Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-01-04

scribed
A conference is being held at the Har-
per this afternoon of representative citi-
zens CT Rock Island, Moline and Daven-
port. with Col. J. NJ Whittemore. COM
mandant at Rock Island arsenal, the pur-
pose CT which is to adopt plans. II possi-
BILE. By which the manufacture of the gun
may be made one Of the industries of
Rock Island arsenal. The views of Col.
Whittsmore have been solicited on the
subject and also description of the gun.
It waH in the direction of the experiments
with this new steel gun for sea coast de-
fence that his time was mostly occupied
at Wstervliet arsenal. West Troy. N. Y,
where he was stationed from June. 1886.
Alluslon has been frequently made by the
ARGUS to this gun since Col. White
more's arrival at Rock Island arsenal and
something of description has been Civ
en-. Just now this piece of machinery is
attracting the attention Of the world, as
it is especially designed and con-
structed for use in sescosst protec-
ton; indeed it is intend ed as in
itself fertilization for cities open to
naval attacks. The gun is a breech-
loader, with calbre of from six to six
teen inches. carrying projectiles of 100 to
1000 pounds. fired by powder charges
of one-third to one>half the weight of
the projectie. the range being from six
to fourteen miles. 1t consists principally
of a eel barrel. very long. with jacket
shrun< on the breech end with steel hoop
braces shrunk on from the breech to the
muzzle end. The apparatus for closing
the breech after the projectile and charge
are inserted, Is complicated piece of
mechanism. There are two systems for
accomplishing this. the one adopted by
the United States government, being the
French or slotted screw system. The
other which is used extensively in the
old world, is known as the Krupp. Two
to three years are consumed in the man
ufactlre OF the gun-tbst is from the
time the steel forgings are cast at the
founory, until the completed gun is
turned out of the factory.
As has been previously stated, the gov>
eminent has authorized but one factory
for the manufacture Of these guns so far
II is at Wstervliet arsenal. COL. White
more's late command. The capacity of
that arsenal is regarded as insufficient to
furnish and turn out annually over thirty
guns, while the calibre of the guns &C
cording TO the srsenals equipment, can
not exceed twelve inches. There are about
two thousand OF these guns necessary
and it is manifest therefor that other ia
cilities be provided for their more rapid
construction. Col. Whittemore having
designed the plant as we'll as supervised
the construction of this celebrated gun,
IS capable of speaking from practical
know edge and it is his belief that
ad1itio nal plants for the manufacture of
this gun be established at Rock Isla nd
arsenal and on the Pacific coast. Hav-
ing gwen the subject of the establish
ment of plant here much consideration
and Investigation since his arrival, and
having been through the experiences Of
estab ish;ng the tirst works for the con-
struciOn of the gun. Col. Whittemore is
able of course to make recommendations
whict will carry great weight when con-
sidered by the war department. He be-
lieves that two at present unused builds
ings might readily be converted into fac
tories with q capacity of eighteen lathes
each FOR finishing guns up to calibre of
.welve inches, which weigh fifty>two tons
and throw. a projectile weighing 1000
with a charge of 300 to 500
of powder. His idea is to place |
The engines and boilers, and shrinksge |
pits for both wings of each building in |
heir respective areas between the wings, |
making the fronts between the connect
ng wings the finishing shops, each wing
% contain three rows of lathes, ninety
eot long, with travelling crane over
read running across the building, and |
ailwsy tracks between the lathes pro-
'ided with turntables by which the heavy /
pieces, tubes, ETC.. could be taken from
he lathes and carried to the shrinkage
bit and heating furnace for the purpose
If being shrunk together-one shrinkage
pit al swering for both wings of build
ng. He estimates the cost of putting
hese two buildings in the shape outlined
It 100000 for both. From an ecouo-
mic point of view the advantages of Rock
sland arsenal are far in advance of any
ther, while in the question OF power it
xceets all Others and the fact that the
are already on hand which could
e utilized. is very important, this alone
aving fully half million.
Col Whittemore appeared before the
meeting at the request and solicitation of
hose composing it and an earnest and
United effort will be made to impress up
n the government the advantage Of car
ying out the colonels plans.
Police Points.
John Wood, denizen OF D ock street,
exposes in the cooler for intoxication.
A Ieddler named Levi B. Miller was