Crittenden press. [volume] (Marion, Ky.) 1879-1907, 1895-12-05
MAKING BIG GUNS.
What is Being Done at one OF
Uncle Sam" Dig Gun
Factories.


Washington, ID. c., Dec. 2.-Peo-
pie who visit Washington are always
told that among the places of inter
est that they should visit is the Wash
ington Navy Yard. They have no
difficulty in finding the place, and
they no doubt look at the many OBJ
jects which are on exhibition at this
historic spot and go away much pleas.
led With their visit. 1t might not
occur, however, to every visitor that
it Is not a navy yard at all that they
have been expecting. This, however,
is the fact.
For the past seven or eight years
there has been no navy yard st Wash
ington, as at the beginning OF tina:
period this celebrated naval station
was changed into naval gun factory.
Here have been made large part of
the armament for the equipment of
the vessels Of the new navy. The
great l3-inch guns are being made
here, and the immense buildings and
costly machinery, which is required
in the manufacture, have been sup
piled with great outlay of money.
Each year this plantshas been i'm |
proved and enlarged until to-day it is
the most important in the country.
The ordinance supplied for the naval
vessels are equipped with intricate
mechanism which requires the skill Of |
trained workmen to bring to perfec-
ton, as well as that supervision which
is secured by the detail of naval Off
GERS who are specially qualified for
such duty. |
The change in the character of this
naval station is significant one, as
indicating the differences between the
old navy and the new. When this
yard was established, in the first year
Of the present century, it was designed
to be q place where naval vessels
could be constructed. During the
years that have followed large num-
Der Of vessels have been built there,
and fully equipped for the service.
The old wooden vessels, which were
in use in the early days, we're built
meat wards, bot ;;:.ssra -. '@verna!
war or cruiser, which is manly com
posed of iron, lie, as rule, construc'
ted at a private yard, where there are
special facilities for carrying on this
work. This, however, was not the
reason tor transforming the old Wash
ington Navy Yard.
1t lie located on the Eastern Branch,
n short distance from the point where
it enters into the Potomac. That
tributary of the Potomac has in latter
years gradually dwindled away, until
now it would be impossible tor a
vessel of any depth to be brought to
the yard.
Besides this it was important that
the government should have gun
factory, and this point has proved OF
special advantage since the acquisition
of the proving ground at Indian
Head, few miles down the Potomac,
where experiments are made with all
new guns. If the proposed additions
to the naval armament stand the test,
they are accepted, and their manufac-
ture begun.
Some idea of the extent of the work
done at the gun factory here may be
had from the figures showing the num-
Der of guns manufactured during the
past year. There was total of 1856
guns mace, and OF this number IL
we're the great l4.inch guns, III were
the II inch guns, 20 were 10 inch
guns, 81 were inch guns, III were
inch guns, II were 3 inch guns, and
So were 4 inch guns. The output for
last year Vas about the same, as the
records for several years previous
show, and 1t is significant fact that
since 1885, when the navy did not
possess modern gun, it has been
supplied with $50, large number Of
the finest types.