Evening star., 1895-11-01

pared for service as follows: 1,643 armor
piercing projectiles forty-nine sem:-armor
piercing project:les. ten cast-steel shot. four
cast-steel shell, 2o65S forged steel shell and
612 cast-iron shell. There have also been
manufactured at the yard for the United
States army fifty cast-iron shot, 800 cast
iron shell and 800 shrapnel. Fuses, primers.
gun locks, tools, cartridge bags and other
similar articles have been made in large
quantities. ''-i-'2 '.5','
Condition of the Shops.
In regard to the general condition and
needs of the factory, Commander Jewell
says:
"The fitting of the new forge shop and
the work of moving hammers, ETC.. from The
old shop was completed in December last.
The new shops began operation in January.
The prepara ton of the old shop for the re-
ception of the cranes, machine tools, etc,
of the gun carriage shop extension was i'm
mediately begun and that shop was in oper-
alton in April. although some of the new
tools were not received until July. This ex-
tension Of the gun-carriage shop was a
much-needed improvement.
when the 13-inch mounts Of the Massa-
chusetts are completed about December u,
these being the last of the heavy mounts
until those for the Iowa are erected, It Is
intended to remove the scaffolds. ETC., from
the room now called the erecting shop and
transfer the erection of heavy mounts to
the southwest corner of the gun-carriage
shop. This will make available the travelling
cranes III SnOp IOr ulSn& IN place the
heavy pieces of these mounts. Tt viii also
provide space for tools it is intended to AXE
| out of the present secondary mount shop.
improvements Proposed.
THE bureau of yards and docks will ask
for an appropriation to tear out the sec
ond floor of the west side Of the gun-carriage
shop, now occupied as secondary mount
shop. This floor is very insecure, and al
though it has been strengthened as far as
possible it is still overtaxed with the weight
II has to support. Besides, it darkens the
shop below it, requiring the use of artificial
light except on the brightest days. The i'm
provement that would be made by the re-
moval of the upper floor would be very great.
Should this improvement be made it will
be necessary to remove the tools from the
upper floor and redistribute those in the
present west gun-carriage shop. 1t Is es-
timated that to make these changes and to
extend the lotion crane ways, put in line
! shaftins, rulleys, erecting plates, ETC., and
provide heating arrangements and engine
power, will cost $25,OOO, and an estimate for
this amount has been submitted.
'At the last session of Congress an ap-
preparation was made for new roof to the
foundry. The estimate submitted from this
yard contemplated raising the walls and
remodeling the foundry; but, while the entire
sum necessary for this purpose was appro-
priated. the appropriation was SO worded
that the money could not be used.
should the amount asked for be reappro-
priated and the foundry remodeled, trav-
cling crane and other cranes, new cupolas
and blowers. elevators and other appliances
of a modern foundry should be Installed.
An estimate for this purpose ($tI5 5000 mas
been submitted.
Size of the Force.
Commander Jewell makes the following
remarks in regard TO the working force of
the gun factory:
THE completion of the guns for tho
ships already authorized and the rejection
of so large proportion of gun forgfngs
has caused a gradual reduction to be made
In the number of workmen employed in the
gun shop. The reduction has now reached
n point when any further dminution of the
force will necesSitate the discharge of
workmen whose experience In this line OF
work rerdcrs them most valuable men.
Fortunately the gun work in hand and in
p: osnect, IL the forgings can be promptly
delivered, will be sufficient to keep en-
rlcyed thu ough out the fiscal year the pres
ent reduced force in the gun shop. 1t is to
, be remarked, however, that the cost of the
production If the guns turned out under
the pre- sent conditions must be considerably
increased over that Of the guns manufac-
tuIed while the shop was at work TO its
full capacity.
Working at Full Capacity.
''Tie gun carriage shop is at present work
ing to its full capacity. but when the
| mounts OF the Oregon and Massachusetts,
| arc completed tabout December Il. there
VIII remain 10 ne manufactured OIsly tHOSC
| for the Iowa and for the gunboats. A con-
siderable reduction Of the force in this: shop
| will then become necessary"
AS illustrating the capacity Of the shops
VIXEN working under ordinary conditions,
| Commando Jewell submits a tabular state
mcnt showing ornaments supplied to ships
| from the qua factory during the three
! years from, Jal.uary i. 1895. to December
, 81, 1875. as follows: S.xty-siX four-irca, 60
| fye-inch. 30 six-irci SO eicht-irch, J.; ten
! IN cl,, 8 twelve-incE, - thiri Inch. 116
six -ooI,nders. 10 three-pounders, cS cne-
! pc.ntc3a II l..Ia., total CT 103 guns