The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-05-16
AROUND THE CORRIDORS.

Every person Interested In the efforts being
made by the Government to strengthen our
military and naval forces will regret TO hear Of
the disaster which befell the celebrated Wood
bridge gun at the Sandy Hook testing grounds
a few days ago." said Lieutenant A. M. Hosmer
of Washington yesterday. "The gun burst
alter twenty-five rounds OF powder had
been tested, and there are two fractures, both
IN the steel slaves used In the interior Of the
gun. The inventor of the gun, DR.. w. f. Wood
bridge, has spent the greater part OF his life in
perfecting it, and he was confident 1t would
withstand any pressure. The gun Is 10-neh
wire-wrapped breech-loading steel rifle, and was
built under the personal supervision OF the in
Veutor. II is over three years since the con-
struction OF the gun was begun, and the Gov
eminent has expended thousands OF dol
lars In building it. The Woodbridge con.
sists OF an Inner forged steel tube
tWenty-seVen feet long and from two
and a half to three and a half inches thick
throughout, with 1O-inch bore, oVerlaid for
the rear half of its length with a cylinder of
closely fitting steel slaves three and half
inches thick and fourteen feet long, and
then WOUND with square steel wire, timed.
1900 OF an inch cross section, which Is after.
ward soldered. The whole length of the gun
Is wirewOund, separated 10 three sections by
steel rings or bands screwed on the cylinder of
slaves or TO the tube. From the rear of the
gun to the IrunniOn-band there are ~ layers Of
wire wound under tension OF 10000 pounds
per square inch upon the inner layer TO IS 900
pounds per square inch on the forly-secOnd
layer. The powder chamber is 1914 inches In
diameter and so inches In length. The gun
when completed weighed about 80 tons, one
half OF that weight being composed OF wire
wound about the gun. II cost over $4,000,
which sum also includes the cost OF the plant
for building it, 1t is the largest wire-bonnd
gun ever built in the world, and great things
were expected OF 1t. About 300 pounds of
powder were supposed TO be the charge needed,
and it was expected that a proiectiIe weighing
575 pounds would be thrown from IL 10 Is
miles with velocity Of over 1000 feet a second"
H. E. Knowles, a gentleman from Springfield,
ILL.,, who is possessed of ample wealth to crafty
an inclination to travel, is In the city and has
but recently returned from visit to New Zea-
land. "Sueh a movement as that inauguTated
by Coxey In This country would find but little
support over there" said he, yesterday "The
relief organizations devoted TO charity are sys-
tematIcaIly and speDdidly organized, and the
general Government contributes annually for
charitable purposes a sum equivalent 10 that
raised by each district board for similar pur-
poses. The Government has instituted what
are known as village settlements, where suit
able applicants are provided with land upon the
most favorable terms. ANY strong, able-b0d
man who really desires to build himself home
and thereby render himself Independent of
charity may, upon application 10 the Govern
ment, obtain a certain number of acres OF land,
and even small sums OF money, at nominal fates
Of interest. which enables him 10 make Deces-
sary improvements. Every possible means is
tried by the Government TO encourage the
strong and vigorous men found In the ranks OF
the unemployed to become industrious and In
dependent small farmers. Another factor
which tends to decimate the ranks OF the un-
employed is the introduction by he Govern
ment of the principle of cooperation into
nearly all Of its public work. For example, the
Government engineer makes an estimate Of the
cost of constructing a piece OF railway. Bids