Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1894-10-03

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partment TO encourage the manufacture
of small ordnance by private concerns, so
that their plants may be available in case
of war. In the middle of the valley is
another group of smaller guns. On the
other side of the valley are the guns
which are trained on the long range-the
stretch of water which forms part of the
channel of the Potomac. These are SIX
and eight-inch guns.
When heavy ordnance is to be tested
it is loaded on a car and shipped on a
barge from the Navy Yard at Washing
ton. At the wharf at Indian Head this
car is run off and with steam capstan is
hauled through the valley to the place
where the gun is to be mounted. 1t
takes day or two TO set up a big gun.
A big travelling crane swings into the air
and drops it on the carriage. A thirteen
inch gun has been mounted in single
day, but that is the record.
To mount a piece of armor for test is
even more difficult and slow. Armor Is
mounted against an oak backing thirty
six inches thick-usually three thickness
es of oak timber belted together. This
backing is prepared at the Navy Yard
and shipped to Indian Head. When the
backing has been mounted against bank
of sand, the armor plate is lifted into
place and bolted there. Then all hands
stand aside, and Mr. Mason turns loose
one of his big guns. If the proiectile
does not make mince.meat Of the plate ii
passes the test. Not inlrequently the big
1000 pound projectiles merely rub their
noses against the armor, leaving a little
dent. Sometimes they bury themselves a
little way in it and stick there. Some
times they are shattered into fragments.
These armor experiments are expensive.
Not long ago an armor plate represent
ing group of plates manufactured by
the Bethlehem Iron works was put up to
be shot at, and the gunner smashed 1t to
pieces. It's value was S20,0OO-just that
one piece. If the plate had proved effect
i've, if it had stood the stest, the Govern
ment would have paid for it. As the
plate was a failure the loss fell on the
contractor. He lost not only that $40,
900 plate, but the group Of plates which
it represented. Fortunately, another
plate from the group can be tested, and
if it is proved to be up to standard will be
accepted. If the plate selected proves to
be below standard, the contractor may
put second plate, and if this stands the
test the Government may call for third
plate to be tested. Even though the pro-
iectiles do not do more than dent the sur
face of a plate, it cannot be used as a
part of the armor of one Of our ships
It's only use is as a target for projectiles
which are to be tested. They do not look
very costly, these projectiles. But one of
them which reached about to my waist,
with which Mr.. Mason had smashed a
healthy steel plate to small fragments a
few days before, was valued at $3.50 and
every time one of these projectiles is put
to test it is spoiled.
The work of testing guns and projec-
tiles and powders and armor plate goes
on the year around This little commu-
nity at Indian Head has its own machine
shops, its engines, boilers, powder maya
zines, loading rooms, and in fact all of
the paraphernalia for carrying on its bus
mess expeditiously and effectively. 1t is
one Of the most costly and one the most
useful bureaus of the Navy Department.
-Neu York Adrertiser.