The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-03-29
Ships, Guns, and Arinor.

Ships, Guns, and ArmOr.
While the programme OF new construction
drawn up by the House Committee on Naval
Affairs is much too cautious and restricted.
the exhibit OF the condition of the American
navy made by the committee Is very crafty
ing. THE ships we arc constructing says
its report. ARE. type and class considered.
equal to the very best in modern navics."
and armed with the very best quality OF
modern wrourht-steel guns As to armor.
the new processes Of adding q nickel alloy
TO the steel and hardening its surface by
supercarboniaing. both OF which have been
developed by tho depart ment within tho
last two years. have made our ship plates
" the very best ever manufactured"
To the ordnance authorities high praise
Is also awarded for tho reduction OF cost
and time they have effected in the making
OF guns through the skilful administration
and improved appliances Of the Washington
yard. For example. the riiling Of 4-inch
gun. which half dozen years ago took sixty
hours. can now be done In eighteen. while in
making 6-inch gun the cost OF the labor
has been reduced one-iifth. Taking all
calibrcs, from the 4-inch to the Pinch. 176
guns have been completed for our vessels.
Ofthese 81 were made by contract; but for
more than three years none have been let
out for private manufacture. "as it was
found they could be made more cheaply
and better in the Washington Navy Yard"
Reverting to this subject elsewhere. TIE re-
port continues its commendation:
"our gun plant at the Washington Navy Yard and the
guns being assembled there lave been said by dis
10, fn-
miliar with all the great English Freucn, and German
establishments to be the most perfect In existence
"t Ia not too much to that this ordnance shop at
the Washington Navy Yard is n triumphant success.
Great credit is due to those who have designed con.
struced, and operated IT, including not only Sccre
tares WHITNEY and TRACY but Commodore SicARD. and
especially Commodore FoLGzR and his subordinates
lone who looks upon the great steel plant at Beshle.
hem for the manufacture OF armor and gun forgngs.
upon that manufacturing gun forRings at Mdvae, and
tile works of CARNEGIE PEiPPs Co. now turning out
acmor plates and then upon tho unparalleled plant in
the Washington Navy Yard engaged in the successful
assembling and finishing OF the very best modern guns.
will not only feel Just pride in the ingenuity and en-.
terprise OF the American people, but must also expert
ence sense Of security hitherto impossible
While these hearty tributes to Amer
lean shipbuilding and gunmsking re-
sources and skill are well merited. the prac-
teal question is whether Congress should
not call moro fully upon these resources
than the pending Naval Appropriation bill
proposes to do. There can he no doubt that
the House committee appreciates the i'm
portance of Strengthening our fleet. 1t pro-
poses TINT We shall have nine moro great
battle ships. like the Indiana and her mates.
making twelve in all. What is no less strik-
ing. it declares that I'VE might well author
oil hot Ia CHI in -
Why. then, should not the first of these
four years do its part by providing for two
of these nine needed ships? Why. at least.
should it not do part Of its share by au
thorizing one such ship. in addition to the
cruiser provided for in tho pending bill
Tho committees reluctance on this point
seems to have come from magnifying the
difficulties attending the production OF
arnor. or perhaps from Judging tho future
possibilities of production too much by the
present. The contracts already made call
for 6.703 tons OF armor from the Bethlehem
Works. and for 900 from CARNEGIE, PHIPPs
& Co. There are still to be contracted
for about $500 tons for ships authorized.
making an aggregate of about $500 TONS
The actual deliveries thus far on both con-
tracts have been only 800 tons. so that the
House committee is not without basis for
its conservative calculations. But it is es-
timatcd that hereafter. inasmuch as the
preliminary work IS over. deliveries will
be made ut the rate of fully 700 tons per
month, in which case the contracts could
be completed by autumn of next year. Both
the Bethlehem and the Pittsburgh establish
ment profess to be able b. next autumn to
furnish 400 tons month or 800 for the two,
in which case by the summer OF next year
both OF them would be ready to make
armor on new contracts.
A battle ship authorized now would not
need any OF her armor for a year and half
after her construction should be begun, and
then it could be delivered very gradually,
as much time Is required to apply it to the
vessel. 1t is also a wise policy. after the es-
tablishmcnt OF plants so extensive as those
of Bethlehem and Pittsburgh. to insure
them occupation SO thut their plans may
be made years ahead.
The House committee winds up it's report
by declaring that "it is for Congress in its
wisdom TO decide upon the steps to be taken
for tho immediate FUTURE" and that body
may very properly authorize stop in i'd
vance OF tho conservative policy to which
the committee has limited itself. The very
praise awarded in its report to the good
judgment and skill of the department Gu-
may fairly justify Congress in
trusting to their calculations of what can
he done for naval construction in the imme-
date future.