The National tribune., 1889-11-07
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
The Weeks DOingS at the Ma
iiOnal Capital
GEN. GRANTS REMAINS.

GEN. GRANTS REMAINS.
Mr.. Geo w. Childs, the proprietor of the Phil
pdelphia Led0cr was ina Washington last week.
As well known friend of ex-Presdent Grant
and his family, he WAS asked what was going TO
be done regarding the removal OF Gen. Grants
remains from Riverside Park. New York. ="
will probably see Mrs. Grant about that matter
within a very short time" be answered, 81 but
until then do not care 20 express any opinion
regarding the matter At the time of Gen.
Grants death there was no definite oter oil a
burial place for his remains except that coming
from the Mayor and Board of Aldermen OF New
York. The reasons for his burial there have
been set forth pretty fully by Col Fred Grant
in letter he wrote lately, and have already
made public the wishes of Gen. Grant regard
ing his last resting place, ms he made them
known to me some time before has death, west
Point then being mentioned by him as the de-
sired place"
JACKETING THE BIG GUNS.
Shortly before . o'clock Thursday afternoon
the big 45-ton derrick in the gunshop of the
Washington Navy Iard travelled slowly over
the length Of the shop until it was just over the
large stone pit which is used rs a shrinking
pit Then long chain was attached TO tue
hook, and at the lower end was wOven-wire
arran cement with eyelets through il.
number Of Army and Navy officers and
members of the artillery class from Fortress
Monroe, under the command Of Capt. Story,
crowded around the side of the pit and risked
their necls watching the interesting event
which followed.
A big piece of steel. eight feet long. and hol-
low being 81 inches thick. had been resting
in an upright position ia the furnace Tor nearly
two hours, and was nearly red hot. OCcss-
iOnally a man in n checked blouse set n star
gauge in il 10 ascertain the diameter when ex-
banded, aud * was precisely ? o'clock when he
found the steel indica or 10 his liking.
Tvn 1,a1 ola
the qua jacket, Tor such il was, and IL did not
require very long 10 tighten them Then the
derrick was called into use. The clasps were
fastened to the eyelet-like arrangements on
the side, and the jacket slowly lifted. When 1T
had reached the proper altitude, the derrick
Travelled 20 the other side of the pat. until the
jacket was suspended over the testing machine
IA long piece Of brass Of the same circumference
as the gun tube. This was for the purpose of
ascertaiang whether The interior OF the jacket
was warped. 1t gradually slid down until 1t
rested over the brass tester.
This was the first successful step, and no time
was lost IN pulling OF the jacket and trans
ierring il 10 the tube of the gun. around which
a staging had been erected. As soon as the
jacket had been fitted hose was inserted into
the brecch end of the tube aud the water was
turned on. This was for the purpose OF cooling
the jacket from the interior instead Of the ex-
terror, and at the same time the water was
turned on the lover end from the outside, IN
order that that end should contract Gnsi.
The jacket which was put on the new 6-inch
steel gun viii be cooled by this morning and
then il will be turned over to the lafheT TO trim
down. The jacket when cold was Just 5-l00 of
an inch less in diameter than the tube over
which it went when expanded by the heat
The S-ineh qua was also jaeketed on Saturday
by the same process.
ExPEDITING PENSIONS
Gen. Green b. Raum the new Commissioner
Of Pensions has been long enough In bis
Office to discover that great many reforms In
the manner Of conducting business eau be made.
lie instituted one last week which will do
away with a vast deal Of the red tape which is
now used IN verifying the war record OF an ap-
piicant for pension. The military and Inedi-
cal records 81 a soldier are kept separately, the
first Ia Tie AdjHtARt-GencTais Office, while
the Surge0n-Se General has charge of the latter.
Dr.. AiHswOrth, Of the Surgeon Generals Office,
has practical control Il both, the secretary Of War
having recently established Division known
the Pension Division. War Department, and
has placed Or. AiusWoFih IN charge of IL IL
has beea the practice heretofore 10 make sePa-
rate calls upon these Bureaus. which eutailed
increased work IN The Pension Office and the
two Bureaus Of the War Department. New
Gen. kaum has devised a blank which answers
All purposes. and upon which information
forming a reply can be written. Gen. Raum
and tae Secretary Of the lAtsriOr recently held
conference regarding Pension Office affairs,
ia which the matter o. the rerated employees
Was touched upon. but not settled
THE C0sGMTssEoSEK's FIRST APPOINTMENT
The first appointment made by Gen. Raum.
the new Comm issiOner Of Pensions was a most
deserving one ia the selection OF Capt. Henry
Filler n Super intendent Of the Pension Build
lug. Capt. Henry Filler is an ex Union sol
der aud enlisted in the 9Th Pa. Reserves Co
i. April 2. 1861, serving IA al tie battles that
regiment was engaged IN until the second Ball
kuus where be was wounded by piece Of
shell, neecssitaiing tie amputati0n Of the left
arm near the shoulder. lie was apgoiu ted
Captain Of tie Watch, Department Of the lnte-
rior, By promotion. OH May Io50. which Office
be has tled with fidelity until he WAS trans
lerred 10 his new field Of labor. lie has been
o member Of john A. RawliHs Post, Depart
meat Of the Potomac g. Ar, for many years
Ills numerous friends will De gratifed al this
Well-cescrged promotion Of an ardent lover OF
his country and flag and we bid him bon yoy-
age.
NAVY RETIEEafEETs.
The President last week placed on the re.
tired list Commander George r. Davis u. 8.
Aayys aud LieuL-Col. George w. Collier, U. S.
Marine GOrFs, for disability incurred in the
line Of duty in service. Commander Davis.
who h. q native Of Massachusetts,. entered the
Naval Academy from that State IN 1860 but in
view Of the urgent need Of trained officers
curing the war, wa graduated As Midshipma
in July. 1852, and promoted 70 Ensign im 1863
while GA duty the blockade. la May. 1866.
be was promoted Master "a grade that Il now,
like that Of Midshipman. ab0ished), to Lieu
tenant N February. 1867, Lieutenant Com
Tnander March y, 1865, aud Commander Feb.
], I5s3. His last cruise was in the South
Atlantic Squadron, from which be returned in
April. l5-5, and since that time has been under
medical treatment al his home In Beverly.
Mass
Liegt-Col. Collier 10 a native OF Baltimore.
Ead was appointed Second Lieutenant IN the
Marine Corps Sept 8, 1860. making his FIRST
cruise ~ what was then called the Home S.auad-
EOn- The detection Of officers 10 Join the rebels
brought his promotion Do First Lieutenant
sept. j, 1861. aud he became a Captain in No
EembcT, i502. lie served on various vessels ON
the blockade during the whole Of the war and
Was next stationed in Washington for several
years. His last cruise was made in the Pacific
which WIS completed In 1870 after which he
WAS again at the Marine Corps headaaarters
here until bis promotion 20 Major ia ApriI
lcnO, when be WAS ordered 70 command The
barracks az Mare Island Navy Yard, Cal. Ia
March. 1855, he Was transferred TO command OF
the barracks at the Brooklyn Navy Yard, and
ln May last WAS promoted TO Lieutehant & Colo.
neL lie has long been sufferer from a chronic
trouble, Incurred during bis constant and ardu.