The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1892-12-23
CALDER OF GUN.
ENVIRONMENTS IN ORDNANCE.

DENElpfMESIS II
In reference to the ordnance OF the navy in
general. three deveiopmsnts havs b'en
reached during tho past year which promise
greatly improved resnlts. Ths hrst OF thesis
the application TO guns OF medium calpNr %
an improved breech mechanism and fixed am.
munition, which form the two esseutlNi
featur es OF the so caliei rapid fire type. Up
70 4 recent period. the rapid IRE system was
only applied to guns OF the secondary battery
OF which the largest was a 6.pounier. Since
then n further application has been success-
fully made to 4-inch. 5-inch. AMI even
6. inch guns. Notwithstanding the predictions
generally made abroa 1 that tho 5-inch Was the
| extreme limit OF rapid fire. Tho f-inch, OK
which thirty. five have bsen completed. has at
| tainel in actual trial a rapidity OF fire OF I'VE
| rounds In IL seconds. or twenty-one SHOTS .
minute. la the 5-inch n rate OF nve ROUNDS IN
10 seconds has leon ATTAINED. For the . incn
tho metallic cartrilgs cases havs not yet p'en
| manufactured: buteven without this necessary
feature the application OF tho now brcech
mechanism to the gun has resulted in n rats or
IRE of ten rounds in 2 minutes 81 seconds. Or
nently double the rate OF tho primary service
type.
The second change, which 4, Indirectly con-
nected With the improved breech mechanls m
for large guns, consists in m improvement I'D
gum mounts. The gener'l direction Of the I'M
movement il in the substitution OF hand power
for nv lraulic power. This feature has been
worked out successfully in thu design OF car
riages for the s-.nch gun. which can now Ie
manipu,atei by h,nl power throughout ms
practical results are a great decrease II wei1n''
which has hitherto been required Tor ths
hydraulic machinery. and tho elimination 81
the possibility OF putting the gun out OF action
by an injury to tbs contemplated hydraulic
mechanism.
The third change consists in the application
TO guns OF the experiments. which. IN ot'ei
directions, have been one OF the msrx'e
features OF this administration ia the use d
nickel.
MORE SHIPS.
I'm regard 70 tn, further Increases OF the nav
Secretary Tracy saws: Before thu first BATH
shirs were undertaken tn number required
was fixed at twenty. In the report for lSp
was stated that such WAS tho great power
both offensive and defensive. OF the desig
evolved. that tbs department conit sa'el
modify IL, previous figure. and that twelv
such battle ships as were then in courss 2
construction would equal In efficiency, ~
our purpose, the twenty that wers previous
contemplated. Four have now been author
lied. aud 1t remains to provide eight more
twelve in all. OF which eight should he st.
stationed on til, Atlantic coast and -four on u
Pacific. In tho class OF unarmored as IN 10
Of armorel cruisers. il should bs tho object
build vesse.s only Of the highest type III
Columbia. aud her Sister ship. tho Minnaap.
~. -tan nt tho heal Of this elias Of vessels
speed, in coal endurance, and Ia every oth
essential IN thty.
With references 70 unprotected cruisers
the second class, of from 100 70 o,op 70
n displacement, the department does not Re-
n omrnenl any present Increase of the NUMB
II These vessels. ia ord n to attain the nv
speed required Of a cruiser. must necsssafl
q sacrifice endurance. AM they hsv, therefore
very restricted sphere % usefulness for cru
inc pnrposes In time % war. The further &C
=. st,t,cfion OF vessels Of the monitor typo IL I
~ favored. and the defects OF the typs are pom
4. ont. But torpedo boats. SAYS the secretary.
i. urgently needed. At least thirty OF them shot
IN be constructed. no thinks, in the immedi
nj future.
n YsriuArEs-
W Tho estimates for the fiscal year ending y
Oh ~. 1874. for the navy and tho marine corps.
IN. ending those for public works and Tor incr'
IA. Of the navy, amount to sss.iil, s"a y. being
Ied ;l3.lu.5a loss than those Tor the fiscal year 9
md ing June ~. 1893
OF Tho stimate for the running expense
the navy aud tho marine corps. Tor the ~
ess wear ending June ~. isai. amount to sli,'
sal 81, belng sl55. o4j5o less than the estim'
hat FOR the f.cal year ending June ID. 1897
ere THE estimates for the increase 81 TIE J
amount to ~ .y3. 857 for the fiscal year enc
Of .June 10. 1891. aud are s.. 81. 1913 less than 4
for III. fiscal year ending june ~. lMh