Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1885-12-13
The Great Gun Question.

lJOuinal OF commerce
If the army and navy officers of the
United States who are still investi-
eating the great gun question " could
clear their minds of all preJudlces, pro-
fes, ional and national, and speak freely,
they would arouse storm of indlg-
nation in some quarters for they
would be compelled to say that the
best way to acquire a supply OF the
largest and latest styles Of steel ord
nance, good and cheap, is to buy them
of Krupp. The famous gun-maker Of
Prussia fills orders from Russia, Tur-
key, Italy, Austria, China, and other
countries of Europe and Asia. The
German empire owes no little OF her
strength and security to his unriyalled
artillery. England has her Armstrong
and France her Schneider. Those coun-
tries are not customers Of Krupp. Feel
ings Of pride, jealousy, and rivalry pre-
vent them from buying in Germany
gnns which are superior to those OF
their own manufacture. The reasons
why the foundres of Essen turn out
the best guns in the world are very
simple. Krupp, the able and yigilant
head of the establishment, has devoted
his life to the study and making of the
heaviest guns for ships Of war and sea-
coast defences. 1t has become his Spe-
cialty. lie has the largest and best
equipped works Of the kind in any
country. He has the greatest number
Of trained and expert hands IN all his
departments. Possessing his own vast
coal and iron mines in easy and cheap
communication with his foundries. he is
able to compete with every rival in the
matter of price. These acknowledged
facts have given him the lead in the
gun-making business.
The highly-respectable commissioners
who are investigating the subject for
our Government know all these things
better than any other Americans. And
yet they would consider it an imperti-
nence, if not an unpatriotic step on
their part, to advise our Government to
order all the guns that are wanted from
Krupp. pay for them, and say no more
about it, instead of carrying out the
gigantic scheme of starting ma
tional gun-foundry." The krupp
Iron W orks have been growing up to
their present magnitude and perfec-
ton since 1910. They cannot be dupli-
Gated in completeness and excellence
in five, ten, or fifteen years, no matter
how much money should be appropri-
ated for the works. There are. it is true,
plenty Of funds in the Federal Treasury
to pay for such expensive apparatus as
steam-hammers, which, with their mo-
tive-power, fOundation-beds, and Access
series complete, cost hundreds Of thou
sands of dollars apiece. But after all
the plant has been provided there is still
needed the skill which comes only from
long practice. The expense. the delay,
and all the difficulties incident to the
manufacture Of giant guns are so well
understood by foundrymen in the
United States that some of them have
frankly counselled the Advisory Board
to report against the scheme Of a ina
tional gun-foundry." But, for the
reasons we have given, it is hardly to
be expected that they will do this. And
yet. if they report in favor Of such an
enterprise and their recommendation is
adopted, the country will have been
committed to the worst possible method
of procuring an effective armament at
short notice.
If America declines to buy the best
guns in the cheapest foreign market, her
only proper alternative is to give out
contracts for them at home. Although
not a single steel gun has ever been
made in this country, native ingenuity,
faith, and courage are equal to the task.
The preprietors Of two large steel-works
have declared themselves ready to at
tempt it if the Government will make
it an object" for them. They must
have contracts for great many guns
at liberal prices before they will provide
the special and costly plant required,
Delays and disappointments would be
inevitable. But it might be hoped that
after number o years American en-
terprise would be able to turn out great
guns equal to the best that could BIZ
imported. If they cost far more thar
Krupp's products we should at least
have the satisfaction of Boosting thai
they were homemade" Germany
understands the economies OF war better
than any other nation, and her best
guns are supplied by a private con
tractor-Krupp. France relies OF
Schneider and England on Armstrong
for the finest specimens of artillery
procurable at home. If America per
sists in the idea Of producing her owr
steel guns she should follow the exam
pie of those great countries. She should
trust 10 the indomitable spirit of pri
vate citizens to manufacture-with sui
fcieDt encouragement from the Gov
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