The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1891-11-05

WASHINGTON, Nov. 4.-Genaral Flapler
chief of ordnance, in his annual report to the
secretary of war, says the labor involved and
the difficulties to be surmounted in supplying
the Notifications with new model disappearing
carriages for large guns, is perhaps greater
than that OF supplying the guns themselves
Unfortunately this work is some years behind
the guns. The department is in great need of a
well equipped sea coast carriage factory for
this work and the report recommends an ap-
preparation for further enlarging the facilities
for the manufacture of carriages at the Water
town arsenal.
The department thus far has completed but
two S-inch and one 10-inch breech Loading steel
rited guns. The first S-inch gun was testad
with German smokeless powder with the signifi-
cant rel alt OF fifty pounds of the compound CIV
1Eg the projectile higher velocity with about
the same pressure as 125 pounds of black
powder
The time allowed the Pneumatic DYNAMITE
gun company for the delivery of ten guns has
been extended to January next for the first de-
l1Veries, and to July for the last. Among est
mates submitted is 1896 OOO for the eouinment
OF the s nth wing of the army gun foundry and
81, l22, 700 for oil tempered and annealed steel
for ., III and Finch guns, including The parts
required for the manufacture of type of l6
inch gun. The recent improvement in the re-
slst1ng power of ships armor would seem to still
| further emphasize the already recognized nee
! ess1ty Tor guns OF this callbre as it would be
lOOiIou W SOLSluuo IudG Improvement III Lle re-
slst1ng power OF armor has reached its final
| limit and as much time is required for COM
| pletlng type of gun OF such high power as
may have become absolute necessity for
overcoming such resistance, the sooner work
! is commenced the better. Other estimates are
| for steel Finch sea coast mOrtars 1925 COO
their carriages SAD 500. Carriages for new s 10
! and l2-inch guns SlSU5, GOO. Enlargement of the
! carriage plant at Watertown, Mass, $751;, 900;
armor piercing projectiles, $4,000; deck pierc.
ing Pinch shells, 100000; alteration of 10 and
l6inch carriages, 100000
| The report describes at length the exhaust
! i've experiments made by the department with
magazine small arms, including the latest
European models. On this subject the report
| says: Reports from our army of how an ex-
pert soldier can fire the present service Spring-
field single loader with the accuracy generally
needed in action, is about twenty times per
minute. AS far as rapidity of firing alone
/ Is concerned these reports reduce
somewhat the almost universally stated
necessity for an immediate change to the mag
/ azine system. 1t Is important TO state that m
| to the present time the investigations made and
! the knowledge gained by this department have
not demonstrated. so much excellence in the
magazine arms which have been adopted bv
foreign nations as was expected, and have not
! SHOWN Such perfection In any one OF them as
could warrant its adoption for our service. II
is hoped this country can produce better arms
and until 1t has been demonstrated it cannot,
! excellent Single-loader now in service TO the
magazine system, No effort will be spared
| to arrive at an excellent magazine arm
The new calibre 81 Springfield is said to
have been very successful with smokeless
powder,