Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-04
ORDNANCE REPORT.


what Gen. Flsslsr Says Of Supplies Issued
20 the District Militia.
In the annual report of the chief of ordnance
of the army the matter Of the supplies for the
militia of the District Of Columbia is thus
treated:
The act of March 1, 1889 (vol. Is, p. n, 2
Stat at L. to provide for the organisation OF
the militia Of the District of Columbia. pro-
vides (sec. SD that the ordnance and ordnance
stores necessary to arm, equip and instruct
said militia shall be issued from the stores and
supplies provided for the use of the regular
army, but the act failed to make any appropri-
alton to enable the ordnance department to
make good the depletion OF the limited army
supplies by these issues to the militia.
As the property issued as provided for in
this act must be taken from the supplies for
the army, that is, from the appropriations for
these supplies, and, as Il. is fact that the ap-
preparations now made are insufficient for the
actual needs OF the army, it is evident that if
the militia is supplied the army will suffer, and
vice versa.
The issues thus far made under this act
amount 10 s437s3.2l, and an item Of this
amount is embraced in the estimates to be laid
before Congress. In my Judgment it would be
wise to have a permanent appropriation Of q
fixed amount for each year to provide for
these issues to the District militia, or specific
appropriation lor eacn year.
Gen. Flagler asks for FIVE additional clerks in
his Office.
sMOKELEsS POWDER.
The subject Of smoksless powders il receiv-
ing the attention Of the department and Of
manufacturers in this country, although up to
the present time experiments have been con-
fined to the production Of powder adapted to
small arms and the smaller caliber guns, such
as field and rapid-firing guns. It will soon be
extended to sea coast guns. Reports received
from abroad speak well Of the keeping quail
ties of this German smokeless powder and its
resistance to moisture and high temperature.
a sample Of French smokeless powder has been
procured for test in the field guns, and q sam
pie has been ordered for test in the l0-inch B.
l.. guns. This French powder when tested in
the 32-centimeter Q26-inch) Canet gun at the
Polygon of Hoe during the past year, with q
charge OF 3l7 pounds and projectile Of 1913
pounds, gave a velocity of 1856 feet and q
pressure of 1914 tons. A charge of brown
powder of 562 pounds and projectila of 994
pounds gave velocity OF 1854 foot seconds
and a pressure of 17$< tons.
The 12-inch B. L. rifle, cast iron, tubed
with steel, is a duplicate of the Pinch B.
l.. rifle, cast iron, except that it is lined over
about one-half its length with an oil-tempered
and nnnealed steel tube of from 81 to inches
thickness.
The piece has been fred thus far 22s rounds.
with about the same pressures as were obtained
with the l2-inch cast iron rife. Owing to
the superior resisting power of the steel tube
the bore has been far less erOded by the
powder gasses than the simple cast-iron gun.
The piece is still in the hands of the board for
testing rife cannon, but trials will be COM
pieted at an early day and a report rendered.
THE PNEUMATIC DYNAMITE GUN
No progress has been made by the Pneumatic
Dynamite Gun Company during the past year
in the manufacture Of the pneumatic dynamite
guns under the contract made by this depart
ment with that company March g. 1889. 1t is
understood that this lack Of progress is due to
financial embarrassments Of the company. The
contract required that the guns, carriages, air
compresSors and other appurtenances for the
successful, operation Of the guns should be
completed, set up, successfully operated, and
that the guns should be fired and
give specified successful results on
or before the following dates, viz:
For the Atlantic coast, on or before October 6,
1889. For the Pacific coast. on or before June
III, 1881. At the request of the company ex-
tensions of their contract have been granted
as follows: First extension to May 6, 1880. Sec
ond extension to July l, 1890 Third extension
to November /. 1880. Fourth extension to
July l, 1891. First extension to January 10,
1891. Second extension to November 2, 1891.
After careful consideration of the case,
with the approval of the Secretary of War, an
other extension Of the contract Of March 8,
1889, was made on July II, 1891, in order to
facilitate as far possible the completion of
the guns Under the last extension on the
contract of October 6, 1889. the delivery of the
first group, that for Sandy Hook is now ex-
tended to January l, 1892, and of the last
group to July l, 1892, provided the first group
is delivered before January /, 1892. The total
number Of ten guns under the two contracts
consist of ore 8-inch and nine 15-inch guns, of
which three Of the latter caliber are by law to
De mounted on the Pacific coast. The reports
furnished the department by the Pneumatic
Dynamite Gun Company of trials made of q
l5-inch pneumatic dynamite gun, manufactured
by them in this country for the English gov
eminent. are quite favorable to the perform
ance of the gun and its projectiles.