Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-04-03

GUNS AND CARRIAGES FOR TIE NEW NAVY.
The old navy-yard-navy-yard only in name
| for it is devoted exclusively to the manufac-
| ture Of ordnance-looked as bright this morn
| ing as the cloudy weather would permit. It
was gala occasion, for it was the first time
the yard had officially been visited by the new
Secretary of the Navy. The booming of
guns-seventeen loud reports in impressive
succession-announced Secretary Tracy's
arrival at the gate. He was accompanied
by Commodore Sicard. chief of the bureau of
ordnance, and Lieut.. Mason, the naval secre-
tary. Inside the gateway the full guard of
marines, commanded by Capt. Pope, was drawn
up, and as the Secretary passed they presented
| arms and looked as pretty only marines in
full uniform can look. Capt. Meade, command
| ant of the yard received the visitors and then
with Commander Stirling, commanding officer
OF the receiving ship Dale; Surgeon WOOL
verton, medical inspector and surgeon Of the
yard; Paymaster Wright, Chief En-
gineer De Vain, and Lieut.. Dun
lap, assistant inspector of ordnance,
walked down, just at Ii o clock, to the breech-
mechanism shop, leaving the marines to shake
their satfron-hued epaulettes at the few curious
females-white and colored-who had been at
tracted to the entrance by the artillery salute.
AT THE BRRECH-MECHANIsM SHOP
the Secretary was received by Commander
Folger, inspector of ordnance and general
superintendent; Lieut.. W. Swift, whose duties
include supervision of the shops especially in the
placing and erection of new machinery, and Mr..
Dennette, the mechanical superintendent. Here
the Secretary introduced to four bright
steel cylinders, perfect in their finish, and
almost ready to be denominated complete 6-inch
guns. He did not tarry long, but moved on
almost at once to the foundry, where the skill
ful artisans were at work III the fine black
sand which was to jacket as fine castings of
their kind as the world has ever seen. From
here the line of march led to the huge build
ing known as the quadrangle. and at the door
way, by which the Secretary entered, stood
Lieut. Pendleton, in charge, and Lieut..
Nicholson, who superintends the construction
OF 6-lnch guns. They were introduced to the
Secretary, and then the party went in to ex-
anime the numerous 6, and 10-inch
GUN-CARRIAGEs AND SHIELDS.
Especially did the Secretary seem to be in
terested in the 10-inch turret mount, and with
Commodore Sicard and Commander Folger he
climbed up the stairway which leads to the car
riage and listened to Lieut. Sturdy as he ex-
planned the construction. The mount is in
tended for one of the four 10-inch guns which
will form the armament of the Miantonomah.
Alongside of the scaffolding was complete
6-lnch gun on its carriage and fitted with
shield, both of the latter ready for
shipment to the Yorktown; these interested
the Secretary. and he walked all around the
deadly weapon. The shields for the Boston's
guns were also examined critically, and then
the Secretary went around to another side of
the quadrangle and looked at the 10-nch gun,
which wants only its breech mechanism to be
ready for the Miantonomah
AN EMBRYO STEEL GUN.
Further on the Secretary saw and paused to
look at solid steel ingot-an incipient gun
which was having 81 inch hole bored in it.
Remark was made about the number of power
full tools which were idle in the shop, and
Lieut.. Swift said that the inactivity was due to
the lack OF steel, enough OF which could not at
present be secured
THE PROJECTnE ROOM
on the upper floor was next visited-a very
clearly apartment-where vision was dimmed
by whizzing and apparently inextricably con-
fused succession of belts and shafting On the
floor and in the embrace of the machines were
projectIles of many descriptions IN all stages of
construction, from the rough-cast conical-
tipped cylinder to the smoothly -tnished and
deadly missile.
THE FORGE SHOP
was next in order, and here all cleanliness van
iShed. myriad of little fires shone ruddily
through the smoky atmosphere and reflected
themselves on the metallic portions of the Off
GERS uniforms. The contrast in costumes was
very strongly marked-grimy. leather-aproned
artisans brushing past the broadcloth and gold
lace of the commandant and his staff
Leaving the FORCES and the smoke behind the
Secretary went outside and then entered the
old anchor shop, soon to be filled with machin-
cry. A number of workmen were busily en-
gagged In preparing for the reception of the
huge tools, and some were putting
the finishing touches to the twenty-five-ton
travelling crane. A great many tool
beds were all ready for their burdens
and the pillars were Ill place to support the 40
ton crane which Is expected to arrive within
the next six weeks. At the extreme northern
end matters were progressing fayorably for the
reception Of
THE 110-ToN CRANE
which will move the machinery and the great
guns in that part of the building Here Secre-
tary Tracy met Civil Engineer Frank O. Max
son, IN charge of the erection of buildings
There was no heightened conversation The
Secretary said he was glad to know Mr. MaXson
MIR. Maxson bowed, and the party moved on to
the brick extension at the north end where
the shrinking-pits are situated. so that
both the 4O-tOn and the 1l0-tOn cranes
can swing plumb over the pits. On the floor
level number of enormous tools are to go in
some OF the lathes reaching right across the en-
tire shop-l20 feet.
The ordnance stores were next examined
the Secretary viewing with apparent satisfac-
ton the immense quantity of stores which were
stacked up waiting for the completion of the
Yorktown and Charleston.
SHELLS TO PENETRATE TwESTY-THREE INCHES OF
SOLID IRON.
''What kind of shells are these?" aueried the
Secretary, kicking in a very daring manner one
of row Of prone missiles
He was informed that they were 1O-inch
st. diamond shells, guaranteed, when
propelled by $50 pound charge
CRATE solid wrought iron armor 90 inches
thick. The reply seemed to please him, and
from that time on he had a confidence of VIC
tory In his manner which was not noticeable
before.
A profusion of antique spherical shell, stacked
In pyramids and rusty as Indian department
bacon used to be years ago. was passed by
without comment and the laboratory was en-
tered: The stock OF cartridge bags was glanced
at and the steel-tester came in for its brief
share of attention before the Secretary went
out and down toward the river front.
IN THE GUN PARK
lay row after row of cast-iron and bronze guns.
the former being kept on hand only until the
navy has a sufficiently large stock of more mod
ern ordnance on hand, the latter decreasing
In number very rapidly, for they are being sac
rifced for their metal. The Secretary asked a
question or two about them, and after peeping
In at the door of a storehouse stopped to read
the inscription on plate in the corner of the
building-the legend running to the effect that
int hat ra1