New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-03-30
UNCLE SANS GREAT GUNsHOP.

SCENT, IN THE wASHISGTON NAVY YARD
HANDLING MONSTER PIECES OF ORDNANCE.
Washington March 20 (Spccian-The action Of the
XLVII:h ncre-s, which Republican I'm both
branches, and Of the Republican Administration when
Mr. Chandler was Secretary OF the Navy began
tran ,formstion Of the Washington Navy Yard which
I'm les, than nine years ha, made II one OF the great
modern gurshops Of the world The heavy ordnance
a, well the lighter guns manufactured here are a.
good A. any made anywhere, and the means ana
ficltic, u manufacturing are hardly surpassed even
in those countries where the manufacture of the tools
and applance, OF warfare major share Of the
National solIctudc and abNorbs major share OF the
National revenues. \ writer in The Post OF 10
DAY gives a brief description Of the Washington gun
foundry in which are made the guns for the new war
ships. Among other thiug-. he says;
IL il not 30 extensive Of Tint Of Herr KrupD
or the Enesh works but In III appointment, and supply
OF delicate and immense machinery with which these
dog, OF wa" az manufactured the United states dos
not need o take back sett fol any country The t'm
Nay,,arI is almost nI,nomcs. To Re sure II l.
sort of headquarters for few Navy officers and marines.
and occasionally the President yucht DESPATCH lies nj
anchor rear the old hulk Dale and once in while the
torp,do lo1t Cushing sf. mp the Potomac and hides
itself in one Of cid slips but all that pertains 70 the
manufacture oi >hiuS which Is to Dc expected In Navy
ward Is wanting. Did shphouscS and fast
dcyuc but their places are taken by larger ana more
important industry
Il was IN lss2 that the gun.buildlng Industry received
a new lmr,tu, in Washington und secretary Chandler
and through senate committee Of which senator Hevley
was chairman. 1886 the and immense gunshop.
now I'm frl blast was 'cCun This large building j.
divided into two apartments called the north and south
gunshops. visit this place whl reveal some big
things that reader has ttc conception or
II IS one thing read about l2nch guns 4oton tray
cling cranes &c. but they have TO be- seen TO have their
immensely and power realized. ON opening the door NJ
The eastern entrance north shop yesterday h' nt
thing strike the attention OF POST reporter was an
immense forging OF i2.inch gun in course OF being
turned AMI bored and finished into complete cannon
The huge piece Of saN received about month ago
from, t1c works a. Bethlehem Penn. whcr' had been
forg thlry-hye feet long and weighs fifteen tons.
IL il. simply mattr OF wonder how this ig. unwicldy
piece II metal be handl ii easily almost toy
maker car,cs out drumstrk hand lathe. Hut there
that big thing was mounted lathe built for that size
ordnance and the IT machinery turned IL like play
thing whit the hardened bt "ccd OIL fine hbr'S from It'
outside leaving polished surface, and the boring ma
chlnery was slowly eating It's through the centre OF
tn mass
This is the largest at present in the shop but
work is going on rapidly the north shop preparing the
foundation for athcs that Will accommodate l3inch H.
inch and iG-nch guns. These large guns can all he
forged n: the Bethlehem foundry. In the south shops
finished all the smaller gus These guns are hahd'u
by the travelling cranes that are OeIad
In the shop. This il little gem that only weighs
fo,tv ,ons and was bull, BY Morgan Engineering Com
pany OF Alliance OHIO. There * actually something
uncanny about this machine rs u moves quietly i0m one
end the shop 70 the other Not only does 1t move
Z lp
, carries IL from side side of the sixty feet width
II the shop. 1t operated by one man. who sits on
cavci patform suspended underneath tho machine and
WIN controls the motion by Of two small levers
n this piece Of machinery eNcites the wonder Of the
visitor It's companion be simply awen.prng. The
latter l. monster Weighing 40 tons and bridges
~ girters forty f,et from the floor This big has
hut recently been put In to,tcd. 1t all
ou!rrmcnt, and viii used chiefly IN handling the big
lns and llthcs The latter heavier. with their bed
plates and all the big guns Of which viii
weigh twenty tons, When either the gun forging the
lathe brought t. the shop IL Is run right IN on the
railroad car on which loded at the foundry. The
big brought into requIsiton grasp' the mass OF
metal hooks and carries 1t 70 any
the shop where IL g wanted.
In addition the several gunshops, there are many
other departments with tho finishing ordnance
manufacture and finishing OF the Dreechpeees
foundry, and other shops OF less inter-
est The gunshor enough work ahead OF them for
ye, or two to come Congress has authorized and there
have been ordered Bethlehem foIspgs for 2f7 guns
ranging nom finch lSnch. twelve oi he latter calhre
Their are now OF ,tol twelve inch
twcatynvc G.nch. two S.nch. and three l0nch rides
pr tty sight south gunshop yesterday group
OF sixteen Clnch gum lying side by side they were
perfect bautcs-ong slender, polished. ard mighty dan.
us.lo0klng. Near by large l).nch bowl,r"
It's outside surface smooth and polished "A mirror
while a glance through the barrel showed every rib,
groove clear cut. true and spotlcs.
\ NEW OFFICE FOR MAJOR RATlIBONE.
Washington March o0.-Major Estes q. Rathbone.
Of Ohio. at present the Chief Postoce Inspector has