The Helena independent., 1889-04-11

Regulations Of the Fertilization Board Of
Interest to Inventors.

Regulations Of the Fertilization Board Of
Interest Ia Inventors.
WAsmS0ToS, April TO- The Army
Fertilization board, which has been hold
Ing sessions At the war department during
the winter has drawn a set 0f rules TO gov
ern tests of experimental guns The act
creating the board provides that II shall
prescribe the dimensions and method Of
testing guns Of ten OF twelve inches cali
bre that may be submitted by private par
ties, and II any gun offered shall fulhll
the requirements, as 10 accuracy, range,
power, endurance and general efficiency,
the gun aud ammunition which is 10 be
furnished with the gum shall be paid for
nj a fAir valuation, including the cost Of
transportation. A contract Is also 20 be
made AT reasonable prices with the party
presenting the best Of such guns for fur.
ther supply. The board has accordingly
formulated the following conditions which
have been approved by tie secretary Of
war;
The ten.inch gun shall be about 81 tons
In weight the length thirty four calibres,
measured from the face Ot The ObturAtUI 10
The face Of the muZEle. II IL desirable that
]
Snd the distance between the rim bases
| fOrty-twO inches. In order ~ avoid the
Necessity tor special carriage power, there
must De a mUkzle energy oi not less than
| 1900 foot tons. 1he range shall for
twenty degrees elevation be- rs go yards,
aud corresponding ranges shall be- OBJ
tained win lower elevations. The require
ments as accuracy are that 70 per cent,
| Uf shot So strike within vertical rec
tangle Of 1 feet by one foot Al 500 yards
range, and within horizontal fcctangle Of
is 8 yards by g2 yards at 1900 yards
range The endurance test shall not be
less than 300 rounds with full charges.
! After $50 or more rounds may have been
fired, the gun may be lined wholly or IN
part, when at least fifty rounds more will
| be lfed "a fully test the strength Of con
structiOn. AtieT this the general sound
ness and efficiency uf the gun should mol
be- materially impaired. exbept 81 lar as
may have resulted from erosion. Should
any material modification Of construction
! be- made during the trial, AT least fifty
rounds with full charges shall be fired
thereafter. The weight Of The prOJectile u
he be used with full charges shall Dr about
100 pounds Three hundred rounds Oi
ammunition shall be- a proper amount To b,
supplied with gun for test. As proc
oi general efficiency the breech mechanism
should work freely and be convenient fOl
operating, the opening and closing Of th,
bTecch to be- performed without any grea
difficulty by one man. Projectles shal
admit OF being readily handled, inserted
and entered Ia the bore, and not be subject
To injury or reformation, either In handling
or transportation. The rapidly of tire o
fifteen rounds per hour shall be attainable
using such appliances as are employed b!
the ordnance department OF the Unite,
states army. The repairs allowable dur
ing the entire trial Of the gun, exclusive o
the Insertion Of the lining OF the tube, vii
be confined 10 the repairing Of the renew
ing parts injured during the trial. No al
teratiUns that may Affect the general con
structiOn of any part will be made wlthOu
the sanction Of the board.
For "A twelve inch gun the weight Is :
be about liity-two tons, bore thlrty-fOu
calbTes long, and II is desired that tn
trnnniOns be IA inches In dlamete
and ~ y inches between the rim bases. Tn
power Is a. be not less than 20 900 foot ton,
range II, 100 yards at twenty degrees elevH
tlon. the accuracy 10 be the same as a ter
inch gun and the endurance not less tina
250 rounds dining may be inserted afte
800 rouDdsl, the weight of the prOjectile
be about |, 900 pounds, and the other cUni
tiOns are uO be the same rs in the case OF
ten-inch gun, except that a fire of IL
} rounds per hour shall be attainable.
Experimental guns should be submitte
for the test as soon as practicable an
within three years from date. IL Is nt
considered practicable Tor tie board 10 de
teTmine, at this time, what shall be "a IA
valuation" OF an experimental gun whic
shall have fulfilled tie requirements, ne
what should be, reasonable" for
further supply of similar guns. II Is b.
: lieyed 10 be- better on all accounts 10 leaS
= these questions for determination after u
) actual cost and value OF such guns can
, known. IL Is understood, however, III,
the board Is disposed tO deal In liber
: spirit with parties submitting guns with
! view 10 carrying out the evident purp0i
of the act OF congress, which was 10 el
courage development In the United Stat
: Of works capable Of supplying the needs
l the country In the way of sea coast aI
$ other kindred defences.