Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-11-11
Observation-Disclosures.
Experiments in Progress for the Use
of High Power Explosives.
From the Neto York Herald.

from me y etp LOTh n oTUJd.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-The Secretary
of the Navy has not offered the contract
as yet to any firm for building the
dynamite gun cruiser, reports to the
contrary noJwlth standing. 1t was stated
in these dispatches nearly four weeks
since that Philadelphia firm was max
ing the plans Of such cruiser, but that
it was entirely a private matter on their
part. The agreement. if any exists, it is
said at the Navy Department, must be
between the shipbulders and the Pneu-
matte Dynamite Gun Company.
EXPERIMENTS IN PROGRESS.
The Naval Board IS now engaged in
making tests OF the gun in New York
harbor. The law eXacJs that they shall
first make favorable report on the sys-
TEN before the Secretary, if so disposed,
shall make the contract. That is the first
condition. 1t is then optional with him
If contract shall be made. 1.-THE condI
tons are favor able the law still furth er
requires thai the construction shall be at
the risk of thu company, and bonds to the
amount OF $3500Q0 nave got to be given to
protect the government for the money
advanced on the work if all the require
mems are not complied with. First, the
vessel is to be not less than $50 feet long,
26 feet bredath OF beam, ~ feet draught,
5000 morse power and guaranteed to at
tain speed Of twenty knots an hour.
The second guarantee is more novel than
the first, Tor the three pneumatic guns
with which it is to be equipped are to
throw sht lis containing 200 pounds of
dynamite or other high explosives at
least one mile, eacl gun to De capable OF
being DISCHARGED once in two minutes.
SOME TIME YET REQUIRED.
Before the vessel can be contracted for
the Naval Board has first to favorably
commend the system, now in its expert
mental stage, of throwing a high eXpiO-
sve In quantity by means OF com pressed
air. 1t Is SAID at the Navy Department
that such a report is hardly likely to be
made, at least for some time to come.
There Is yet to be tested the possibility OF
substituting for common gun powder in
suells OF the same form and size as now
in use a high explosive which
will not become dangerous
! until it has been protected
from the gun, and yet have all the power
! known to this destructive material with
out any risk whatever to those handling
| it. Ii this can be done it would not ex-
pose vessel and its crew to dangers
| from careless handling, fear which
| makes even naval officers tImid when it
is proposed to handle nitro-glycerlne all
ready Tor explosion.
NECESSITY OF GREAT SPEND.
But aside from the novelty OF the eW
use to which nItro-glycerIne is to be
! adapted the other feature of guaranteein z
| speed of twenty knots an hour is re-
garded by naval officers as very ImpOr-
tant step in naval architecture.
| If the Naval Board hesitates to APP
prove tne pneumatic gun system
| the opportunity will be lost to test
/ the ability OF our shipbuilders to con-
struct a vessel and engines capable OF
making twenty knots an hour, for the APP
| prevail OF the system is made requisite
! before the vessel can be contracted for.
This is deeply regretted by all the ma al
| officers, who are anxious to see the first
step taken which will lead to the fastest
| cruisers afioat. Ii such vessel made
only eighteen knots an hour as a dispatch
| boat it would be a great gain to the navy
! and encourage better efforts to attain the
speed desired. as experienced naval
| ordnance officers have said: 'lt the yes
sci TO be built is capable OF carrying
dynamite guns It. could just as well carry
steel guns, about the value of which eX-
perments are not needed to demonstrate
tneir use"