Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-12-04
OUR nav VALARMAMENT
Commodore Folger's Report Ready
and Returned to His Superior.
GOOD WORK IN THE PAST YEAR.
The Armor Tests Opened Wide the Eyes Of
All Who Witnessed Them.
REMARKABLE RESULTS DWELT UPON

Folger, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, in
his annual report to the Secretary of the
Navy estimates the expenses of the bureau
for the next fiscal year at "a, 7S0. 291, OF
which the sum of 81, 1876, 250 is to be applied
toward the improvement of new vessels.
The number of guns required to arm the
new vessels is placed at 347, ranging in
caliber from 4 to 13 inches. Although none
of the ships authorized to be built require
guns of 16. inch caliber, it is believed that
such guns may be needed, so the necessary
plans have been made and authority is
sought for the construction of one of them.
It is believed that the difficulties expert
enced abroad with these large guns can be
| overcome. In order to facilitate inter-
change of ammunition in case of war it is
recommended that all projectiles used by
| the army and navy be made of uniform
sizes and weights.
The trials of smokeless powder invented
and manufactured at the torpedo station
are said to have resulted satisfactorily, and
Mr. Folger believes that within very short
time the use of gun powder will be entirely
abandoned in calibers of six-inch and below
it, being replaced by some one of the numer-
Gus forms of so-called smokeless powder.
The Use of Gun Cotton and Emmensite.
An order for 80, 900 poundsof gun cotton,
the best known high explosive for naval
| use, has been placed with the Duponts, on
| condition that a complete plant be erected.
The condition has been accepted, and with
the assistance of the naval experts, a plant
capable of turning out ZOO pounds day
will be in operation in two months.
After describing successful trials made
with emmensite, the report says:
1t is the bureaus intention to recommend
| the adoption of a relatively short gun of
large calfber, using powder as the propulsive
charge, and firing projectile containing q
charge of Emmensite or gun cotton, for o
feature Of the armament of vessels with a
view OF utilizing an aerial or submarine
torpedo effect at ranges in which the ques-
tion of accuracy of fire is absolutely elm
mated.
Under the head of armor it is stated that
negotiations are in progress to cause the
plate to be delivered by the Bethlehem
company for the double-turret monitors on
the Maine and Texas to be of nickel steel,
| and all of the armor ordered from Carnegie,
Phipps & Co. is to be of the same material,
the department supplying the nickel, 800
tons of ore being purchased last year.
1t is said that the Vesuvius' dynamite
guns are unsatisfactory, and it is recon-
mended that she be turned into torpedo
crusier. With view to using the old sim
gle-turret monitors now in the James river,
plans have BEEN prepared for new turrets
and for modern eight or ten-inch rifles for
them.
Results of the Armor Tests.
A long account is given of the armor
tests conducted during the past year, and
the results are summed up as follows:
The results furnished by the nickel steel
plate treated by the Harvey process manu-
factured by the Bethlehem Iron Company
were most remarkable. 1t Is unlikely that
two of the shots obtained more than three
inches of penetration. The point of none
of the plates. At the back of the plate, op-
posite th3 two impacts mentioned above,
the effects were nil, there being no puncture
OF the surface and no bulge of q greater
height than perhaps a quarter OF an inch.
The cracking on the softer side of the plate
was unimportant
In conclusion, the bureau considers that
Two important results have been achieved:
First, better plate of American manufac-
ture has been produced than the department
was able to purchase abroad year ago:
in the manufacture Of armor of American
origin, which there are good grounds for be-
lieving will furnish greater protection to
the vital parts OF vessels of war than any
A further notable advantage has been de.
veloped by the above tests, the importance
OF which to the. United States at this juno
ture will be easily appreciated. 1t has been
definitely established that armor Of excel
lent quality may be produced by the rolling
process, and that by forging by means of the
hammer is not absolutely necessary. mat
ter regarding which grave doubts have ex-
listed among artillerists for years.
1t NAV be considered as probable that
within ls months, with relatively slight ex-
penditure of money, the present producing
capacity of the United States could be quad
rupled in case such expansion should be-
come necessary.
1t is also anticipated that the price at
present paid should be materially reduced,
Ior the same reasons OF active competition
changes in or additions to plants.
In connection with the subject of trans
porting overland heavy guns, the report
strongly urges the establishment of q ma
tional gun factory on the Pacific coast
similar to that in Washington.