The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1893-04-09
THE COST OF COURTESY.
AN OUTLAY OF TEN THOUsAN
DOLLARS FOR AMMUNITION.

One Thousand Volleys to be Fired
Luring the Naval Review in New
York Harbor - "Bengm Bang
Means Money Every Time-How the
six-POund ers Win b Handled.
From the Ne0 York Press.
The old axiom that courtesy does not cost
anything will be disproven when the bill for
ammunition used by the United States
| navy and army in saluting foreign war.
ships is sent in after the naval review,
which is to take place from April "a to 27.
At the present time it is impossible to say
what the cost of powder will be, but even
placing the matter on a mean basis, the
uproar of cannon will cost the United States
something like $40 900. while the expense Of
wear and tear on the guns and the brass
cases in which the powder is packed will
make up another item, which, while not as
great as the cost Of the powder, will reach
at least 81, 0OO
The ssluting of the foreign war vessels
and those OF the United States navy will
without doubt be on a more gigantic basis
than has ever occurred in this country ex-
cept in times of war At such times as
when nation is against nation the powder
and shot, instead Of being sent out from
secondary batteries, commonly called SO
pounders,n is used in the great guns. which
at one shot consume from SO to $50 pounds
of powder, costing the nation using them
from IS to IS per bang on powder alone.
To this must be added one five hundredth
of the cost of the gun, as 800 shots is sup
posed to compass the life Of piece Of
heavy ordnance.
sALUTEs AT THE NAVAL REVIEW.
In the naval review to be held in April
the United States vessels will use the
6-pounders, known as the Hotchkiss rapid
fire guns, for saluting. The forts Of both
Hampton Roads and New York harbor will
be compelled to use their big guns, (which
cost the government IS every time they are
used. What guns will be used by the visit
ing Warships is known only to the nations
TO which they belong, but in all probability
small guns will Ge used. AS it 10 there will
be a racket, both at the Virginia anchorage
and this barbor, such as has never been
heard before, and such as will gladden. the
heart Of the small boy. 1t Will be the Fourth
of July magnihed about lib times.
The interesting ceremony OF firing the
guns will not be seen by visitors as the
navy department mas decided that during
the exchange OF courtesies ladies would be
in the way of the proper working of the
guns. AT the same time there is proba-
bility that the roar of the guns might make
some of the ladies faint, not to mention the
fact that their ear drums might be broken
something which sometimes happens to the
officers and crew OF the warship, who are
used to the firing.
In the trial Of the great guns OF the
Miantonomoh year ago blood vessels wero
burst In the ears of several Of the officers.
When heavy firing is going on the men at
the guns do not put cotton In their ears.
Instead, they stand on the tips Of their toes
with the mouth slightly open, which breaks
the shock.
During the April naval review the gun
ner Of each of the United States warships
will without any intention Of puuniuRl be
'big gun :" as the accuracy of the firing
will depend on him He has supreme charge
of the gun and ammunition, and after the
order has been received from the com
mander Of the vessel to FIRE, he sees that
everything is in readiness and gives the
word fire starboard," or fire port" as
the case may be.
THE FIRING or SALUTRS
In the firing of sRlutes. the guns of the
secondary battery charged with two pounds
Of common cannon.powder, worth about q
cents q pound, are used. There is also q