New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-12-04
THE ORDNANCE BUREAUS WORK.
COMMODORE FoLGER's REPORT on THE YEARS
IMPRnYEMENTS IN GUNS AND ARMOR.

COMMODORE FoLGER's REPORT on THE YEARS
IMPROVEMENTS IN GUNS AND ARMoR
Warrington Dec 3-Commodore Folger, chief OF the
Bureau of Ordnance, In his annual report 10 Uhe
Secretary OF the Navy, estimates the expenses OF the
Bureau for the next fiscal year at S476O291, OF winch
"a l8625O is to be applied toward the armament OF
new vessels authorized to be built The number OF
Guns REQUIRED 10 arm the new vessels Is placed at
347, ranging in caibre from four to thirteen lncheS
The guns completed numbCr 155, OF which III are
6inch calibre Although of the ships authorized
TO be built requires guns OF lo-inch oaioe IL Is DE-
eved that such guns may be needed So the necessary
plans have been made, and authority is sought lof
construction Of one of them. The trials OF smokeiess
now.er have resulted satisfactorily, md 1t Is believed
not the nse of gunpowder Will be entirely abandoned In
calibres of 6inch and below II. An order Tor oo"oo
pounds OF gun-coOn has beeA placed with the Dupos
on condition that complete plant be eiecteo' n
notable improvement in the quality OF carpenter
armor-piercing pTojectes is recorded Large "rucia
nave been given to American firms for forged Steel
common shells and electro weded steer SheH' "iso
for twenty-five one and five six pcunder H"tchRlsS
INNS Of increased length and for sevcnty-hVe SIX
FOUNDER briggs schroeder guns.
The present state Of work in connection with auto
mobile torpedOes and their accessories Is such as 10
iusty the belief that the installation OF outfits on
hoard YES els Win begin carly in the coming YEAR
The bureau believes that tie submarine gun VIII provo
Il valuable and Important auguIlOt I" O'' NN'~-'0'O
armament. -. ,on
NEGOTIATIONS are in progress TO cause inc ur'io'
,o IN he delivered by the Bethlehem Company for inc
douhIoturrot monitors and the Maine and Texas 10 DO
- nickelstee and all armOt ordered from Carhesle'
pbinps & Co. i 10 he OF the same material, the Dc
meDt supu!ying the nickel, 800 tors Of ore haVIhs
Ioop purchased Last YEAR ii is said that the NeslVua
dv,anite guns are unsatsiact)rr, ana II Is fcc'D-
o,erded that she be turned into torpedo cruiser
with a view to utilizing the Old siEee-turret monitors
now in the James River plans have been prepared LOT
nov tprre+s and modern S-inch or lOlnch rifles lor
them. - Va, los
The gun factory at the Washington Navy iafu mas
o,,cd itself successful in the direction OF economy
aud efficiency This Is large due 10 the mehous
which have been pursued in purifying the manner Oh
mailing amendments promotions, etc, In the Iaoor
force ana in the adoption of an administration p''U
upon business methods. -, .ho
The results furnished IN the armor tests O' 'i'
nickel steel plate treated by the Harvey process man
,focturcd nv The Bethlehem Iron Company were MOS
rcmnrkable The Bureau considers that Two
re,lts have been achieved First, better Palc' vi
hweyicsn manufacture, has been piDuucou ,ai q 70
Department able 70 pure haoe aDio so1nfe in fbc
secOndy has developed ne" pin PIN ~ is
monufacturo OF agmOr OF American oi1sl, w w. 80
LoIjnyed Will furnish greater PFOEcuol , ,ia H.
1iLer system. IL has been dehhifD ig Il iba
rollnc process, and that forging by Uo nai,. rels
vol absolutely necessary Tue report stloAsiJ VA -
he ,stabl shInent OF National gun IactoIS "" Inv
sacac coast similar to that in Washington