The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1886-02-09
LOOKING no A Nlw NAVY.
The Report of the Select Committee on
Ordnance aud War ships.

WAsHISaToS, Feb. S.-Senstor Hawley,
Chairman Of the Select Committee OF the
Senate on Ordnance and War Ships, to-
day submitted the Oommittee's report,
ItgiVes On exhaustive account Of the ex.
aminAtions by that Committee Of the prin,
clpal works and yards in this country and
England, and Of the information gained
from other sources, and rs q result giyeH
the following conclusions: ...
]. The United States Is metallurRically
independent for all purposes oi warfare,
2. The manufacture OF iron and steel for
peaceful purposes has kept pace with tho
foremost aCience and sKill OF the world.
For steel making the casting capacity Ia
ample, but the heavy forging and finish
ing OF guns and arnor will require new
and costly plants
8, Machinery and mechanics tools Of
navy yRlds are sufficient for the building
OF engines, bat mIGh OF Ii Is obsolete and
no longer economical. The means OF build.
Ing iron or steel ships are lacking, Oae
yard has q good plant OF limited capacity
for finishing steel guns and has done some
good work.
4. As a partial relief upon private build.
ers and as resoutCe In case OF necessity,
some ships should be built in navy yArdg,
ships in general should be built by pri.
private contract, and private yards are cap
able Of doing the work. The uncertain
nature oi repairs Is such that some Gov
ernment yards should be kept ready to
make them.
8. Armor plate and engines should be
obtained wholly from private individuals.
y. The costly experiments OF twenty
i've years has reached a stage which jus.
titles certain conclusions. Guns should
be made OF lopen.hsarEh steel, forged,
brseCh'loadlng, chambered OF calibre
ranging from live to fifteen inches, Of ten
ranging from thirty to thirly.Ave caIlbre,
Armor and pr0ieCliles should be made OF
forged Htesl. The hydraulic forging press
produces better results than the steam
hammer, costs less and should be used for
Government work. Ships should be con-
struCted OF steel, but certain minor classes
may be composed Of steel and wood.
I, The manufacture OF guns suitable for
ship and coast detsnCes should be divided
between private foundries and goyern'
ment shopp, the former providing the
forge and tempered parts and the latter
finishing those parts and assembling them.
The Government should establish
two factories for machine finishing and
assembling The weight Of opinion among
army and navy experts aud prominent
manufacturers Of heavy work In steel de-
Cidedly indicates that the Washington
navy yard and the Water.V Welt arsenal as
the best siLes for such factories, When
tho determination to contract for heavy
guns shall have been reached the localities
for finishing can be determined easily.
0. All needed private capital Is ready
for cheerful corporation With the govern.
ment in whatever 1t may require.
l0 Proposals for arlnor and guua should
require such quantities aud extend over
such series oil years as 10 justiiy private
persons In securing the best plant. Pay.
lnents should DO made only for completed
work, and only the guaranteed bids oI
persons having capital and experience
should be considered,