Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-23
MAKING BIG GUNS.
Operations Of the Past Year at the Washing
ton Navy Yard.


Operations OF the Past Year at the washing
/ ton Navy Yard.
The annual report Of Commodore Folger
chief OF ordnance. submits the operations Of thu
gun shop at the Washington navy yard for the
past year;
The average number Of employees has beer
s7'; the greatest namber being ,o23, in August
1872; and the least number being s56, in No
'emoer. 1891 The principal operations of the
Fast year have been the manufacture Of CUNT
from four to thirteen inches caliber. The
first and only set Of forgings for thirteen-inch
breech-loading rites was received from the
bethlehem Iron Company on May "a. 1892.
This gun is now nearly assembled. and consider-
able progress has been made in its manufacture.
There are still eleven sets Of forgings to be re-
ceived- There are now four twelve-inch breech-
loading rifles completed, one well advanced
/ and the forgings for one more received and in
/ hand. All the above are from the works of the
acred being eight. OF the finished guns two
have been shipped to San Francisco for the
Monterey.
At the date OF last report there were 10-inch
brseeh-loading rifes completed. There are
now Il completed and considerable progress
has been made on 4 more, making rs in ALL the
/ total number ordered. or this number % are
of forgings made By the Bethlehem Iron Com
! pany and Of imported forgings. OF the
\ finished guns, are mounted on board the
Miantonomoh. and have been shipped to
San Francisco for the Monterey.
There are now 81 s-inch breech- leading rifles
completed. of which are for the New York.
The number of S-inch guns ordered to date is
/ 81. and deliveries of forgings have been made
/ in whole or in part on ali of them. Two OF the
above are of 40 caiibers, intended for cruisers
/ Nos. IL and 10. and considerable progress has
been made on them. as well as on 4 guns for
cruiser No. s. OF the total number were
built by contract. Guns up to and including
! No. IA are afoat vessels in commission.
! At the date Of last report there we're "a
6-inch breech-loadin8 rifles completed There
are now practically completed 1874, viz: 6 Of 40
caiibers. 6 of IS caibers and l22 Of 80 cslibers.
OF the above SO Of Midvale and 81 Of
Bethlehem forgings. Twenty three Of the
total number were built BY contract. There
are now 80 6-inch guns afoat on vessels in
commission.
At the date Of last report 5-inch breech-
loading rifles were completed; being Of the
ordinary type of breechloaders and l a rapid
filing gun. There are now completed; 6 CON-
pleted except breech mechanism; IL assembled
and well advanded, and in the prelimi-
nary stages. making % sets Of forgings thus far
received Twenty-seven Of the above are of
Midvale and Of Bethlehem forgings. The
total number Of 5-inch guns to be manufactured
| for vessels authorized is Sc. including the on
TIC SLACdRO. All Vi Inc O-iICu guns except
Nos l and are of the rapid firing type, with
! the DashIell type Of breech mechanism. The
remaining q guns are TO be Of Bethlehem forg-
ings. and number have ALREADY been received.
At the date Of last report finch breech-
loading rifles were completed. being Of the
rapid firing type. with Dashiel breech mechan-
ism; 2 Of the rapid-fring type, with briggs
Schroeder breech mechanism. and 4 of the
dlrary pattern. There are nov II completed,
90 nearly completed. 20 under vav and y upon
which no work has been done, making g. in nil
ordered. or the finished guns Of ordinary type
have been issued to the Dolphin and to the
Naval Academy. or the 81 to be made in all
IS will be of Midvale and ~ of Be.hiehem forg-
ings. All of the i-inch guns but are OF rapid
firing type, With the Dashieil type Of breech
mechanism.
NEW MACHINERY PUT IN.
In the installation Of new machinery the
principal feature has been the ins tallation of
eight heavy gun lathes in the north gun shop
Of the following dimensions: One boring and
turning lathe having capacity for boring guns
81 feet In length and OF turning guns of 81 feet
hence will bore and turn guns OF and under l6
inches caliber. Two boring and turning lathes
having capacity for boring guns As feet in
length and Of turning guns so feet in length
hence can turn guns Of Is inches celiber and
less and bore guns Of Is inches caliber and less.
Two boring and turning latles having capac-
turning guns 81 feet in length; hence will turn
guns of II inches cahber and less and bore guns
OF 10 inches caliber and less. Three turning
lathes having a capacity for turning guns 81
feet in length: hence will take guns Of and be-
low l6 inches caiiber.
These machines are all unique in design and
of great power and are conveniently arranged
for performing the various functions for which
intended. IL is doubtful if finer group of ma
| chimes OF The kind can be found today in any
part OF the world. During the past year the
rihing machine for heavy guns with its slotting
attachment has been completed and been in
successful operation for several months past.
The hOs-air furnaces in the shrinkage pit have
been completed and have been in satisfactory CD
GRAFTON for nearlya year- No difficulty ia expert
enced in heating uniformly the largest sized
forC1ngs. and they may be regarded as an un-
qualified success. The use Of oil fuel in these
furnaces has been found entirely satisfactory.
During the past winter sufficient number of
lncandescent lamps were installed in the gun
chop. gun Carriage, projectile and mount shops
to light them fullv. there being 524 in all. and
two ITO volt 400 is candle power light Thorn
son-Houston dynamos were added to the cleo
trio plant.
IMPROVEMENTS TO BE MADE.
A sum of money having been appropriated
for the Improvement Of the breech mechanism
shop and for the purchase Of additional new
been begun bv the department of yards and
docks. snd a skylight DDS feet long by fifteen
feet wide IS TO be built. The floor of the second
story is to be removed and the Old Offices and
partition walls al the ends torn out The rail-
road track is to be brough into the west end
new doors and windows put in and an asphalt
foor laid. foundations put in for crane sup
ports, new vie and work benches put in and
the interior painted and suitable Enclosures
erected Tor Office and store rooms. With ten
ton electric crane and new machinery this shop
viii be a valuable extension 70 the plant
The very crowded condition of the gun car
risce and projectile shops renders il desirable
that the part of the building in which thew are
situated. which is now occupied bv tho forge
shop. should be vacated and that space be
thrown into the machine shops The forge
shop sin itself menace to the rest of this
large building, which is filed with costly ma
chinery and material. There is a detached
building Immediately south OF it, now known
rs the mold loft. which would make an adj
mirable forge shop. In the annual estimates
the above changes were recommended and
estimated for
new timber shed o! corrugated iron for
the storage of patterns and materials for max
ing the same. is urgently required. One end Of
the building is to be used a metal store and
| plans for snch a structure have been prepared
d a .tr..,e A-l a.