The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1890-12-19
AN ORDNANCE FOUNDRY.
Recommendations Made to Congress by
the Board.

WASHINGTON, Dec. 1S.-The report of
the Army Board, appointed to select site
for an ordnance foundry, is substantially as
follows: 1t says that the Gun Foundry
Board created in 1884 recommended the
Watervliet Arsenal for the manufacture of
high-power guns for coast defense de-
pendence to be placed upon private works
for the steel forgings, of which the guns
should be made, and it seems that this
policy has been adopted by Congress. The
report recites that localities were mentioned
for site in the FOrtificatonS Act, namely,
Indianapolis, Rock Island and Benicia Ar
senal and some point on the gulf coast.
They visited these places and in addition
Tacoma, Seattle and Port Townsend on the
Puget Sound, Portland, Astoria and Van
coNver on the Northern Pacific Coast and
San Francisco, San Diego and the Gulf
States, States; 1t was thought a necessary to visit
Birmingham. The board says that much
valuable information was secured from the
localities at the various places, where the
citizens furnished Intelligent data.
The board says that it found the subject
OF steel forgings highly. complex one. 1t
appears to revolve itself into the following
subordinate lines of Inquiry: First, coni-
mercial facilities, and under this head saws
that the first question in the establishment
of any great workshop should be as to the
profitable disposal OF its products, and until
this Is settled no further question has any
logical standing; second, natural facilities,
Involving cheapness Of production, and the
supply and cost OF suitable ores, and the
distance from which they must be trans
ported 10 produce crude iron for conversion
into steel and TO forge it.; also, whether the
process of conversion is to be the old aud
well-established one; third, the Industrial
facilities of all needfui sup lies should be
obtainable quickly, as should also skilled
and unskilled labor; fourth, as to transpor-
tatlon facilities, there should be ample
freight facilities and low rates, aud such
facilities would be greatly increased by
convenient body of water, especially il such
locality is on tide-water.
Now arises the advisability of erecting
another gun factory, and the question of
how many guns are needed and of what
caliber?
Concerning the matter the board says 1t Is
Guided by the views Of the preceding boards.
The estimates first proposed were as fol-
lows: For the Atlantic Coast. 34s guns and
476 mortars; for the Lake Coast, % guns and
"a mortars; for the Gulf Coast, rs guns and
GA mortars; for the Pacific Coast, 153 guns
and 160 mortars. The original estimate
made no provision for the defense of Puget
Sound, but the present board deems it expe-
dent TO add to the estimates a considerable
armament for that section. The number of
guns required for Puget Sound, estimated by
the board. is 80 12-inch, 35 l0-inch and IS
8inch guns, and 100 Pinch mortars
The only facilities now at Watervliet are
of limited capacity, therefore, in the opin-
ion of the board, the facilities fcr making
high-power guns should be largely increased.
Then arises the query, Where should the
foundry be located? 1t is the unanimous
opinion Of the board that it should be on the
Pacific Coast. The quantity of guns required
Is sufficient to justify the erection of fac
tory for building them. and every consider
alton OF titEess and propriety seems to make
u advisable that the guns for the Pacific
Coast defense should be made on the Pacific