Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-10-05
MAKING STEEL GUNS.
The Chances OF Failure-What Private
Firm Pay for Experts.

''The report that the eight-inch gun had burst
was Incorrect" said a naval officer to q STAR
reporter, "but should not have been bit sur
prised lift had been true?'
"Why?' asked the reporter.
"Because," was the reply, "with our mex
perience and limited resources and means we
ought not to expect greater success than is met
with by ordnance manufacturers. who have de-
voted the greater part of their lives TO the work
and VINO have all the facilities afforded by ex-
perlence and wealth. You will find upon in
festlsation that in the very best gun found
cries one gun out of every ten is a failure and
proves a complete loss. This generally re-
making the teei homogeneous. A little air
bubble remain ing in the steel is apt to cause a
nav. ana when the completed gun is put under
may result in the bursting OF the gun.
This Is frequently the case in manufacturing
the famous krupp guns, and what cannot be
Always avoided In such a foundry that,
should not be unexpected with the first steel
gan manufactured in this country. The Whit
worth sl company have come nearer than anyone
else TO making steel homogeneous by their by
draulic process. When Congress approprates
suhclent money to warrant firm in securing
the proper plant then more perfect material
might be forthcoming. At any rate we should
not be surprised at or discouraged with any
failures at the start. All the preliminary tests
here have been successful, and 1t now awaits its
statutory tests. II may prove a complete sue
cess, ana IL SD, SO much The better"
Another officer, who took for granted that the
report OF the bursting was true before it had
been ofhcially denied, said that nothing better
need be expected from the nature OF things, and
that the second gun would doubtless prove as
worthless as the first I'VE don't know how to
do Ii, he said, "and outsiders are laughing at
US. is 1t natural that man who had been
trained to sail vessel should prove to be
successful guL constructor, especially If the
man who is practically at the head OF the work
has simply learned the trade OF "A ships carpen-
ter? What is necessary Is skill obtained
by long experience. ] understand that an et-
fort is oeing made to secure the services of au
experienced man H. view of the change OF the
Washington navy yard into an ordnance
IOunury, but as yet 1t has proved Unsuccessful.
The head man at lhe West Point foundry gets
salary OF $4,000 and would not acce Ut gov
eminent employ with the probability OF being
OQsted with u cnange OF administration, for less
than $4,000 The superintendent at the
South Bost0n works gets $4,000 aud he
wouldn't come lor less than $15,OOO. At the
famous krupp factory the superintendent gets
$4,000 as salary, and his employers would
give hlm $4,000 rather than he should leave
them."
What salary would the government give?"
asked The STAR man.
''Twen,y-five hundred dollars, was the reply.
$50 you see thu re is not much of an induce
ment Tor really skillful man to devote him.
sell to working for the government when his
services Will command such prices from private
firms. No, don't think we need be surprised
II All our first guns prove failures, unless there
Is change In The way The work is DONE"