Evening star., 1886-11-04
THE ORDNANCE FOUNDRY.
The WOrk Of Conversion Of the Wash
fngtOn Navy Yard to its New Uses
Necessarily slow.

There has been very little. If any, change in
the Washington navy yard in the month that
1t has been in possession Of the ordnance
bureau. and it is thought that 1t will be over a
year before the proposed ordnance foundry can
show anything like the activity that is ex-
pected of It, Nearly all the workmen except
those belonging TO the ordnance department
were necessarily discharged on the 1st OF Octo-
ber, and 1t Is hardly possible that any number
can be re-employed within year. although the
increase OF work will be gradual, and some
needed workmen may be taken back before
that time. The ordnance department was prac-
tica!ly In possession OF the larger part OF the
yard before the transfer OF the other depart
ments to it was made, and as there has been no
increase of work since then, there have been no
changes necessary. The work on the guns for
the new cruisers is In such an advanced stage
tiiat there Is no necessity Tor hurrying matters
In that direction, and nothing has yet been done
about the guns and armament for tue proposed
new vessels.
AN INTERREGNUM AT THE YARD.
There is AN interregnum at the yard now, or
will be shortly, affording an opportunity for
making all the preparations for the extensive
work proposed. Secretary Whitney desires to
have the whole matter thoroughly examined
Lefore taking any action In regard TO tue trans
formation of the yard. A board Of officers il
now engaged ON that work. Some OF the old
buildings will be remOdeied and doubtless new
ones win be erected. but just what the require
sive changes Will be made
NEW MATERIAL TO BB WAITED FOR.
There will be ample time for making all pre-
parations, tor 1t is though that 1t will be many
months before any quantity OF the new mate
rial is ready. The contracts for steel forgings
are not yet awarded, ana the contractors will
have to be allowed plenty of time. They will
be somewhat inexperienced and may ind it
very difficult to furnish just what is needed
without experimenting somewhat. OF course
It will be to their advantage to furnish the
fOrgingS as soon as possible, and they may be
able to exceed expectations in the matter. But
at any raie ii must necessarily be long time
before the ordinance foundry at Washington is
turning out the work expected OF it. As stated,
matters there are going aS usual just now.
"DIsAssEMBLING" THE DEFECTIVE STEEL GUN
On Monday the detective six-inch gun was
"disassembIed" successfully. 1t often happens
that jacket hoops OF tho guns must be shifted
or removed, but in this instance the gun had to
be Practically taken apart, in order that the de-
fective tube might be replaced by "a new one.
The gun was placed on end in u mod OF luller's
earth, and liquid iron poured around it to give
the heat required tor the expansion of the
but a short time, and the hoops were readily
cropped OF. The Midva!e Steel Works were
spousibie for the detective tuOe, and according
10 contract will be required to furnish q new
one. This will take some time, SO that this gun,
which was intended for the Atlanta, will prob
ably be assigned to the Chicagu. the delay is
particularly regretted. because this gun mad
pose being to see ii 1t would not be an improve
ment- Tue knowledge that might have been
gained from the experience with its style OF
ritlng will be secured later than WAS hoped.