Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1889-04-11
WASHINGTON.
REAR ADMIRAL THOMAS III. PAT.
TERS0N, g. S. N, DEAD.
Vandever a Stayer-Idaho Prepar.
ing to Become a State-The
Oklahoma Boomers.
SPECIAL DISPATCHES TO THE RRooRD-usIos.l
BIG GUNS.
How They are to be Bought and Tested
by the Army Fertilization Board,


WASHINGTON, April I0th.-The Army
Fortifcation Board, which has been hold
ing session at the War Department dur
ing the winter, has drawn up a set of rules
to govern the tests of experimental guns.
The Act creating the Board provides that
it shall prescribe the dimensions and
method of testing guns of ten or twelve
inches caliber, that may be submitted by
private parties, and if any gun offered shall
fulfill the requirements as to accuracy,
range, power, endurance, and general effici-
ency. the gun and ammunition, (Which is
to be furnished with the gun) shall be paid
for at fair valuation, including the cost
OF transportation. A contract, also, is to 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 the Secretary of War: The 10
inch gun shall be about so tons in weight,
the length "a calibers measure from the
face OF the obturator 10 the face of the muz-
Zle. 1t is desirable that the trunnions be
- inches in diameter and the distance be-
tween the rim of bases ~ inches. In order
to avoid the necessity for special carriage
power there must be a muZzle energy of
not less than l 500 foot tons, range shall
for twenty degrees elevation be 1860
yards and the corresponding ranges shall
be obtained with the lower elevations.
The requirements as to accuracy are that
% per cent. of the shot shall strike within
vertical rectangle ii feet by one foot at
1,500 yards, and within the horizontal
rectangle 4S.5 yards by 90 at 10000 yards
range, endurance test shall not be less than
300 rounds, with full charges. After $50 or
more rounds may have been fred the gun
may be lined totally, or in part, when at
least 90 rounds more will be fired. to fully
test the strength of its construction.
After this if the general soundness and
efficiency of the gun should not be materi-
ally impaired, excep. so far as NAV have
resulted from erosion, should any modifca-
ton OF the construction be made during
the trial, at least fifty rounds, with full
charges, shall be fred thereafter. The
weight of the projectiles to be used with
full charges, shall be about 575 pounds.
Three hundred rounds of ammunition
shall be the proper amount to be supplied
with the gun for the test.
As proof of the general efficiency of its
breech mechanism it should work freely.
and be convenient for operating. The
opening and closing of the breech to be
performed without great difficulty by one
man. The projectiles shall admit of being
readily handled, inserted and entered in
the bore, and not be subject to injury or
reformation either in handling or trans
portation.
The rapidity of the fire of fifteen rounds
per hour shall be obtainable, using such
appliances for loading as are EMPLOYED by
the ordnance department of the United
States army.
The repairs allowable during the entire
trial of the gun, exclusive CT the insertion
of lining tube, will be confined to the
repairing or renewing parts injured during
the trial. No alterations that may effect
the general construction of sny part will be
made without the sanction of the Board.
For twelve-inch gun the weight is to
be about tifty-two tons bore, thirty-four
calibers long, and it is desired that the
trunnions be II inches in diameter, and
49.S inches between the rim of the bases.
The power is to be not less than 26 600
foot tons range, Il mill yards at 20 degrees
elevation, that of accuracy the same as the
ten-inch gun, endurance not less than $50
rounds. Lining may be inserted after 200
rounds. Weight of projectile, about LOCO
pounds, and other conditions are to be the
same as in the case of the ten-inch gun.
except that the fire of ten rounds per hour
shall be attainable.
1ue experimental guns snail be SUBJ
mltted fof the test as soon as practicable,
and within three years from date. 1t IS
not considered practical for the Board to
determine at this time what will be the
valuation of an experimental gun which
shall have fulfilled the requirements pre-
scribed, nor what they should consider
would be reasonable for further supply
OF similar guns. 1t is believed to be better
on all accounts to leave these questions for
determination after the actual cost and
value OF such guns can be known. 1t is
understood, however. that the Board is
disposed to deal in liberal spirit with the
parties submitting the guns, with q view to
carrying out the evident purpose of the
Act OF Congress, which was to encourage
the development in the United States of
works capable of supplying the needs of
the country in the way OF sea coast and
other kindred defenses