National Republican., 1884-04-11
Heavy Ordnance.

authorizing the President to appoint board
of three army and three navy officers for the
purpose of examining and reporting the best
method to be adopted for the manufacture of
heavy ordnance adapted to modern warfare.
After visiting Europe, and making most
casoful study of the subject, the gun foundry
board submitted its report, and it was trans
mittcd to congress Feb. 1s, aud has been
printed.
This report does not seem to have attracted
the attention of congress which its careful
preparation and clearly expressed opinions
deserve. No other report on the subject of
ordnance has ever been submitted which
conveys so concsely the information needed
in the consideration of the best means to be
adopted to provide the armaments for our
Notifications and ships, now utterly destitute
of modern guns.
An examination OF its pages will show the
sources from which the European arma-
ments arc supplied, the condition of foreign
gun-steel manufacture, the present condition
Of their artillery, and the present cOnstruc-
tion and materials of their cannon. There
will also be found the opinions of the chiefs
of the bureaus of ordnance and of the leading
steel manufacturers, as we'll as tho wishes of
those who desire COVE rnment aid in the
establishment of steel foundries aud steel gun
factories.
The failures and successes of England
France, Russia, and Germany have been care
fully investigated, and the conclusions of the
board accord with the plain teachings Of these
historical instances. OF the present condi
tion of the artillery of tho United States tn,
report says: ITO recite the present arma
ment of the country is unnecessary. Before
the intr odnction of rifled cannon and thu
use of steel as the material for their construc
tion the United States boasted of her Dahl
gren and Rodman cast-ron guns, which
were the models for imitation and the stand
ards for comparison of all nations. While
tho rest of the world has advanced with thu
progress of the age, tho artillery Of tn,
United States has made no step forward, anc
virtually we arc destitute of source iron
which such an armament as the age demand
can be supplied"
The board accepts the system in France a
the proper standard for imitation. Her gov
ernment establishments are gun factorie
simply, in which the parts are machined ant
assembled, but for foundry work or the man
ufacture of the steel she depends upon tn
private industries of the country. All histor.
warns against partnership in business be
tween the government and private firms
had to pay G65,OoO to close an agreemen
and give the plant to private company at
mere nominal valuation. Russia trie
it, and now finds herself involve
in stock company, and discovers N
way of relief except to buy up the shares an
operate the establishment as a government
foundry.
The conclusions of the board point ou
powerful reasons for the following amend
ment to the naval appropriation bill, advo
Gated in a recent letter of Admiral Simpson
to the secretary of the navy:
"For tho purpose of providing moderi
artillery for the navy of the United States
for the purpose of encouraging in the Unite
States the manufacture of material suitabl
for modern artillery, and for the purpose Of
establishing guarantee against loss to thos
manufacturers in the United States who will
undertake the, manufacture of suitable ma
terial, S1000,000, to be permanent yearl
appropriation, to be expended under tn
authority of the president for the specifi
purposes cited
For plant for gun factory for completin
guns, embracing all calibers up to 16-incl
caliber, including buildings and shrinkin
pit, 100000"
The permanent appropriation would Civ
the steel manufacturers certainty of ulti
mate profit, the only condition being success
in providing the material that would be re
quired in their contracts Letters from lead
ing steel manufacturers, cited in the appen
dix of the report, show their willingness t
undertake the work at once with such
guarantee. We trust that action ON thi
vital question will not be postponed unit
another session Of congress.