Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-11-13
IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS.
Gen. Benet Reviews the Advances Made
During His Army Service.

DoEAhS army SCENlCc.
In his annual report az chief of ordnance of
che army, from which several Of the more i'm
portant facts were noted in yesterdays STAR.
Gen. Benet says that all OF the 500. 1000 appro-
priated in 1888 for tho army gun factory at
Watervliet has been expended, ond the work of
completing the plant for the capacity of the
building, to give estimated annual output of
twenty-four guns (twelve eight-inch. seven ten
inch and five twelye-inch) per annum. is now
being prosecuted from the appropriation of
Sioo,Voo, made IN the Notifications act of 1890.
THE ESTIMATES.
The estimates submitted for the next fiscal
year are as follows:
For the manufacture of eight ten and twelve
inch steel and coast guns $40 OCO; steel field
guns OF thlrty-tvo inch caliber S25 600; steel
forgings for one type sea-coast gun of sixteen
inch caliber, S125,0eO; carriages for field gun
batteries. S61.000; for carriages for twelve-inch
sea-coast mortars. 1926. coo; alterations of ex-
listing sea-coast carriages for ten and fifteen
inch guns, LOCO; plant at Watervliet for
carriages, S27 900; steel armor piercing pro-
1ectiies, 00Oo0; casting twelye-inch sea-coast
rifed mortars. 100000; carriages for sea-coas.
guns. S200.OOo; oii-tempercd steel for eight,
ten ard twelve-inch guns 81, ESQ. 600; to COM
piete the gun factory by the erection of the
south wing and crane ways, S24S, 743; plant for
the same, Si6O, OGO; powder and projectiles for
service guns, SlO5O00
OF the great sixteen-inch sea coast gun for
which estimates are submitted. Gen. Benet
says the plans OF the fertilization board IN
Guided forty-four Of these guns to defend ports
OF the tirst importance. The general ground
upon which rests the necessity for procure
ment OF guns of this caliber is that the land
defenses shall possess guns not only equal in
power to any that the attack can bring for
ward, but that they shall e1deavor to hold the
superiority IN this respect over the attack
ri
Is about 491S feet, the length of bore thirty
nye cal5ers and the weight 125 tons 1t will
fire charge OF about LOCO pounds with pro-
lectie of over one ton in weight. The estimated
muzzio penetration IN iron is about three feet
anu the maximum range about fifteen miles,
Of the large estimate for steel forgiuys for
heavy ritied guns the report says:
This appropriation should be made at the
next session OF Congress. IL is urgently needed
10 meet the requisite supply of forgings the
present manufacturing Capacity of the army
gun factory-nortn wing and center section
This plant, working alone, will require a new
supply of forglngs. with deliveries to commence
about the end OF the year 1898. III an appro-
prlation Is not made this Session there Is every
reason to anticipate that the gun factory will
run short of work before fresh supply OF
forgings can be obtained.
GEN. BENET's vALZpIcroRY
In closing this, his last annual report, after
fel;citating the army and country on its sue
cessful establishment of great gun factory
and the triumph of American scientific and
mechanical skill. Gen. Benet sums I'D the
achievements OF the ordnance departm dur
ing his forty-one years of continuous service in
the following language:
The casualties natural to q period Of human
HE extending more than forty years have
changed the entire personnel of the department
since my graduation and the great lights of the
past have. IN the course of nature given way
70 their more youthful successors. Smooth
bores have yielded to rifles and 5o0-yards range
and uncertain accuracy to the unerring bulls
eye far beyond the unaided reach of human
vision, and the brittleness of cast iron spheres
have been superseded by the marvellous perfor-
ating of steel armor by elongated proiectiles.
Guupowder. with Rodmans marked improve
meut in size and burning and consequent re-
ouced p azure, seems to be yielding to a
smokets,s -om?',Ir not yet perfectly devel-
opec AID the destructive power Of the titanic
explosives Of today Great are the inventions
fo- the destruction of human life and public
and private property, which, supplemented by
the new chemical aud mechanical processes
governed and guided by electricity as the mo-
tor. makes this era IL the militarJ history of
the world marvel.
Happily, he SAYS. ''for the progr ,ss Of tie
human race. the arts of peace have advanced
no less niRryelously and their beneficent effects
more than compensate for the evils that wars
drumors OF wars can ever inflict on man.
evcE were II not true that the more perfect the
appliances for destruction the shorter and less
sanguinary Ii the conflict
Gen. Benet will retire before the close Of the
present year