee from the
government that the manufactured
product would be accepted.
Tho erection of tho necessary works
and the procuring Of the requisite ma
chinery would involve so vast an outlay
that the government would be obliged to
make considerable advances, even If pri-
vato capitalists should be willing TO take
the risk. All these matters must be set
tied by congress, and the investigation
now in progress is to procure such facts
as may assist members in coming to q
correct conclusion. II is gratifying
circumstance that leading men Of both
political parties arc taking lively inter-
est in the subject.
The creation Of largo steel works at
various convenient points for tho manu-
facture of guns for coast defense aud fol
the navy would have a quickening effect
upon all the leading manufacturing in,
terests Of the country. 1t would stimu
late tho mining and transportation o.
iron ore, furnish market for grea
quantities of coal, furnish employment
for largo number of skilled laborers ant
: put in circulation largo sums Of none!
which are now lying idle in the treasury
1t will also help TO settle the tariff que5
tion by utilizing the revenue which tn
free traders now regard as superauous.