The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-25
PACIFIC COAST GUN FACTORY.
Tho Senate Committee on Coast De
lenses Favors the Project.


lenses Favors the Project.
Mr.. Squire, from the committee on coast
defenses, has submitted to the Senate the
following report on the bill providing for
the establishment of gun factory on the
Pacific coast:
The committee on coast defenses, having had
under consideration the bill Is. 537) to provide
for the establishment of a gun factory for the
finishing and assembling of heavy ordnance on
the Pacific coast, submit the following report:
The committee have carefully considered. in
connection with this bill, the report OF the
board on Notifications or other defenses, as well
as that of the board of gun factories and steel
fofgiugs for high-power guns. For the purpose
OF securing the opinion of an expert of the war
department, the committee awaited itself on two
occasions of the services of Brigadier-Gene-al
Flagler, chief OF ordnance of the army, whose
statement is herewith submitted and made
part of this report.
The board on Notifications or other defenses,
appointed under the act of March 8, 1885, rec
commended for twenty-seven principal ports of
the United States 500 guns of from TO 16-inch
caliber and 100 Pinch mortars, making total
OF ,299 pieces OF ordnance. OF this number
about one-fourth of the guns and about one
fifth OF the mortars will be required for the de-
tense of three points only on the Pacific coast,
namely, San Diego, San Francisco and the
was made in this report for the defense OF Pu-
get sound, which has become of far greater i'm
portance than il YVES when the report was made,
nor of Gray's harbor, nor other ports on the Pa
citic coast. At least SO guns and mortars will
be required for the proper defense of the Pacific
coast at the four principal points named, at
least 200 guns and mortars being required for
Puget sound alone.
As will be seen upon examination of his state
ment, General Flagler unqualifedly favors the
establishment of another gun factory, to be To-
Gated on the Pacific coast, for reasons which, to
the committee, seem ineontroyertible. The
necessity for another gun factory and the ad-
vantage which would accrue from its location
on the Pacific coast are manifest. Among others
the advantage OF having the factory near TO the
Notifications, a military advantage as it has
been termed, is OF great Importance. General
Flagler on this point said:
81 would like to invite attention to- and lay
great stress upon, one point that make, and
that is the very great advs ntage, amounting in
some cases TO something like necessity, OF hav-
ing this establishment nearer to the fortidca-
lions than the Atlantic coast would be-
The saving in the cost of transportation which
would result from the establishment OF the pro-
posed gun factory would he enormous, and
would more than equalize whatever slight diff
ference there might be in the cost OF manufact-
uring the guns on the Pacific coast as COM
pared with some Eastern point. There is great
doubt whether the larger guns, particularly the
l5-ineh, could be safely transported by rail
across the continent; and the highest aUthori-
ties question the practicability of such an IN
certsking.
The question has arisen whether it may not
be preferable to double the capacity OF the prer-
ent factory at Watervliet, so as 10 provide for
the manufacture there OF the guns and mortars
contemplated, which, it is Estimated, could be
done for $4,000 less than it would cost 10 build
q new plant. II has not been IN accordance
with the policy of the government, nor would
il seem wise to locate both gun factories al the
same point. By having them located az differ
ent points the disastrous ,ult OF great fires,
whereby both might be destroyed, are averted;
and the possibility, however, remote, OF a total
cessation Of work, by the capture of the factories
by hostile forces, or by labor troubles, is re.
moved.
The objections to having both factories at the
same point seem conclusive, and the committee
is of opinion that the interests OF the country
will be best subserved by the establishment OF
another separate gun factory, TO be located on
the Pacific coast
General Fiegler estimates that after deduc:ing
100 guns, which are now under contract with
the Bethlehem company. the Natervliet factory
will be able TO manufacture the balance OF the
I.299 guns aud morters referred TO by the year
1866 Another statement appended indicates
that with the pressn. capacity of the Water
vliet arsenal it will require twenty-five years
to finish the guns required for the Atlantic
coess alone; for the Atlantic and Gulf coasts,
twentv-siI years. and for the Atlantic, Gulf and
Pacific coasts il will require forty years. Ii the
south wing Of the Watervliet factory shall be-
come as fully equipped as is the north wing
now, the capacity Of II. two wings could only
enable completion of the guns for the Atlantic
coast alone in ten or twelve years; for the
Atlantic and Gulf coasts in thirteen years, and