The Ketchum keystone. [volume] (Ketchum, Idaho) 1885-1899, 1888-12-01
cATL,Nc,s muRDsRovs CUM:
A New Engine Of War that Fires 1s%0o
Rifle Balls . Minute.

Anew Engine IT war that Fires 1900
Rifle Balls = Minute.
The Calling Ordnance Company has
Just been chartered under the laws of
Virginia with a capital of $1,000, 900.
Several big capitalists, including a
number of New Workers and Philadel-
phians, have taken stock in the enter
prise. The company was formed to
manufacture DR.. II. J. Cuttings new
and improved steel cast cannon, which
has attracted attention in military and
naval circles here and elsewhere. This
gun is designed for Notifications, the
field and the navy. The patents of
DR.. Calling cover many new points in
ordnance, and they are secured in this
country and abroad.
His admixture of alloy with the fluid
steelis novel in its peculiar formation
of bronze and other metals, which are
blended with such wonderful skill OF
chemical process that when. the metals
have properly cooled and adhered from
their fluid state they become SOLID.
close ana combined, and in every weak
point the proper adjustment of the car-
bon controls the casting, closing up
all blow-holes and crevices, which in
sures the safety of the gun. The gun
is cast with tube, which accomplishes
the cooling-o process in short time.
.'Built-up' guns are put togetner oy
nieces of armor steel, like the building
of an iron house, with straps or bands
to secure its formation and hold it to-
gether. In such heavy work of max
ing 15-incl1 gun there are liable to be
blow-holes, crevices; and cracks, and
by such defects there is great danger
of bursting. 1t has been supposed by
many engineers and gun experts that
cannon cast from steel could not be
condensed with rigidity, toughness and
durability sufficient to bear the pres
sure of heavy explosions of powder and
to throw large shot at long distance:
These points, DIR. Calling claims he has
overcome by his peculiar method OF
matchmaking metals, having already
tested the durability Of such combina-
tons.
The value of Gatling's steel cast gun
is in the saving of time and expenses
in construction. While the .sbuilt-up"
armor cannon require over nine months
for their manufacture, the Gatllng
steel gun can be cast and cooled from
the center in sixty days from the time
the fluid is run into the pit. This saw
ing of time and money is recognized
by our Government and by foreign
powers.
The works for the construction of
Gatling's guns will be placed near
Philadelphia. probably at Chester. 1t
is understood that the work of con-
struction will commence as soon as
possible, under the personal direction
of the inventor, and that the capital
stock of the company will be raised to
IS 900, 900. The Ordnance Board, con-
sisting of Lieut.. A. Mordecai, Presi-
dent; j. P. Farley, Major Ordnance
Department, and John E. Greer, Cap
tain Ordnance Department., tested the
improved gun of DR.. Calling and re-
ported to the Chief Of Ordnance that
the improvements were found to be in
the method of feeding rather than in
the gun itself. The accles drum be-
ing on the gun, 800 pounds were fred
at / 900 yards, hitting a target II by
% feet All times in ~ seconds. The
system worked perfectly. The crank,
which had been at the rear, was then
transferred to the side in order to
diminish the rapidity of fire, and the
drum-feed proper was replaced by the
combination drum and Hanged feed
guide. Then 500 more rounds were
fired, hitting the target 351 times in
one minute aud one second without
difficulty.
The improved feed magazines of the
Calling gun can discharge 1920 rifle
balls minute, with the accuracy of
hand rifle. The range is from one
mile and half to two miles. A bat
terry of six guns can discharge per-
petual fire of 5000 balls minute and
continue it indefinitely. No number
could successfully charge and silence
these batteries. Before the cavalry
could get within mile of the guns the
horses legs would be cut off as with
saw by the bullets. The guns can be
elevated at a proper angle, throwing
the balls up in the air and falling a
mile away in the intrenched positions
of the enemy, rout them or destroy
them by a shower of metal, as the
balls will 60 through two-inch plank
in their descent The gun is so light
that it can be carried by one or two
men for miles, and conveyed at great
speed by one horse.