Evening star., 1898-10-19

ability. The work Of the past year mas
been almost exclusively that of proving
guns and mounts and tests OF powder al 4
protectilcs. The large contracts ~ lotE
OF the latter now in hand call Tor much
work There have been no failures In
guns proved at this station. Improve
msnts have been made in extending the sea
wall. in constructing q new bomb proof
and in the means of utilizing mechanical
powder The erection of a snokeless -ow-
der factory on the proving ground rCsSrva-
ton VIII increase its Importance.
Naval Gun Factory.
This important establishment is under
the efficient and immediate charge or Com
mander f c. PeEdleton, L. : y. the
superintendent. and until the outbreak II
the recent war was engaged upon the cur
rent work Of manufacturing the guns.
mounts and outfits FOR new vessels. ctc,
carrying on its work eight hours day.
As soon as war became imminent and un-
til a few weeks ago. il has been operated
continuously. turning out guns. mounts
and equipments for auxiliary vessels. .-ld
pushing to completion the batteries cite.
for new vessels. Rapid progress was
made, enabling the bureau to supply mod
ern batteries to all auxiliary vessels placed
in commission with such dispatch that
An immense amount If work and in great
detail has been accomplished The pres
ent authorized increase OF the navy, To- hc
undoubtedly followed by still further ,N-
pansion. renders II necessary tnat the IA Ill
tiles of this establishment should keep
pace with the probable rcquirements of the
department. The shops are greGtly over
crowded. impeding the progress nf wovk,
and from time to time additional buidinss
should be erected and equipped with ma
chinery. An allotment has been made ''r
"A new and much-necded machine shop Tor
miscellaneous purposes. and very rapid
Fu l,..fv, grFa FrH
y storehouse for guns j. being erected, Tut
owing 10 the large accumulation growing
out Of the recent war its capacity VIII lie
inadequate to meet the necessities OF the
situation, and an allotment has been le-
quested to double its length.
a new packing and shipping house Is also
urgently needed.
Some projected improvements have been
made and others are in process. New gal
ieries and overhead crane supports VIII
soon be erected in the erecting shop. y
new electric overhead travelling crane has
been installed i'm the east gun-carriaE" shop
and has relieved the situation very much
as to handling material. Two additional
boilers are being added to the central
power plant. The copp-r-roliuE mill has
been cleaned out Of its antiquat"d machin-
cry and is being prepared for lhe r"crl'-
ton of cartridge case making machinery.
all of which has been ordered and l. IN
an advanced state. The breech mechanism
shop should have its walls buttressed and
raised IN height ana new roof put on
The north gun shop should be extended TO
the north To give additional floor space Tc-
der the 1oo-ton crane. The bur. au OF Yards
and docks has funds to put acw rccf on
the south gun shop and the work VIII soon
he in hand. Owing to the "XiEencjes OF The
war most Of the officers On tho active Inst
were detached and ordered u sea. and thor
places were filed with retired officers. who
performed their duties with great fidelity
and diligence. In all probablit tho use
of steam power as now applied to shafuug
driven by belts Will soon bc superseded hv
electric power. and the new machine shop
being built will have all its machinery
driven by electric motors. The bureau also
faEOrs the construction. on a moderate
scale. Of a plant for making small steel
castings and is working in that direction.
The character and cost Of the work turned
out at the naval gun factory reflects great
credit officers. men in charge and on
the employees. and ii is doubtful if "A better
set of mechanics can be found in the coun-
try than those there employed.