New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-28
WHERE BIG GUNS ARE TRIED.
THE NEW NAVAL PROVING GROUNDS ON
THE POTOMAC.
GREAT IMPROVEMENT ON THE ANNAPOLIS
GRoUNDs-ENHGY DAsHrELI,s GOOD WORK.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO THE ruyUSE.l

"OONDS -l1NSlIN DASHIELL'S GOOD WORK.
tBr TELEGRAPH TO THE rEIyUSE.l
washington, July 27.-The Naval ordnance proving
ground at Indian Head, the Potomac, which was
purchased last year. already pretty well equipped and
10 IN every way vast improvement on the old proving
ground at Annapolis, which, indeed was wholly I'M
sui'aole for modern hgh-power guns When Ensign
X. D. Dashiel the officer in charge was sent down
tere last september II was about desolate as any
spot on the lower Potomac. small stream running
down toward the river spread out over the valley and
1851 ltSeif In marsh that covered ali the low ground
extending back from the river between the two ranges
OF MIS- admirably situated to stop the flight OF pieces
OF pro)ectles or armor plates There were some old
tumDe-down houses ON the place. and in on these,
an abandoned fsherman's hut Ensign Dashiell esab-
shed himself and there he lived alone through the
winter in house thai so poor that he had to put
up tent his bed To keep the water out, and
he had to begin tests OF kind or another before he
had time to make many IMPROVEMENTS the only place
where he could keep his powder dry under his bed
The stream has been confined to fixed channel,
and the swamp in which the OK teams would frequently
get stuck Is now solid ground, Taversed By railways
running to the various firing batteries and wherever
heavy weights will have to be carried substantial
wharf has been built out into the river with the rail-
way track running to It's end where loaded can
be directly off the barge which guns and other
materials shipped down from the Washin gton ord
foundry, Of which the proving ground is reilly
part On the south side Of the stream Is the velocity
battery, Of platforms for gun-nounts of different
sizes The range Is the nvine, where the pro-
ject1les fred into sand butte. The usual fire
erected in front Of the guns and from them
electric wires, leading back over the hills to the
Office, where the conclusion OF heavy guns will not
interfere with the working Of the raphs-insti
ments by which almost infniteslmal fractions Of
second be measured. At one end OF the velocity
battery is roomy bombproof dug into the side Of the
hill onAN apdi In drifh frp
party be safe from the danger Of flying fragments.
The range battery is to be placed the opposite side
OF the ravne the river front where long range
over the water is available. Further up the ravine
pumping plant is being put in TO supply water for the
hydraulic machinery OF heavy guns. Further in
cross ravne is storehouse and a small building where
powder charges put up, the ravine powder maya
zine being still further away from the firing ground, in
another ravine. Comfortable quarters have been
built for the officers In charge and for the worlnen
employed some forty in number.
While all these Improvements have been in progress,
the actual routine work Of the proving ground has not
been neglected Guns of all calibres up to tennches
have been tested and ranged Powders and projectes
received from contractors have been tried and upon
the results attained have been accepted or rejected
by the Ordnance Bureau and steel castings intended
for use in gun carriages have received the severe
barlsic test OF having six pound projectles fired
through them
II private corporation had on institution OF this
magnitude under the charge Of one man with such
great and varied responsibilities resting upon him his
salary would amount to several thousands Of dollars
a year. Yet the young Marylander who is in charge
of the establishment and who, in addition to knowing
how to manage and navigate a ship and drill seamen
and do all other things that Naval officer Is popularity
supposed to know about, has had to combine the
Qualities Of an ordnance expert Of high ORDER civil
engineer architect electrician machinist inventor and
even surgeon attending his when injured is paid
By the Government ust 81 200 year. for, though ne
has been out of the Naval Academy for ten years he Is
still an ensign and does not get as much pay rs
second lieutenant Of infantry in the Army gets as soon
as he leaves West Point. Ensign Dashell is the in
ventor of an improved mount for the Hochss gun,
which has been adopted and IS IN use 10 the Navy,
and has made several other useful Improvements which
have been found satisfactory by the Ordnance Bureau