The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-11-11
THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Kind of Powder Wanted
for the New Maya
zine Rifle.
THE SKIRMISH.

- tthO Wal NC WhbCuou WIN RCe6t lu-
terest nv the National Guard of this and
other States. aud Ii the new piece comes
up to expectations the New Jersey Ma
tlonal Guard will lose no time In adopt
ing IL. The War Department has stop pc d
all work on the Old Springfield rifles at
army a%rsenals, aud it Is expected that
the plant will be ready to urn out the
new rifle within a month or two.
Meanwhile the Ordinance Burea has
turned Its attention to the procurement OF
powder Tor the new arm. This must be
OF the skmoeless variety, and is desired, If
possible, to secure its manufacture in this
country. To that end the Bureau has In
vited proposals for supplying 10000
pounds of the powder. with a stipulation
taat preference Will be given to powder
OF American manufacture. Ten thousand
pounds of the powder will serve to charge
an0ut 2,000,0 600 cartridges, which will tie
Sufficient to thoroughly test the new rife
and powder In actual service.
To induce powder makers to provide
the necessary plant for the making OF the
powder and to enter the competition
there is a clause in the advertisement
inviting bidders to state the price pei
pound for 10. 900 pounds additional of the
lowdar aud now o o 1t can be delivered
II ordered at any time prior to the compile
ton OF the delivery OF the first 10, 00(
pounds.
SEVERE REQUIREMENTS.
Inc requirements OF the Bureau in the
matter OF the smokeless powder are
rather severe, aud il they are realized the
result will be a highly satisfactory grade
OF powder. 1t must be practically smoke
less and must not corrode the barrel OF
cartridge case. 1t must not re-
quire an uuduly strong primer
for d~etonatiop. It must not leave a lard
adherent residue in the barrel and mus
not be sensitive to friction or shock. Il
must not be so friable as to endaugel
breakaRe of grains in transportation
It must not contain ingredients known
to be unsuited TO form q safe, and reaion-
ably sta ole compound
Il must admit of machine loading with
existing machines or such as can readily
be- provided. 1t is desirable that the
powder shall not produce excessive heat
Jug OF The barrel during rapid firing.
Preference will be given to powders
that do not contain nitro glycerine.
The powder must give a muzzle vsloc.
tty of about 1000 feet, with a pressure in
The barrel not exceeding $500 pounds
Der square inch. To guard against eli
matte i~Lfiuences and reduce the liability
to accident, the cartridges will be sub.
United to tests thBt In volve exposure to
\ to hperature OF $50 degrees for twenty.
four hours to moisture over water in q
closed vessel for a week and to d temper
tn g of IS to 40 degrees below zero fol
six hour periods.
II a powder Is secured which will stauf
all these tests then the new rife will be-
come a most deadly weaoan A full de-
scriptfon Of the new rife was published
" The JERSEY CITY NEWS q few weeks
ago.
ON THE sKIRMIsH.
The event Ut tue past week IN New Jer-
ey National Guard circles has bsen the
eturu Of Jersey City's popular reform
VI yor, p. +. Wanser, to comm nd of the
First Brigade. General Wanser had to
emporarily retire from The position
when he was taken i'll last summer, as he
| could not perform the arduous duties
rtquired Of the commandapt Of tie
brigade. Colonel Campbell. who SO ably
flied the position during the Generals
| tlness, has been returned back to his
regiment. Colonel Campbell. while In
command of the brigade at the Sen Girt
encampment, proved to the satisfac ion OF
every officer that he is the proper man to
| promote should the position aver become
v.cant.
The committee in charge of the cornel
stone laying Of the new armory have not
a. yet decided what date the eve ut shall
take place. nor IS 1t probable that they
will do SO until the present hitch IL al
jus'ed. Hurry up, gentlemenl Give III
the armory," Ii he cry of the rank and
file.
The Majors badge which was competed
Ior AT tue Marion rauRe during the sem
sou just closed, is attracting considerable
attention in the window OF Adolpa
Wal ers' store on Newark avenue. The
trophy Is u pretty one and very valuable.
The top cross bar is made to represent a
msjor's shoulder strap. Suspend I'd from
the bar are cross guns and asIlver target.
Under the guns is a disc IN which il a
Ia ga regitnental emblem. The Rangs
Committees handsome badge. which has
already been described In these columns,
Is also on exhibition there.
Company A will hoid ifs regular
monthly meeting after the drill on Tues
day evening. The meeting will. be an
important QUE aud Captain Buns6ed de.
sires that as many members attend as
possible. .Dr. II. H. Briukerhoff, Jr.,
chairman Of the committee appointed to
decide on q suitable souvenir of the
march to Sea Girt. will render an inter-
sstlnR report. AS already announced in
these columns, the souvenir will be a
history OF tine march, and the Doctor will
announce the proDable cost per volume
aud give full particulars OF the plans Of
the committee. Other matters OF i'm
,ortauce will be brought before the
meeting.
The members of Company BIS football
team, which was defeated by Company
AS strong team on Tuesday last, have
not yet discarded arnfca aud bandagss.
Sergeant Fred Eye, who had his snius
Jadly scraped III the game, at last adj
mits tnat Company AS men know a
thing or two about football. Corporal
sam Drayton. of Company A, made a
record for himself. His playing was a
thing of beauty aud a joy forever.
Colonel Abernethy on Thursday re.
ceived official announcement of the *.
puision OF Captain Graham. of Company
c, as recommended by court martial,
aud company orders for the election
of his successor will shortly be
issued. First Lieutenant ID. G.
Burns is the only candidate for
the %captaincy. Lieutenant Burns has been
in command of the company since Cap
tain Graham's arrest, and on more than
one occasion he has SHOWN his ability to
fill the office. He is very popular among
ing has won for him the respect OF mis-
superior officers. Secoud Lieutenant
Charles Wells will be elected First Lieu
tenant.
On Friday evening. November "a, thu
school for Don-commlss Toned officers Of
the Second Battalion will be opened Ii
the Bo rd OF Officers room at headquar-
tiers at half pest eight O'Clock. First
sergeants have been ordered to forward &
complete list of the non~commissIoned
officers of their respective companies tc
Battalion Adjutant John 7. Pringle. The
school is an excellent idea and hereafter
''non-coms" will have no excuse for mol
Knowing their duties.
Colonel Abernethy has appointed Ser
geant Abel p. Brown Commandant of the
Gun Detachment With Rank of. first