The sun., 1893-07-08
TEE SAysb GUN oorroN FACTORY.
Reasons why This Ur-rui Establishment
Will ne Promptly Rebuilt.

VIII he Promptly Rebuilt.
WASHINGTON. July 7-Although there nre
other sources OF gun cotton supply at the
command OF the Navy Department, It is re-
garded rs certain that the factory at Newport
recently burned down will be reconstructed as
soon as possible.
At one time IL was shut down on account OF
the drought and the poor water obtained from
tho Newport main. But on being enlarged It
was again started. and at the last annual re-
port OF the Bureau OF Ordnance 1t was found
that there was on hand S040 pounds OF gun
cotton OF service pattern, while 2.S22 pounds
OF old patterns and the blocks returned from
ships gave total OF l. 374 pounds.
Gun cotton Is tho high explosive Of our
navy It Is used even In the shells OF the ye-
suvius although she continues to be called q
dynamite cruiser. Hence It is desirable to
keep up the arrangements for producing 1t to
O high state OF efficiency. Besides. excellent
experimental work is done at Newport. SO that
in the great future OF high explosives 1t is
necessary that tho Navy Department should
have the best appliances at its command
One OF the enoteworthyktudies at the Newport
factory has been that OF the mixed acids used
in manufacturing gun cotton. 1t uaed to be
impossible to tell the qualities of the acids. as
they were delivered mixed together. but now
new specifications are drawn. and the acids
are tested with satisfactory results. Similar
improvement hns resulted through inspecting
the cotton waste and other materials used in
making gun cotton. This care is taken to I'M
prove the quality and decrease the cost OF
manufacture. because, as one official report
expresses 1t. gun cotton continues to be the
most perfect existing explosive for naval uses.
The safety. Of its manufacture. handling and
transportation. It's compact stowage. its i'm
munity from deterioration when stored for
long periods. it's insenstiveness to shocks and
tiyeness at very low temperatures are qualities
which are combined in no other substance"
of It's ast
625 pounds OF gun cotton were made and
1926 pounds reworked. the total output Of the
lO.l72 pounds were moulded in solid blocks
for the proleetiles Of the pneumatic gun. l.ol3
rest stored IN the MAGAZINE at Rose Isl.
and. During the tr3pRle 9 x with Chill. in Janu-
containing s45S pounds of gun cotton. were
The U connection between the gun cotton fac
tory and the emokeless powders which it is
hoped h zee to deyelon for Ts use In the navy Is also
that. with the goo. good results already obtained.
we shall soon see smokeless powder used In
the the ordinary guns Of the navy; The Qualities
manufactured for our navy have been thus Of
ncially expressed:
First progressive rate or burning so that high in
undue strahnr of The enn: second, uniformity or in
other words. complete physcal and chemical homo
geneity SO that charxes OF equal weight viii always
cunstances; and third permanenry. that is that tho
powder shall not deterorate while stored when sub
)eTeh to m Ghanses Of @
reports has been obtained in many of the foreign pow
ders. Although they diner to some extent among
themselves in the balstic effect produced It may be
granted that number OF them give excellent veoci.
ties with quito moderate An examination of
tho powders however. disclosts decided lack OF
ing that the results OF rng equal charges show
but is in the quality of germanency that the for
sensitive. and develop unexpected pressures. Tho
for this 10 not difficult OF determina when
the constuion Of the powders s known. 1t is due TO
which are unstable nj all temperatures; and second
the addition OF volatile constituent which. by its
The tests powder produced this station have
shown It to possess unusual ba'listic qualities
charge OF AZ grains fred in small cabre 20 3U1 inch
observed velocity. at 30 feet from the nuzze. OF
100 feet second with chamber OF about
Y ton: to the square inch. The grade OF powder
velocity or 2.2b0 feet per second. with a chamber
pressure OF Its tons ,o In the ovoun1er Iotehkiss
with chamber pressure Of 1913 tons
for the navy. The works Of Dupont 4 Co. OPP
posite Wilmington. on the Delaware have had
contracts with the Government for supplying
large quantities OF gun cotton. This firm es.
ia blished plant for the purpose which WAS
said to be very complete. But there can he
little question OF the desirability. also of pos
destroyed at Newport. and its reerection can
be counted upon.