The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-03-08
Report on the Proposed New Gun
Factory.
FHE HEAVY eRBAihCE REQUIRED.
Military Advantages Of Benitia-Farerable opinion
Of General Pagler-Bills introduced in CeA-
greSs-PensienS and POStoiEees.
rreeisl to TnF MORNING CAT.


the finishing and assembling of heavy ord
q nance on the Pacific Coast, have submitted
The following report, to accompany the bin
reported last Tuesday: The committee
have carefully considered. in connec-
ton with this bill. the report OF
the Board on Publications or Other
Defenses as we'll as that of the board On
gun factories and steel forgings for high
power guns, for the purpose of securing
the opinion of an expert OF the " ar De
partment the committee has awaited IL
self Oh two occasions OF the services
of BTigadler-General tlagler, Chief OF
Ordnance of The army, whose statement is
herewith submitted and made part of this
report. The Board Of Fertilization or
Other DefenseS, appointed under the
act Of harch d. 1885, recommended for
Iwenty-seYen principal ports or the United
States 80 guns Of from TO l6
Inches caliber and zoo mortars, making a
total of 1899 pieces Of ordnance. la this
number about one fourth Of the guns aud
about one-flfth of the m9rtars Will be re-
Quired for the defense of three points only on
The Pacific Coast viz San Diego, San Fran
cisco and the mouth OF the Columb la River.
10 provision was made III this report for the
defense of Puget Sound which has become
of far greater importance than ii was when
the report was made-nor TOR Grays HarbOr
nor other points on the Pacific Coast. AT
least $40 guns and mOTtarS VIII be required
Tor The proper defense OF the Pacific Coast
al the four principal points named, at least
" 2)0 guns and moTtaIS being required for
PUGET Sound alone.
FaVoring the Pacific Coast.
a will be seen upon examination Of his
statement, General Flagler unqualifedly
fayOrs the establishment of another gun
factory 10 be located on the Pacific Coast
for reasons which tie committee believe in
eontToVeTuble. The necessity Tor another
font tA Qffx too
would accrue from It's location on tie Pa
cihc Coast are manifest Among the advan-
tages of having a factory near to a forthca-
ton, "a military advantage" as it
has been termed, is OF great i'm
portance. General Flagler on this point
SAID: l would like to invite attention to
and lay great stress upon one point that |
make ana that Is the very great advantage
amounting IN some cases 10 something ike
necessity, Of having this establishment
nearer 10 Notifications than the Atlantic
coast would be-" The saving In the cost
of transportation which would result
from tie establishment OF the pro-
posed gun factory would be enormous
and would more than equaliZe whatever
differences there might be in the cost Of
manufacturing guns on the Pacific Coast as
compared with some Eastern point There
i great doubt whether the larger guns, par-
ticularly the 16-inch, could be safely trans
ported by rail across the continent and the
Il
lty OF such an undertaking.
Advantages of WatervIiet.
The question has arisen whether it may
ret be preferable to double the capacity of
tne present factory at Wateryliet, New
or6, so as 10 provide for the manufacture
there OF tie guns and mortars contemplated,
which, is estimated, could be done for
$4,000 less than il Will cost to build
. new plant. II has not been IN
accordance with the policy of the Govern
ment n0T would II seem wise to locate both
gun factories al the same point. By having
them located at different points disastrous
results OF great fires, whereby both might
be destroyed, are ayerted, AID the posSibi-
lily, however remote, of the total cessation
Of the works by the capture Of the
factories by hostile forces or by labor
troubles is removed. The objections
10 having both factories at the same
point seem conclusive, and the committee
are of the opinion that the interests of the
country will be best subserved by the estab-
Hshment OF another separate gun factory to
be located on the Pacific Coast General
Flagier estimates that after dedueting 100
guns which are under contract with the
Bethlehem pa Company, the Watervlet
factory viii be able to manufacture the
balance OF the 1893 guns and mortars re-
" feTred to by the year 1906.
Take Forty Years.
Another statement appended indicates
that with the present capacity OF the Water
Viist arsenal il will require twenty two
wears to finish the guns required for the
Atlantic coast alone; for the Allan tic
and Gulf and Pacific coasts will re-
quiTe iOfty-fGur years. If the south wing OF
the Natervliet factory shall become as
fully equipped as is the north wing now,
the capacity Of the two wings could only
complete the guns for the Atlantic coasts
alone IN ten or twelve years; for the At
lantic and Gulf coasts in thirteen years, and
the Atlantic, Gulf and Pacific coasts in
about twenty or tweDty-one years. There is
no doubt that the steel forgings for even
the largest guns can be manufactured on
the Pacific Coast. Representations have
teen made 10 the committee as TO the facili-
ties for the production of steel forgings at
San francisco. where an open-hearth fur
mace capable of casting twenty seven ton
steel forging is now established and Benicia
has received consideration with reference
10 It's suliaDleness for the gun factory.
Claims OF SeattIe.a
TIE Chamber Of Commerce of the city Of
Seattle urges the location of the factory at
or near that point j. Furth, President of
that body says: Iron and coal of ey-
eellent quality abound near this city, and
the mines are easily accessible from
Seattle. a large part of the arma-
ment for the coast must be used on
Puget Sound and the establishment of a.
foundry here would save a great expense
IN Transportation. The Moss Bay Com
pany at Kirkland Lake, Washington, is
erecting hrSt-class steel plant, on which
$50, coo has already been spent, and which
viii be completed within year. Respou-
slble parties guarantee a suitable location
Oh Lake Washington for a Government
foundry. Others again favor the establish
ment Of the proposed factory at some point
On the Columbia River, near which pigiron
is found.
Taken Under Consideration.
In view OF the difference OF opinion exist
Ing as to the exact place on the Pacific
Coast where the factory should be located,
the committee Is OF the opinion that its
location should be left to the decision of a
e board OF competent ex perts to be appoin ted
by the President as provided for in this bill
1t appears from the statement Of the Chief
oil Ordnance that If there be no large estab-
HsBmeDt OF this kind On the Pacific
Coast there will be need of two small
establishments for repairs; one TO be
located at Benlcia and the other further
north; on the Columbia River or on Puget
sound. The bill appropriates 81 600 600 for
the erection OF suitable buildings, the pur-
chase Of suitable machinery and other ma
terials necessary for the establishment and
maintenance at some point near the Pacific
Coast OF plant for finishing and assembling
the parts Oh heavy guns and other ord
nance Tor the use of the army and navy. 1t
authorizes the President to appoint a board
10 consist OF three officers OF the army and
three officers Of the navy to examine and
8 report what IN their opinion is the most
suitable site for the erection of a plant.
thus leaving the location dependent upon
the report of the board Of experts The
committee fully approaching the necessity
OF another gun factory and the advantages
which would result from its location on the
Pacific Coast report the bill favorably and
recommend that it be passed
representative Bowers Of California in
PRODUCED bill providing that all the right.
title and interest Of the United States in a
piece or parcel Of land known as Quartet
io'; situated IN the city of Monterey. Cal.
as successor in interest of the pueblo Of
Monterey; that the city of Mnntereu Gai