New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-11-18
REPORT OF THE CHIEF OF ORDNANCE
SERIOUS INJURY CAUSED BY LACK or NEEDED AP-
PROPRIATIONS.


PROPRIATIOSs.
WASHINGTON, Nov. 17.-BrigadierG General
g. v. Bcnst, Chief Of Ordnance, U. g. Army has made
his annual report from which appears that during the
year 39.527 rifles. csrbines and shotguns have been
manufactured at the National Armory In consequence
the growing interest taken by the Army IN rinenrng
the demand upon for materials requisite
for practice has greatly Dcras d. and the posts are
now tetter equipped than at any previous time. The
appropriations for ordnance for the present year sgere
eating $3.50 900. declared to be wholly inadequate
and the department In consequence has been
from undertaking needed work The appropriation OF
Sc 100000 for steel forgnss is believed to be scarcely
So ifcient TO arouse much competition among steel
makers. but would prove healthy stimulus to the
manufacturers now engaged in supplying tie Govern
ment with gun forgnRs
In the recommendations OF the Board OK Fofticauons
locking to appropriation OF S2l50OOOO Tor tue nrs
year, the department fully concurs Through the 1A-
ure OF tho regular appropriation bill last session ser
GUS injury General Benet has been sustained py to
department Its operations in the line OF perfecng oru
nance for Notifications. such as the completion ana test
OF the experimental guns construction the further
development OF powders and explosives and TIE atera
OF carriages for mounting sting guns have prao
tcsy ceased except In far IS that work Is continued
over from by existing contracts And not only
has the work core to- standstll-of itself great evil
but tb" personnel of the department employed ON .ps
work almoot entirely discharged The force OF
civilians employed AT PROVING
of long rperienco IN handling guus aud explosives
aud doing technical work. bss beeu lost to The dc.
partnent The port decl that the same state OF
Affairs prevails at the WATERFOWL Arsenal. where cue
experimental inch under cons rue
ton aud other work IN progress All tails WORK has
practically ceased anu the large skilled force 5s Dneh
discouraged. Tho expense aud iahor attending lne
beginning OF the work WILL 1t Is stated TO great ana
difficulty will be experienced in obtaining another
OF sked artisans, from The feeling OF uncertainty
rrkaiding The permanency OF their employ ment that
mas grown up among tue men,
The report discusses tile gun lists at length Touch
ing PRODUCTION OF steel gun rorxnEs III ths country
tue report says OF the sce works when nave
thus far undertaken such work to-day about AS
tollows There establishment aOle. with preseni
fucies, TO produce all the forgngs and OF the required
qualities, for "A steel gun OF eight ncnes canore, ana
hoops of all sizes except the very largest and beavos
and the breech mechanism aud smaller forelnes oi al
caiDres. There are establishments no~ abie 10
produce the tubes and jackets aud miscellaneous
furgings for guns OF Il, oabrs and hoops OF very
considerable szs This represents the best tnat can DO
done to-day ny steel works or thus opuntIy. =.
General Benet quotes spprovngly FROM the report OF
the House Ordnance Commission the recomln en- atloh
tina: Government adopt the policy OF gradually ae-
veopng the capacity vf tue steel factories by requiring
them produce Orgugs for guns OF eight to Ton nen
caipre at the present time