The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-26
TURNING OUTGREAT GUNS.
WORK ron COAST Defence AT TEE
WATFRHIIET ARSENAL.

eDDs InroW y FrolfCtttB tce HhttShf ~
Use 1000 Psunds or Powder ut - CharGe
The Arsenal asd the Great Gun works.
wATERyL1Er, N. Y, Feb. 25.-Tho great gun
factory at the watervliet Arsenal is humming
with activity In these days. On every side and
in every department one hears the whirr OF pom
derous wheels, the creaking OF giant cranes, the
~rattling Of colossal chains. the rumbling Of
heavy conveyances, and the clang OF many
hammers. Hundreds Of men are at work at
hugo pieces Of ordnance. 1t Is here that the
Government is building the great 18-inch gun
which, when finished, will DO tho largest in tho
world, and hero. too. guns are being made for
u~eaconst defence and field service.
Whom President Mckinley visited the arsenal
last August he stood upon a hugo gun and
glanced down tho main department.. He turned
70 the venerable Col. Charles l.. Macarthur,
who stood at his side. and remarked:
swell this is truly a wonderful sight. /
really had no idea that the arsenal was such a
magnificent place"
Secretary Of War Alger approached.
"what do you think OF 1t, Alger y asked tho
President.
The tall. slender Secretary of Wal stroked
his mustacho for a moment and then replied:
cit 10 certainly q wonderful place. Mr.. Presi'
dent"
The Presidents surprise and qualification
hhNo pCOh buai W
the arsenal. The grcnt ordnance factory is
beautifully situated on the west side OF the
Hudson River, and commands an inspiring view
of that picturesque stream. In summer time
the grounds nre splendidly cared for, and on
all sides give ample evidence OF the skill OF the
Carrison's landscape gardener. The walks are
broad and we'll shaded by trees, whose branches
keep Off tho hot sunshine. Tho roadways are
travelled ana perfectly kept. Near the pretty
cottage of tho commandant arc golf links, GRO
QUOT grounds. lawn tennis grounds. and other
spots for outdoor recreation. A stream OF water
running through the grounds gives the arsenal
an additional charm. By a recent order from
the War Department there has been q change
In commandments at the arsenal. Col. Isaac
Arnold, who for some years was in charge OF the
post. has been transferred 10 tho Springfield.
Mass, armory. He was succeeded by Col. Alfred
Mordecai, lately OF the Springfield armory, who
arrived here last Wednesday,.
It was on July Ii. 1918, that the first pur-
chase OF land for an arsenal was made in the
then village of West Troy. The deed of that
date conveyed n little moro than one acre, lying
on the east side OF River street, now Broadway.
and affording a river frontage Of about 700 feet
and about twelve acres on tho other side Of the
street and opposite the first plat. For this plat
o., 5s5 was paid. In 1914. under the direction
of Lieut.. Col. Bomford of the Ordnance Depart
ment. the Government began the construction
of an arsenal. 1t was originally designed
as q small depot for supplies, and the
buildings constructed at that time wcro
suited to that purpose. In 1915 more build
ings were erected and more land was acquired.
In 1928 thirty more acres of land was purchased.
Since then the Government has from time to
time added to the property until now its area
comprises about 1873 acres. 1T was not until
Oct. 10, 1887. that the manufacture OF ordnance
was begun here. Tho first section Of the large
shop was started in October. 1890. just three
years later. On the anniversary day, in 1888.
exactly three years. arterward. work on the
Since then this gun plant has turned out humid
reds of cannon and many mOrtars. 1t Is n great
compliment to the arsenal to say that every
Instrument of war over turned out OF the vast
gun factory has been n complete success; When
these pieces have been found in every Way salts.
factory. The arsenal employs about 400 men.
The length Of the gun factory is about 1000
feet. 1t contains machinery OF the latest type.
The three electric cranes in tho shop are mar.
wells Of mechanical ingenuity. The smallest has
the third Of $50 tons. These cranes pick up
ponderous cannon with marvellous case and
remarkable sight to see the largest crane carry
. gun weighing thousands of pounds. rs easily
4no ahSaE% wo NJ Mflfn %ac GhlS in il t6s m hInd room
accurate measuring machine and takes account
Many guns are seen In various stages of con.
Btruction in this department.. One of the most
pound steel or iron projectile about twelve
miles. 1t weighs 81 gross tons. or about 49,
powder viii be used at each discharge. Il IS a
breech-loading gun. and 1t Is possible to fire n
shell from It about every two minutes. To look
through this gun from the breech end is like
Peering through a long, narrow tunnel. The dis
lance 70 mo4 deceptive, one imagining it to be
It is announced that the War Department in.
tends to mount the great 16-inch gun on Romer
turret which will entirely inclose tho crew and
tho greater part OF the gun. From Its position
f iesd inn T into Says a Y f%ll i hSfSDr of A ses sRnnrs te
former Lieut.. John F.. Meigs of the United states
Nav. who is supesintending the construction
Of this monster rifle, a shot from this new gun
will have a striking energy equal to that of a
2.0oo-ton ship running at full speed, There is
Ats terrible force. The calibre OF the new gun
win DO 16 inches; The length. from breech to
measure exactly Ave feet through the breech in
q vertical line. Tho powder charge will weigh
Tho first ingot for this monster gun was cast
IN October last at Bethlehem g 9 o and was for tho
JACKET forging weighed 10000 ppo POUNDS: The
tempering and annealing processes are also
done at the Bethlehem shops. Every ounce OF
compressed; The specifications demand the
most exsoting tests. Specimen pieces from all
tion, breaking and bending tests. The hammer
which pounds the tube into rough shape is
capable of delivering a blow OF 100
IONS: or ten tons more than the celebrated
weigh 126 tong. This Is six tons more than the
monster gun. which .Krupp exhibited at .tbe
Worlds Fair. Before tho American gun is
nnally accepted 1t must Withstand charges OF
powder which. when fired, will develop pressure
OF at least $4,000 pounds to tho square inch.
The gun will have no trunniOns, but will be Sc
CURED by steel straps to Its carriage. This 10
the first modern gun built by this Government
In which trunnions have been omitted.
The gun when completed will cost about
eS9O,O0O. The velocity of its projectile will be.
1t is estimated, 1000 feet a second. It's extreme
range will be fifteen miles.
Ono OF the most interesting features in con-
nection with the construction OF one OF these
big destroyers Is the shrinking on of the jacket.
The jacket, 80 called, Is a coat Of iron fitted
around the portion OF tho cannon most likely to
become weak. This means that the jacket is
fitted oyer the larger steel cylinder nt.the brecch
end OF tho gun. The gun proper consists OF a long
central steel cylinder, technically known as tho
tube, Over tho tube n number of steel hoops
are shrunk. Some or the jackets weigh as much
as 5000 pounds. The greatest, care must be
taken in fitting the hoops and jackets. The
elightest mistake In ejaculation often means the
lossof thousands OF dollars.
When all liz in readiness the iacket IL mt in "a