New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-09-09
THE HASKELL MULTICHARGE GUN
SOME SILLY STATEMENTS OF "THE ALBANY
ARGUS" ANSWERED.

ARGUS" ANSWERED.
TO the Bdttor orr Tribune.
Sir: The Albany Argu.' makes a great fuss over
the fact that the United States Government has lately
ordered an s-nch Haskell multIcharge dynamite
gun II also tries to make political capital cut OF
ms TACT by connecting the names OF Vlce-President
Morton, ex-senator T. c. Plat and others with the
securing Of this order. The article In The Argus
is full Of misstaements probably arising nom the
TACT that the reporter who wrote the article was en-
tirely ignorant of the facts misnformed as
to them. 1t is true the late senator Conkling, ex-
Senator Plat, Vice President Morton, Ex-Governor
Cornell and others did subscribe and pay the money
10 construct 6-inch multlcharge gum which was
a9erward tried at Sandy Hook. In doing this they
did praiseworthy and honorable act, and one which
ala much TO show the Government and the people
how the coast OF the country could he defended
that no ironclad fleet could take any Of our cities
1t was patriotic act, and not undertaken solely with
the view of making money but to aid In developing,
perhaps the most powerful gun in the world. Not
one of the gentlemen named went to this gun
fired in 1883 AMI 1891, during which years the expert
ments were made at Sandy Hook. Neither did any Of
hem ever bring the subject before the War Department
or Congress, or make any effort in the premises, ex
ccpt to furnish the money TO construct the gum The
Argus says: The Haskell Mutcharge Gun Com
pany Is only the corporate name under which I. c.
Platt, Alonzo b. Cornell, Levi r. Morton and others
have been trying for several years to sell 10 the
United States Government heavy and expensive guns
to be Tired on novel principle. Under President
Arthur's Administration the War Department was
persuaded 10 try of their guns, which was failure
Under Mr.. Clevelands Administration the gun was
not offered for sale test in any way but
as Mr.. Harrison appeared the movement to make the
Government purchaser Immediately started with
the result stated"
II would be hard work to crowd a greater number
OF miscellaneous into the same number of words.
The Haskell Mutcharge Ordnance Company has
recently secured an order for 5nch Haskell multi.
charge dynamite gum Neither T. c. Plat, A. L.
Cornell nor Levi f. Morton dollar Of the
stock of that company. No one of them ever tried
to sell any multcharge gun TO the Government, or
ever saw multchargc gun fired. Further, no one
vi lheh made any effort or USED any influence to afd
IN securing the order for the above named gun, or
even Iew that an application had been made for such
Take another misstatcment: " Under President
Arthurs Administration the War Department
persuaded TO try one Of Ler guns, which failure
The cost OF the owners and Congress Appropriated the
money 10 transport, mount and test t. Dur not by
any action OF the War Department. The epprJpna-
Ton was made 10 test any gun built at the expense Of
private persons. This appropriation passed both
houses OF Congress to encourage the production OF
new ana powerful guns, without any recommendation
Or action by President Arthur OIL his Administration.
The Argus further says that no attempt TO present
this gun was made during the Cleveland Admins.
lratQn It IS true that no attempts were made by
Ex-Governor Cornell TO sell the guns during the
Arthur or the Cleveland Administration The only
efforts made in this direction were made by the un.
dcsigncd and they were continuous through the Cleve-
land AdminstratlOD-;he informant OF The Argus
to the contrary Notwithstanding. There Is no politics
in the multlcharge gun. II IS purely scientific and
military problem. This gun has been presented 10
the Government without any Influence whatever be
ing used except the intrinsic merits of the principle
on which these guns are constructed.
csnor,, ~ 1rasro,, A. oSH Er