Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-01-21
THE STUCK PLUG.
WOrkusem NJ the Navy.Yard Still Una
bic 10 Relieve the cm.lnch Gum.

A STAR reporter paid q visit TO the navy yard
this morning, and learned that the l0-inch gun Is
still supplied with the refractory breech plug,
which has stuck In its jacket for over three weeks
Notwithstanding the vigorous efforts Of o large
force OF workmen to remove IL. AS reported some
days ago in The STAR, large portion OF this time
has been consumed in heating the metal, not from
the outside but from the inside Of the plug ITSELF
process that has been variously called "stupid,"
'idiotic" and .farcical" by many men Of long ex-
perience with iron and Steel In endeavoring to
discover the theory of this mode Of procedure the
reporter learne from one OF the workmen that at
maybe is TO soften up the gum what they put on
the screw when they put II In, SIR"
HOW THE WORK Is DONE.
The heating was discontinued several days ago.
and the foreInen and their assistants rugged tackle
with which to wrench the plug from the breech.
Thick oak planks were bolted on the plate OF the
plug, and on this In turn, were fastened two great
iron arms, extending one up and the other down.
An immense block was then attached to each Of
pulled west and the bottom one east. A number Of
other blocks and a few miles OF rope were added,
and the ends OF the nrst block lines made fast 70
arrangement eight men can exert a marvellous
amount OF power.
The ropes were manned yesterday afternoon and
the strain begun. The ropes stretched and the
pulleys creaked, but there was no movement CT
Inc pug siSioic. cuuucuIy SoiIctHiHB SCaIUeO anu
the line Of men staggered back. But it was not
the plug. That remained In the breech as tight as
ever. IL was one OF the blocks that had given way
under the tremendous strain. The reporter waited
for some time this morning In hopes OF seeing the
operation repeated but was compelled to leave the
great gun and the breech plug and the puzzled
workmen alone together.
THE EXPENSE
connected with this mistake will not be light The
plug cost about 81, 600, and the time Of the men
who have been kept at work In the attempt to re-
move 1t represents about $500 more. Then when
IL Is removed by boring. as 1t will have to be- the
probability is that the thread OF the breech will be
found TO be rOughened so as to require re-bOring.
IL may even happen that the jacket OF the gun
will not stand the operation, and then hollow
cylinder Will have TO be put inside and turned
with new thread. This Will cost considerably,
or course, counting the materials the labor Of the
only deduction possible from this incident, which
Is financially slight In comparison with the cost Of
the gun, Is that it Is dangerous thing to expert
ment with such costly pieces Of metal.
Outside Employment.
To the Editor of THE EVENING STAR:
In regard TO the circular concerning outside
work, lately distributed among the clerks Of the
Navy Department, and in answer to Justice"
whose letter you published In your valuable paper
yesterday, would like to say that the circular in
question dlsclaims any intention to discourage
such employment. What kind OF justice IS that
which would set bounds to o mans honorable am
bluon? And as for unfair competition, why not
prevent all lawyers, doctors. civil engineers &C.,
from seeking any emounentS other than those
What's sauce for the goose Is sauce for the gander
I. LERCH