The morning call., 1894-10-28

the ordinary railroad car is about ten feet
wide, the circles could not lie fiat in car.
With the overlapping circles some diff
Guilty might be experienced in passing
through tunnels and in going by other
trains at close range. Besides the height
of the circles. if placed in an upright posi-
ton, would violate the rule which forbids
cars from being loaded higher than four
teen feet
But, by considerable scratching OF their
"think-tanks," the railroad people settled
the proposition of transporting the heavy
pieces OF armament. The idea of how it
was possible 10 get Uncle Sans hardware
across the continent originated with the
Pennsylvania road, which was ,he line
that had the first handling OF the pieces
of metal.
A slot was cut in the bottom of gondola
car, such as is used for carrying coal. This
was made wide enough to let in edgewise
the two circles which belong to each gun.
In order that the car might not be weak
ened by this long timbers were bolted on
the floor of the car and TO the cross-pieces,
in order that the conveyance might not
collapse under the strain of the heavy
weight.
After the mode Of conveyance had been
decided upon it was but a feat in the en-
gineering business of loading cars to get
the heavy pieces in their proper place.
Each of the mOrtars weighs 80 500 pounds,
aud it was found impossible to have the
| twelve brought out here on one train.
Six cars were arranged for the circles, an
ten other 'goDdolas" were used for the
mOrtars and other paraphernalia.
Then after the train was made up it had
to be fitted out with air brakes such as
are used on passenger trains. This was
necessary because the Union Pacific and
the Central Pacific roads insisted that
| brakes be used, as the possibility of acci-
dents on these Two roads were more immi-
nent than on the Eastern lines.
The guns were tested at Sandy Hook
| and found satisfactory by the Government
experts. It was at that point that they
were loaded on the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company's cars. From there the
route was to Elizabeth, N. j.. and thence
to Chicago. From that point they travelled
over the Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific,
the Union Pacific and the Central Pacific
road. They are now in the hands Of the
last-Damed company.
| Colonel George FL. Mendell of the United
States Corps of Engineers and Division
Engineer of the Pacific, said yesterday re-
garding the mortars that he had received
the waybill for them. As on previous oc.
casions, when some ordnance was tran
ported, the waybill was made out in his
name. The bill calls for the delivery of
| the guns at the Fort Point reservation.
The heavy train will enter this city by
way of the south. via the Niles and San
| Jose routes. Upon arrival at Third and
| Townsend streets the metal pieces will g
loaded upon trucks and hauled out by
horses. That was the plan which Colonel
Mendel adopted before. and he intends to
do the same with the present load.
! As soon as the six mortars have been
unloaded from the train the cars will be al
once returned 70 Sandy Hook and no time
will be lost in loading them up with the
other six mortars. 1t will be fully two
mouths before the second load arrives
here. In the meanwhile no time will be
| lost in putting together the sections of the
guns which will arrive here some day dur
| ing the coming week. and placing them in
position. The locations of the guns will
| be on the heights directly back Of the
fort, and it is are expected, from
the tests made at the Sandy Hook proving
grounds, that they will be valuable ad-
| iuncts to the set Of formidable guns which
are already arranged on the heights as
defenders of the narrow channel entrance
| to the harbor.
The new weapons are of the most i'm
proved style and it is not the Golden Gate
| alone which they can defend, but with
their sbell-throwing powers they could
make it very uncomfortable. if not danger
Gus for any vessels which might be laying
off toward the Farallon Islands. il it wa s
a case of war. provided that the said yes-
sells had deadly designs upon San Fran
cisco.
Fire Department Changes.