Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-11-05
MORE MONEY NEEDED
To Carry Out Half the Present Plans
~ 1, Of the War Department.
THE WORK ON THE MAMMOTH GUNS
Tests Of Smokeless Powder That Have
Given Satisfaction.
A CHANCE FOR AMERICAN INVENTORS

WASHINGTON. Nov. 4.-Brigadief Cen
eral d. w. Flower, Chief of Ordnance, in
his annual report to the Secretary of War
says that the labor involved and difficulties
to be surmounted in supplying our fortifca-
tions with new model disappearing carriages
for large guns is probably greater than that
of supplying the guns themselves, and, un-
fortunately, this work is some years behind
the guns The department is in great need
of well equipped seacoast carriage factory
for this work, and the report recommends
that an appropriation be made fof further
enlarging the facilities for the manufact-
ure of carriages at the Watertown Arsenal.
The report states that the department has
thus far completed two S-inch, one 10-inch
and one 12-inch breech-loading steel rifed
gun. The first S-inch gun has been fired 300
rounds without injury. One of the S-inch
guns was tested with German smokeless
powder, with significant results, 80 pounds
ofthe compound giving the projectile higher
velocity with about the same pressure as
125 pounds of black powder. The report
says: 'The subject of smokeless powder
is receiving the attention of the depart
ment and of manufacturers in this country,
although up to the present time expert
ments have been confined to the production
of powder adapted to small arms and the
smaller caliber guns, such as field and rapid
firing guns"
The time allowed the pneumatic dynamite
gun company for the delivery of 10 guns
has been extented to January 1, next, for
the first deliveries, and July 1, 1892, for
last deliveries.
Some of the Estimates Submitted.
Among the estimates submitted is one of
1896, 900, for the equipment of the south
wing of t he army gun froundry, and one Of
81, 122, 900 for oil-tempered and annealed
steel for 8, 10 and IL inch guns, including
the parts required for the manufacture of
a type 16-inch gun. On the subject of this
great gun-about equal in size to the lar
gest rifle in the world-General Flagler
says:
'Tf an appropriation should be made
available by June 80, 1892, the type 16-inch
gun would hardly be made and tested be-
fore June 80, 1895, while the first three 16-
guns for service would not be completed
before the end of 189S Recent improve
ments in the resisting power of ships armor
would seem to still further emphasize the
already recognized necessity for guns of
this caliber As it would be foolish to con-
clude that the Improvements in the resist
ing power of armor have reached their final
limit, and as much time is required for COM
pleting type gun of such high power as
may have become an absolute necessity for
overcoming such resistance, the sooner the
work is commenced the better"
Other estimates are: For steel 12-inch
sea coast mortars, 1926, 200; for their car
riages, S449, 500; for carriages for new 8, 10
and Pinch guns, 81, SO5, 900; for enlarge
ment of the heavy gun carriage plant at
Watertown, Mass, $151, 900; for armor
piercing proiectiles, 500, 900; deck piercing
12-inch shells, 100000; alteration of Is
and 16-inch carriages, 100000.
The report describes at length the ex-
haustive experiments made by the depart
ment with magazine small arms, including
the latest European models. On this SUBJ
ject it says:
Opportunities for Inventors.
'The radical change from caliber of As
inch (our present service standard) to the
much smaller one of 30, the use of the long
and narrow cartridge thereby necessitated,
and the introduction of smokeless powder
for imparting greatly increased velocity
to the bullet without subjecting the barrel
and breech system to undue augmented
ctIdiI, ldfC Oh OpCldbCo " iCtdIO Guc
of American inventors to perfect their guns,
and the result is that but few magazine guns
of American design have yet been brought
before the hoard. This department is
doing all in its power to afford American
inventors all opportunity to meet the re-
quirements of new existing conditions
"Reports from our army show that an ex-
pert soldier can fire the present service
Springfield single loader, with the accuracy
generally needed in action, about 90 times
per minute. So far as rapidity of fire alone
is concerned, these reports reduce some
what the almost universally estimated
necessity for an immediate change to
magazine system. 1t is important to state
that up to the present the investigations
made and knowledge gained by this
department have not demonstrated so
much excellence in the magazine arms
which have been adopted by foreign nations
as was expected and have not shown such
perfection in any one of them as could war
rant its adoption for our service 1t is
hoped that this country can produce bet
ter arm, and until it can, or certainly until
it has been demonstrated that it cannot, it
would be wise to defer change from the !
excellent single-loader now in service to q
magazine system. No efforts will be spared |
to arrive at a satisfactory magazine arm"
The new 80 caliber Springfield is said to |
have been very successful with smokeless |
powder.