Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1886-11-17
GUNS FOR THE ARMY.
Report Of Gen. Benet, Chief OF Ord
nance.
RESULT OF THE sCANT OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
IS NEEDED.

Gen. Benet, chief OF ordnance, in his annual
report to the secretary of War, states that the
1,OOO-rod bayonet rifles, new model and i'm
proved sights, are still under trial by the troops
The Morse cartridge, which has been under con.
slderation by the department for several years
has recently been 50 far perfected that It has
been decided to issue a number for trial with
the troops.
AN ARMY OF MARKsMEN
In consequence of the growing interest i'm
rifle firing and the belief as to its Importance
and ne essty, the demand upon the depart.
ment for materials for practice has greatly in
creased, but by systematIzed manufacture lib
erai supplies have been made, and the facilities
oHered The soldiers OF our army are greater and
more perfect than those enjoyed by other
armies. and the result of having an army OF
marksmen Is due to the education OF the SOL
Olers In The enlc1ent and effective use OF the
rifle.
The obvious reasons in favor of a more liberal
appropriation tor arming and equlpping the
militia makes repetition Of the recommenda-
lion unnecessary, but the hope is expressed
tnat the bill now pending Tor an appropriation
OF S6OO,OOO, amended TO $500. .OUO. NAV he
come u law with or without the amendment.
SHORT APPROPRIATIONS
The ordnance appropriation for the past
fiscal year was 100000, and was found insult.
ficient, while the amount appropriated for the
present year is only 1925 5.OOO-forty per cent
iess tnan an a last year; ms sum is wholly made
aud manufactures cannot be undertaken in
consequence. 1t is recommended that the pur.
chase Ofsuppll not exceeding 800 be made
i'll open market, instead OF advertising tor minor
incidentais which cannot be economically anti.
cipated. Ihe recomme ndations OF the board on
1ortitications. OF Ss,OOO,OOO for gun metal and
13,5OO,OOO Tor inaugurating the production
OF armOr plates, laying foundations for fortifi-
cations, &c, making the total for the fiscal year
S2l ,5OU,OOO, are fully concurred in.
AN ARMY GUN FACTORY
is great want, and it Is earnestly recon-.
mended that Congress take such action at the
next session AS will place the department on at
least an equal footing with the navy in this
respect. The appropriation OF $6,OOO, 600 tor
steel lorgings Is, perhaps scarcely sufficient to
arouse much competition among steel makers
,,tn Dn, ~ =, "ouiu IouDtless prove healthiu slim
ing the government with gun fOrgings.
DISCHARGE OF SKILLED MEN.
The department sustained serious injury
through the failure OF the regular Notifications
appropriation bill at its last session and IL q
operations as regards armament for fortifica.
tions for the fiscal year lSS6-S7 have practi.
caily ceased, and the personnel OF the depart.
ment employed on the work has been almost
men at the Watertown arsenal, where the ten.
inch wire guns, DC, were being constructed
has been discharged, and the expense and labor
attending the recOmmencement OF the work
Will be considerable. The difiie ulty of prOcur
ing good men will be increased by the feeling O1
uncertainty regarding the permanency OF theil
employment.
THE STATUS OF THE STEEL WORKS
which have thus far undertaken the production
OF gun steel Is about as follows: There isone estab
lshment able to produce all the forgings 70,
| q steel gun OF inches caIiber and hoops of all
sizes except the very largest and heaviest and
the breech mechanism aud smaller fOrgings fol
all cailbers. There are two establishments now
able TO produce the tubes and jackets ana mis-
celianeOus forgings ior guns OF small calibeI
and hoops Of q very considerable size, This /.
| the best that tan be done at present by the stee
works OF this country, aud in some respects
their experience Is yet SO new and the extent q
their plant and faculties SO limited that great
deal q time is required for the production o
the forgings. With the prospect OF u larger de
mand there is but little doubt that the work,
| viii respond with all needed alacrity in provid
ing the necessary facilities Tor promptly execut
| ing the FORK. It is thought that they would
commence delivering the heavier forgines for q
| 1Oinch rine from eighteen months to two year.
after date OF contracl, aud the production OF the
| tube and jacket torgings for 12-inch guns could
be accomplished In from two and q hulf to three
years. The progress Tor several years could bt
slow, az the manufacturers would wish 10 fee
| some OF their ground before assuming the rish
Of number Of possible reflections. The report
| OF the house commission ON ordnance and gun
| merry last year Ii approved AZ the best method O
developing our steel manufacture.