The record-union., 1895-05-16
GREAT GUNS And ARMOR PLATES.
Last Nights Lecture by Irving NJ,
Scott.
A Brilliant Effort, in Which Cali.
fornians We're Read Lesson
on Economy.

Those who listened to the lecture Of
Irving NJ. Scott on "Armor and Great
Guns" last night at the Congregational
Church enjoyed rare treat that they will
long remember and those who were not
present missed an opportunity OF learn
ing some truths that would have bene-
fitted them.
Mr.. Scott makes no pretensions 10
oratory. but is pleasing speaker, Iull OF
facts and figures and with method ana
style of delivery that enchains the close
attention of his hearers. he was ire
ouently applauded during his lecture,
most of which appealed directly to
American feeling and patriotism. IL Is
an address that should be printed IN full
in pamphlet form and distributed broad
cast over the State, as it contains food 1or
thought that should bear good fruit and
contribute to our prosperity by educating
us in the methods older nations have
been forced TO adopt.
The lecturer said that most people are
interested IN armor and guns and the
new navy. At the time of the Crlmean
War soft armor six inches in thickness
could successfully resist the most power
ful projectiles used at that time. Now 1t
SAh6S S0NbEdl 1851 al LLAChAOoS VI e14o OoSh
hardened armor, backed by solid oak, TO
resist the force of modern proJectlles.
The duel between armor and guns goes
on continually, and at present the armor
is ahead, but no one can tell how long 1t
will be so. With better steel as protec-
ton, better powder and guns were re-
quired. The guns were Increased In
weight and efficiency.
He gave an interesting description of
the compound armor first made at Shelf
field, the sheets being rolled down TO
twelve inches thick, steel welded TO
them, making them twenty inches thick.
with facing of tough steel, and then
rolled down again to twelve or fourteen
inches. This was the best armor the
world had when the United States COM
menced TO build her navy. A French
man improved upon 1t, and then Uncle
Sam added nickel to it, and when the
process of hardening ii, known as "Har-
veyizing." was discovered, the present
armor was evolved. He described the
process which makes a very tough steel.
The last contract let by Russia, he
said. was given to the works at Bethle-
hem Penn, and was the result OF patron
iZlng home industry. Secretary Whit
new mad enough foresight to make con-
tract with an American firm so large that
il paid to put up plant adequate to carry
il out. The bethlehem works cost Si,OGO,-
900, and the Pitts burg plant 80, 600.
He gave an interesting account OF W hit
worth's discovery of fluid compressed
steel, made under pressure OF 1900
tons to the square inch, afterward fol-
lowed down by the immense pressure of
the hydraulic ram, thus excluding gases.
air and all other impertections. Whit
worth had used the hydraulic forge to
obtain his pressure. and had inaugurated
hollow forging. Under that system shafts
tiity-three long can be forged, thing
which five years ago was Impossible.
When the Charlestown was ordered the
shafts could not be made in this country,
and had TO be made at krupp's great
foundry. One year later they were made
at Bethlehem, and now only the Charles
town and one other warship have foreign
made shafts. The last shaft made was
larger than the specifications, and the
Government would not accept 1t till the
builders assumed all risk of possible
damage from using 1t.
a twelve-inch gun is sixty feet long.
The steel is tested when poured, cooled,
selected, and at every stage OF manu-
featuring and finally tested by the Gov
ernment before it is accepted. When it is
ready for oil-temperlng 1t IS heated cherry
red and dropped into vat of oil. So deli
cate is the work that 1t is raised and
turned continually to subject every bit
of the surface to an even heat. The pop
ular gun of to-day is the fve-inch navy
gun, which can be fired seven times in
minute. It is made at Bethlehem. The
United States now leads the world in
guns, armor, warships and efficiency.
The Colum bia can sail around the world
without coaling. Both it and the Mime
apolis have three screwS-another inno-
Yation-and can make speed unheard of
hitherto in naval architecture. They can
pick up any ocean greyhound" a1oat
and maintain American supremacy, as
the best of them can only average twenty
one knots an hour, while the two ships
named showed a speed of twenty-three
knots.
The American ship is the lightest,
strongest, switest, and carries the heav-
lest armament of any. The Oregon, of
10 go tons. is of the same class as two
that England is building. The Royal
George will be of l., 900 tons. The Ore
gon can throw more metal from her bat
teries than any other ship yet atioat.
The English lay so much stress on their
navy that it makes Americans wild at
the ''hasty' legislation at Washington in
regard 10 our navy. The English incul-
cate patriotism in their youth. At the
Great Exposition the first thing you see
is Nelson's picture and ali the relics be-
longing TO him. Then came Rodney and
Blake. and before you get through you
are inspired by the naval heroes. There
is a fuil-slZed model of the Victory, Nell
sons ship, with the old-fashioned guns,
aud in the cock pit are wax figures of the
hero with the surgeons and officers
around him. There is also picture of
Sir J Ohm Franklin. with all the relics of
his expedition.
There is a representation of an iceberg,
and in the interior reproduction of the
Arctic regions, with the aurora, the mid
night sun, and model of the Terror, all
visible by electric lights. and lecturer
who expstiates on the glory brought to
England by the great explorer. Then
there is pond 800 feet square, with 5000
seats around it, on which is a practical
display OF naval warfare, an actual fight
between a warship and another lying the
pirate flag, both being worked by electric
wires, III which the pirate is sunk amid
applause Then a ship is destroyed by a
torpedo, and q torpedo is shown which
carries ttty-hYe pounds of dynamite and
eXerts fifty horsepower. Then you are
invited around the corner to see the naval
cadet drill. How can the young man help
being inspired by such surroundings.
That is why England sometimes votes
Sl00 000, 900 to increase her navy. That Is
why an Engllshman is always loyal to
his native land. He hoped it would some
day be so in this country. The time is
coming when we will need it, with the
present discomfort and the conditions
that are charged 10 one thing and another.
lie had travelled around the world and
he wanted TO call their attention to some
OF our advantages over older countries,
which are not appreciated. When in
China, he went TO market with an intelli-
gent Chlnaman. Hewanted quite num-
Der OF vegetables, but was told two cents
was all the money he needed, He
changed one of them for fiftv cash ia
small coin and with that he boupht rad
isheS, cheese, almost every kind of yece-