New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-03-13
BIG GUNS AT WASHINGTON.
THE NAVAL ORDNANCE FACTORY THERE
ONE OF THE MOST COMPLETE.
IT CAN TURN OFT GUNS FROM THE LARGEST
SIZE DOWN. WITH AL SORTS


Washington March 2 Special The big naval
gun factory I'm this city Is at present place oil OK
traordinary activity. Three shifts OF men, work
ing eight hours each. are engaged day ana h'sHl
in pushing TO completion the guns. mounts and
shells Excepting brief rests for meals the mon
stick uninterruptodly 70 ther implements which
convert tubes jackets. rings and other appurie-
nances into guns heavy forGngs, castings and bots
into mounts and large and small hollow conical
steel bodies into shells Probably four hundred
workmen are now the payrolls Of the gun fac
tory They are in the charge q naval officers
who have been specially selected for their expert
ence In ordnance matters. Hurry orders have been
issued by Secretary Long 10 the officers and work
men at the gun factory. and these directions are
oheyed 20 the letter.
said an officer on duty at the naval gun factory
to-day: we have much 20 do at this station. If
we are preparing 10 impress Spain with Snow
Of readiness for hostllties or Il we are actually
to 20 20 war with her in the near future, II Is
necessary that VIC should display the greatest pos
shle activity. This are doing. and all hahds are
hustlng I'm a manner which has received the pfal'e
- the authorities" The officer asked II the
factory would have ready in due season guns
mounts and shells for vessels that are In comnis-
sion and those that are rapidly being pushed 10
completion. lie replied In the Affirmative AIDING
"Our orders require to be ready. ana our 'NE
,s to obey orders" He reluctantly admitted thal
the Navy could not rely upon the gun factory lot
Fl
for these weapons but that outside companies m
cluoinC several foreign firms would help to supply
the Navy's wants. He placed emphasis upon the
point that this was a time OF emergency.
Few persons who have not visited the factory
are aware Of the capacity Of the plant. The fac-
tory has grown 10 be one Of the best ana mos
ex.ensfve Of institutions OF TINS sort
Probable no foreign country has pubic plant
with so modern and complete machinery LOT inc
manufacture OF guns. mounts and shells. Inc
great works OF Krupp. in Germany, are more eN-
tenslve OF course, and employ many more mon
I'm, they Ike those OF Lord Armstrong. IN Eng
land are private plants. The Washington gun iac-
tory was started at the same time that the rehdD"
tation OF the Navy was begun In President Arthur
administration. Beginning with meagre approifla-
,,ons under adverse circumstances, II has grown
n its present big proportions under the fostering
care OF Congress and the energy and intelligence
y, Secretaries Chandler Whitney. Tracy, Herbert
and Long and their able suborfinates IN the
Navy. 10 Admiral Sicard, the present com
rnander-in-Chief Of the splendid American Meet
now of Key West. great credit is due for the
progress and present success OF the factory. Ad-
rniral sicard was Chief Of the Bureau q Ordnance
when the factory was started. Commodore Folge9
Who succeeded the Admiral as the head OF me