Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-06-06

e Mace where secrecy fills the ar
Every man around the government loIu-
flcations wears an air OF seemingly III
penetrable mystery. Not only Is 'n0
fashion TO think before one speaks mere
but 1t Is never safe. according 10 INC
government etiquette, 10 breathe 49,
You are sure that action will not tel any
one I'm anv way even the faintest idea or
what might happen. This is the reasoh
that the test of the big guns has hot De-
come generally known.
The method is as simple as can pe. III
its very simplicity lies its usefulness anu
nracticalitv Compared with the present
Test. the old ideas of the theoretical
measurement OF the velocity of pro-
jcctile are but child's play. Here Tor
the first Is actually measured, even
TO the fraction Of second, the exact
speed of the projcctile as 1t shoots on
its way Of destruction.
II Is to this very end that the brains
of the ordnance department of the navy
have been working always. An ordnance
officer must have accurate knowledge OF
the velocity of a projectile, that he may
predict fits range and penetration, anu
determine the accuracy of the gun. IL
Is an absolute necessity that the power OF
destruction OF the projectile as well as
its power of penetration AT the point
of completion of its journey through the
air. should be known. Without such
knowledge there can be 70 accurate
plan Of firing adopted, because, to q GER
tain extent, 1t will be guess work.
The great trouble has been TO get some
practical method to bring about the de-
sired result which was susceptible OF
proof without being aboard the ship, FOR
instance. that was fired at. The great
guns of the navy are said TO have a
maximum range Of nine miles. The fact
of the matter is, however, that an sutton
gun can never be tested at its maximum
range power aboard a ship, for If 1t were
the recoil would result In sinking the
ship. The army officers have been labor
ING 10 do away with the theoretical range
and obtain for themselves positive
knowledge Of just what It was practical
fer the guns 10 do.
Many persons had the idea that the
Indian Head provising grounds, so called,
are those where the United States makes
its greatest ordnance experiments. The
truth Is that Sandy Hook to-day is Wit
Messing ethe greatest tests OF ordnance
which have ever been attempted by the
government The experiment which is
described in this article is the chief one
at present. and II is so interesting in
its simplicity that an outline of exactly
10 know.
When the test takes place two open
frames are set $50 feet apart in front
of the gun. Wires are stretched back
and forth across these frames, making
screen through which tho shot must
pass. The wires IN each screen form a
complete electric circuit. which includes
also an electric battery and an electro
magnet. The projetile. after leaving the
gun, flies through the wire In the first
screen. interrupting the circuit and re-
leasing the armature OF the magnet. In
space OF time SO small as TO be hardly
conceivable the projectile has covered
the distance between the two frames
and pierced the wire In the second, in
terrupting its electrical current ana re-
leasing the armature of its magnet as
Ia the first case.
The interval between the drops OF these
two armatures represents tho time spent
by the projectlie in travelling 80 feet.
This time Is indicated by the chronograph
in the laboratory near by. Wires run
from each screen 10 the laboratory. which
IL fitted up with batteries and switch
board. The armature of the first electro
magnet Is an iron rod about three feet
long. which is suspended vertically This
rod falls when the first screen Is pierced
The armature OF the second olectro-mag-
net IL placed q little below the first. and
when II Is released il acts as a knife and
stftking the side Of the falling rod. makes
slight mark.
The distance from this cut or mark
Tram tbs end Of the rod indicates thu
senoe throuxh which the rod hal