New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-04-17
Bad WORK OF TIE ORDNANCE BUREAU
Rsosnp OF BLuSpEns. MIscALcuLArroxs AND

A RsCsRn OF BLUNDERs, siIsCALCULArIoNs AMI
EXPENSIVE DELAYs-wnES WILL THE TURRE1
TESTS BE MADEf
WARRINGTON, April 15.-It is unfortunate tina. the
| Ordnance Bureau OF The Navy DEPARTMENT should so
often subject itself to general criticism because OF
its miscaculatons and bunders. Its mistakes In the
mounting of tho guns of tho Atlanta and Boston
involved considerable to the taxpayers of
country. and they have not yet been rectifcd Then.
too. It has not met with the least in the
facture OF ordnance at the Navy Yard, and partleu.
larry with the that seriously damaged by the
breaking of tho boring bar in its muzxlc: and. more
recently, viii the tenlnch that nearly ruined
by the sticking Of the brcech plugboth accidents due
10 ineficiency. Another matter and ono which It is
rumored that tho House Naval Committee Is to inquire
into lie the delay in making the test Of the defective
turrets, designed by Passed Assistant Engineer n
Clark. of the Navy. There two distinctive types
Of these turrets-the single turrct or shield.
and the Monitor turret. On March Q. 1885, Congress
appropriated COO for the investigation and tests
of Mr.. Clarks designs. On October 10. 1888. the
chief Of the Bureau Of Ordnance. in excuse for tho
delay in making the test, reported to Secretary Whit
ncy thus
The Pussy 4 Jones Company, Of Wilmington, Del,
finished the plates backing and bracins OF the
get representing section OF the Clark DETECTING turret
. Owing lack OF funds IL has not been pos
sble to complete 1oinch gun with which to test this
target The prospect is that win be completed
long, when the structure viii be put together and tested
Still more than two years have passed and nothing
has been DONE viii be by the report of the chief
of tho bureau of Ordnance to Secretary Whitney When
will the test take place Is asked In time of peace pre-
pare for war;" is the old song; but at this slow rate
the people had better pray for century Of peace
and an increase of the tariff. II there Is to be con-
unuanco of this spending of money without results
The chief Of the Bureaus for making the
test is that he wants ten-inch calibre gun He
came to that conclusion two and half years ago,
after having delayed tho test two years In ordor to
make II with an eight-inch gun. Soon after Commo-
dore scard was appointed Chief Of Ordnance Engineer
Clark,s plans were presented TO him. John A. Logan.
fr beinc present as a witness. Tho commodore Is
rcported TO have said that he would not recommend
tho Government TO have anything TO do with the
plans: that IL they had any merit European Govern
ments would adopt them. and then IL would DO time
for this Government to tako them into consideration
1t is said to be tho unwritcn law OF tho Ordnance
Bureau that the inventions OF any ono not connected
with the BOARD shall receive consider ration when
tbo- comnee with the designs of the Bureau or its
adherents IL was this reason that the Naval Com
mittee gavo when It provided for two civilians in tho
Advisory Board. An officer said to your correspond
ent "The act as passed, contained provision that
no person should be a member OF the Board who was
Interested either directly or indirectly. In any plan
design In spite of that facts show the contrary to be
the casc Commodore sIcards guninounts were
adopted by the Ordnance Committee. composed Of TWO
OF his subordlnates equally interested with himself
Tho Bureau adopts Howelfs torpedo and Vcry's sig
nal pistol: whllo Howell and Very on tho Advisory
Board, adopt scards gin-mounts. Before the ap
preparation for the tost OF the Clark turrot Mr. Clark
was ordered by the Secretary TO prepare plans for tho
construction OF targets. and plans were made for q
number OF small ones. of simple construction. by
which several plates OF different thchnesses and OF
different qualities of material disposed at different
angles, could be tested and from which much useful
Information could be obtained. The Board. however,
gave consideration 10 these plans. but expended
large percentage of the appropriation for vertical
armor. After long delay the steel plates for q
single target ordered. and Mr. Clark urged that
they be backed with hard oak wood. or compressed
paper, according plans agreed upon by the Advisory
Board Instead Of using hard oak backing. yellow
Pine has been selected. while the Bureaus vertical
armor design is TO have hard oak backing. But the
delay In the test continues, because the tennch gun
ls ready The stipuations Of the Board are that
the Clark turet must give resistance equal TO tho
Mantonomah's vertical tirret Of thickness OF
thirteen inches. sufficient to "esist tho erarHv Of