Rock Island daily Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1886-1893, 1890-03-08
GUN FOUNDRY HISTORY.
Origin of the Project and Investi-
cations.
Result OF Thorough Research by an
Army Board that Prompted Col.
Whittemore's Invention.

Maj. Mackenzie's office it is seen
that b. act of congress approved
March 3, 1888. gun foundry
board was organized by the presi-
dent for the purpose of making the
most vigorous research in relation to the
project to visit the principal countries Of
the world, make its Investigations thor.
ough, and report. That board was COM
posed of Rear Admiral E. Simpson. U.
s. navy, president of the board; Capt. E.
D. Matthews. U. s. navy; Col. T. g.
Baylor, U. s. army; Lieut.. Col. Henry
L, Abbot, Northumberland Of engineers.
brevet general U. S. army; Maj. Samuel
S. Elder, U. s. army; Lieut.. w. H.
Jacques, U. s. navy, secretary of the
| board.
The act under which the board was
authorized called for report on the fol-
lowing points:
First which of the navy yards or ar
senals owned by the government has the
best location, and is the best adopted for
the establishment of a government fouu-
dry.
Second, what other method, il any,
| should be adopted for the manufacture of
heavy ordnance adapted to modern war
fare. fer the use of the army and navy of
| the United States.
Third, the cost of all buildings, tools
and i'm elements necessary to he used in
the manufacture thereof, including the
cost OF steam hammer, an apparatus of
sufficient size for the manufacture of the
heaviest guns.
The irst question presupposes the es-
tablish nent of government gun foun-
dry, properly so-called. the establishment
to be under the absolute control of the
government, and the details of all work
to be supervised aud directed by govern
ment officers. The second question inn
poses no limitation aud simply calls upon
the board for suggestions. The board
decided that there were three points in
view from which this subject should be
considered, viz:
First, that the government should sup
plemeut the plants of some of the steel
workers of the country with such add,
tional JoOls and implements as would en-
able them to turn out finished steel can
non.
Second, that the government should
give contracts of sufficient magnitude to
en- able the steel workers of the country
to sup ply finished guns without its direct
aid.
Third, that the government should es~
tsblish on its own territory a plant for
the fabrication of cannon, and should
contract with private parties to such
amounts as would enable them to supply
from private Industries of the country the
forged tempered material.
The course of the investigation thus
indicated, the board addressed circular
letters to several of the steel manufactur-
ers in the country and to the companies
employed in the fabrication of cannon,
and these letters and replies are submitted
az q part of the report, and in reference
to these the board says: ut was evide MT
that none of the desired information
could be obtained from our manufacture
ers, because of their lack of experience
on this subject. 1t was known, too. that
several of the European governments had
had more or less experience of joint &C
ton With heavy artillery establishments,
and Il e board therefore saw the necessity
of seeking information abroad Accord
ingly the commission visited England,
France, Germany, Russia and made
tour Of the United States, which included
an inspection of Rock Island arsenal.
The board in its recommendations ac~
cepted the system then pursued in France
as the proper standard of imitation. and
in reply to the propositions made at the
outsel makes the following statements:
To the first. That the government
should supplement the plants of some of
the steel works of the country with such
addit onsl tools and implements as would
enable them to turn out finished steel
cannon.
| To the second, That the government
shall give contracts of sufficient maPni
tude to enable the steel workers of the
coun .ry to supply the finished guns with
out is direct aid.
To the third, That the government
shou d establish on its own territory a
plant for the fabrication of cannon, and
should contract with private parties to
such amounts as would enable them to
supply from private industries OF the
country the forged and tempered ma
terra.
In conclusion the board submitted Its re.
plies to the three heterogeneous cons
taint in the act of congress. and as to
which of the navy yards or arsenals
owned by the government had the best To-
cation and Vas best adapted for the estab-
lshtient of gun factory, recommended
waisrvliet Arsenal. West Troy. N Y, as
the site for the army and the Washing
ton navy yard. District of Columbia, as
the aite for the navy. In reply to the
second question as to what other method
II ary, should be adopted for the manu-
factlIre Of heavy ordnance apart from the
esta ,lishment of government foundry
the BOARD recommended, that with gov
ernrlent gun factories established there
would still be needed the cooperation OF
priyste industries Of the country.
In reply to the third question with re
gard to the cost OF buildings. tools anc
implements necessary including the cos
of the steam hammer or apparatus oil
sufi cient size, the board reported the ap
pro climate cost OF plant for producing thu
ten pered parts of guns up to 100 tom