Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-02-04

How IL Is Tested mp On the French Greet
tirauch of the w. & y. II. r..

braHfn al the W. AZ y. X. II.
In the extreme western end of War
wick township and along the French
Creek branch OF the Wilmington &
Northern railroad is placed large
cannon belonging to the United States
government, says the West Chester
Local News.
1t is about one mile from Springfield
station, which is the junction OF the
main limo and the French Greek
branch. 1t is used by the du Points.
with which they are now testing new
kind of smokeless powder which ia
manufactured at the du Pont powder
works.
When ready for uHe tho powder is in
the shape of small cylinders about
three. fourths Of an inch thick apd one
inch long, and are perforated length
wihe with seven small holes. These
holes are what gives the powder I'D :
ditlonal strength. they causing it TO
burn both from the inside aud outside
at the same timo, thus causing it 10
hurn much more rapidly and rendering
1T GorreBpondingly more eifectivs.
The gun, including carriage, weighs
Gti, 600 pounds, the gun proper or barrel
weighing 33, 600 pounds.
At tho rear Of the gun ia small
apparatus for lifting from the ground
the heavy 30O-pound cannon balls up TO
the brooch of tho gun.
The gun carriage is arranged so that
after discharge tho reaction CauseH it
TO run back and h few foet IN an in 4,
cline plane, the carriage being mada IN
OF two parts, SO 10 speak, but is quickly
stopped by a device in the Iower anil
stationary part of the carriage and
slowly rolls back again into itH place on
account OF the inclination Of the plano.
When not in uee the gun is sheltered
from the weather 10y movable frama
structure, which is tract; and can be
pushed IN over tho cannon (whon NOT
IN uscl or buck wLen the cannon is
being discharged.
Ono may wonGer where the cannon
balls which are sent with such immnnss
spced go For tho purpose of stou.
ping thoir sudden ve!ocity a large pie
Of sand, J, Coo tons in weight, has been
placed about 200 foot from tho gun, and
into this tho balls arc fired. Even
this does not always stop their swift
sreod and an occasional ball, strisipg
another in the sand heup and g;ancipg,
comes out and travels several hundred
yards sometimes, One ball is said TO
nave been found on the other side of
tho hill upon which tho cGnnun ia
located, fully three fuurths uf milo
distant.
Tho mos. delicate part Of all. how
ever, and perhaps tho most interesting,
IL the Ingenious mechanism by means
OK which the speed Of the bullet is
recorded. This is dom by electricity
and the battery house. about lJG feet
from The cannon. contains the necessary
instruments For the purpose of MAX
ing electricity IN Edison Lelantle hat
tory OF u cniI ia used Then there
are two Sareeus placed exactly 100 feet
apart and through them tho hall
raHscr. FROM these screens wiraa run
up to tho battery horse. When tho
bal! PASSES through each screen the
da'lcats mechanism makes 4 record and
tic operator tHArE his data. and from
thls by mathematical computation i!naa
tho Speed ri tho ball, and thus finds
the strength Of tho powder.
mo du Punta visit the cannon and
t'at tho quality and strength Of the
towuer onea .? twice Il month, "a
| OCCASION nrcesaltaios, and during thoif
abSanc. William Orr has charge OF tho
Eiece OF ordn Ance. Keeps it in good ton
dillon and shows and eXpluns it to visi
| tors.
Ono who ID travelling around that
part OF tho country visiting nIuces OF
interest should not f!il to go 10 Spring
| held aGu VieW this immense cannon.