The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1892-06-10

como inc detenees oil the country. y,
mother words, up to q comparatively
recent period, there were no steel guns
OF modern construction in existence In
the United States, nor were there facili-
ties for obtaining steel, or OF manufac-
turing them II the steel, had been OBJ
tanned. Some few years ago, the
United States undertook, under the di-
rection OF a Republican administration,
to build guns Of modern construction;
but in order to do SO, 1t had TO send
abroad to get the forginSs for guns as
small as eight-inch calibre. Although
there had been considerable experience
in the manufacture OF such material
abroad, that obtained in this country
was not satisfactory. Under the encour-
aIement OF the war department the
Midvale Steel Works in this country
first undertook 70 furnish steel
forgings for the small.calibre guns, and
were sosuccessful that almost the first
output was found to BIO superior to the
steel obtained from Whitworth, one of
the most noted OF all foreign manu-
facturers. The foFgings for tho tubes
and jackets Of the first eiSht-inch, ten
inch and twelve-inch guns. had to be
obtained from foreign sources; but nm
der tho encouragement Of President
Harrison's war office, torsings for all Of
these calibre guns are now obtained in
this country, and, although the industry
is comparatively a newone, the material
We obtain at home is equal, il not
superior, to that We can obtain from the
best foreign sources.
As soon as it was discovered that we
had the capacity to build and construct
our own ordnance, Congress very WISE
,ly, under the advice OF President Harri-
sons administration, appropriated
within the last four years funds sufli-
cient to build gun factories for both the
army and navy. The naval appropria-
ton was made some three years in adj
vance OF the army appropriation, and
their shops are all well equipped and
new machinery Of American manufac-
ture for the heavier guns is nov being
rapidly put into position The army
gun factory at Wateryliet arsenal Is now
about complete; the plant for the north
wing is almost alreadY.in place, and the
machinery for the south wing is going
in rapidly. All the machinery for both,
factories has been designed and made
in tho United States, and the material
used in both factories Is fabricated
in this country. In fact, under the
policy pursusl by the department dur
ing tho administration OF President
Harrison, gigantic new industry has
sprung into existence; and the product
SURPRISES that obtained abroad n'those
factories which, after many years Of
experience, cost millions, whereas, in
this country, with. our limited expo
rience, we spend only thousands OF
dollars. So that now, rs result OF the
present administration in this regard at
least, the United States is we'll able to
take care OF itself and maintain its
rights under any circumstances, with
out such fears as were necessatily ex-
perierced before the present admins
tration began. 1t was doue tless knowl-
edge Of these facts that gave to the adj
ministration that assurance of self-de-
pendsnce and self-protection which
seemed to actuate the President in the
strong stond he has felt several times
called upon to maintain in interna-
tional relations.
With respect to the immediate man
agement Of the affairs of the army it is
safe to say that more good results have
been obtained within the last four
years than ever before in the history OF
the government. Many OF the innova.
tions and reforms which had been con-
templated in years previous, and which
had been more or less constantly under
consideration, were put into practice.
For example, 1t was conceived that the
efficiency OF the army depended largely
upon the personnel OF its officers, and
efforts were made to lift their efficiency
to the highest standard. To that end
the department inaugurated a system
OF efficiency reports which. consisted Of
a personal report OF each officer of the
army as to what matters he had given
special attention to during the year In
the line OF the military PROBES.
sion, his knowledge Iof foreign Ian
guages, and whatever special course OF
reading, study or investigation he may
have been engaged upon, together with
general remarks as to his ambition, pur-
poses, etc. Accompanying this was an
efficiency report in the case of each of
ticer rendered by the commanding of
ticer of regiments, setting forth the of
fetal and personal status OF the officer
rs to conduct, habits, condition Of men
under his control, capacity for COM
mand, scientific attachments, prominent
talents and peculiar fitness for military
duties. The results in this regard have
been most satisfactory, and to-day the
department is enabled in the selection
Of officers for any special duty to pro-
coed more intelligently than ever be-.
fore, which results il securing for the
government the best talent that may DO
required in any given direction.
Aside from this, the system has
worked we'll by stimulating the Off
GERS to more studious habits, and secur.
ing perhaps even better condition OF
morals than before existed. Then the
changed and improved law governing
promotions, whereby the rule Of senior
ity, which had previously prevailed in
regard to certain corps only, was made
to apply to all officers Of whatever
grade, with one single exception, and
this, although working TO the disadvan-
tage OF a few individuals, was generally
productive OF satisfactory results.
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