The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-12-27

OF Its Foreign Ccnpetitors.
WASHINGTON. Dec 20-The recent successful
trial OF the new smokeless powder in the navy
4-inch duick-nro gun assures not only its in
PRODUCTION into the service. but its widespread
| usefulness. We may hope even that our field
artillery will not long be behind that OF Euro
pean countries which have adopted such pow
ders IL is undoubtedly suited to tho naval
5-tnch guns. or to oil rapld-flre ordnance from
the lowest to the highest calibres 30 certain
Is the Naval Ordnance Bureau OF success with
this powder. that 10 contracting for q number
of6-pounders It has caused their length to be
increased five calibres. 80 as to render them
more suitable for smokeless powders and moro
effective.
The material lie the invention OF Prof. O. Z.
Munroe Of the naval torpedo station. where It
was developed and manufactured by Comman-
der T. r. Jewell. The latter officer declares
that 1t I'm all respects equals and In many
excels the most successful Of the foreign
powders" This Is a high claim. but It is
made on the ground that while some OF the
foreign powders give excellent velocities with
moderate pressures. many OF them lack homo
suits Besides. they detcricratc. and then be-
come sensitive and develop unexpected press
Nr ss In consequence 81 the use Of materials
emit which changes the constitution OF the
various foreign compounds i progress ive rate
81 burning that im!arts high initial velocity
tes ss s.o SSs naHs ssos Of
terial which insures the same ballistlc effects
from equal charges Aired under Identical cir
o. which prevents deterioration from storage
or 4naer changes 81 temperature; Microscopic
s ct
In different portions Of It. and the ished pow
der is . dense, hard mass. not friable and en-
Sy Sewei Is hSSsst s'n Oh
pii SS S a:. .ssan
r sSss l ma rs
without change. thoSsh tSi, solvent WIN break down
%s r %a q
mercury have been nnsuecessful even when closely
sons.ed BY insusneo charge S' o. s. grain: y The
s cot "s
grain: q mercury ialalna.s These latter expsnsnt
50 far sppssis In the literature q he subject
The results obtained at the naval torpedo
BY experiments conducted elsewhere, and
Commodore Folger is able to record the follow
esiSs. sic u.!nS sssteo.ea sSif,s q sis rain:
o. @! no g
I'm a VA. son
The Sar!.ops from ths mean IN Velocity were very
~ y
hs 81 an snS
sssssss Il siS S,s sss%Ss. pis::.S;;ss
~ q
Ssf :sssi time IL :fs
" feels s1.siSsd with Il: prosiss: made in
The general effect Of tho resort to this pow.
to 200 feet per second without increase Of
81 ssa
results Of Which haze
TIC resumption next month u Trials q maya:
such yesOen Is saia q be only AWAITING the
production Of satisfactory smokeless powder
Is tSa rs In Is
wholly the affair Of the last year: so that
further iImprovem1esnt in II may 30 Looked toE
PG BIT
aGs s2Ss So sssa r.
The 7E 30 eslib 4 21o0 ia the IS cslibre: and
sisctery. and has been supplied q the Man IAN
gun tested this week Of Indian Head was re.
markably successful. With charge Of 430
70 %a
only 1877 tons per square inch Of chamber
pressure. Considering that this was the first
sample tried for this gun. which also was the
first naval steel rifle Of that calibre ever manu-
featured. its success may be pro1o9nced inn
ders and In the ordinary brown powder. the
navy appears now to be satisfactorily provided
for. The question Of adequate powders was
later in finding a solution than that Of tho
manufacture OF heavy guns. but 1t has now
been brought up into line.