The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-10
SPAIN CORNERED It I'LL.
DrsAuet ~ American Iaveatfve Ce-
Mas Used - Dfsadvantags 81
sanpson's Flees-Coagress Ii 60
uiame-Two Factories Roaming.
WASHINGTON. July e-Lsts stories

WASHINGTON. July e-Lsts stories
from Santiago abou. the engagements be-
tweer. sAe Gsets OF Sampson and Csrvera
dwell with particular stress On the lneon-
yenieace cauHed the American ganners ~
the osd-tasasoaea susosing powder. IL -
not don5,ss BIZ ordnance experts that the
vingug Of the flying squadron OF sairs
would have been accomplished even more
vsompsIy than 1t was had our guns osen
fired with srnokeiess powder As IL was. In
the mad race and swift SUCCESSION OF Shots
fred at sas Spanish Slips, cur vessels
were 30 eageloped Ia the smoke OF taesf
own guns that many a xtsot went wild that
otherwise would have struck home.
Inquiry az TO the prospecis OF cur war
siaips being supplied with snoksissz pow
der, ELECTED the information tina. there lie
no probability OF this being done. gensr-
ally, for a considerable time 70 come.
NEW YORK. july "a special 10 the
Tribune from Warrington says:
Representative Hull, of The house naval
committee, has tigig TO say ia regard to
the use Of sEnokslssS powder:
The trouble Is that we could not get
emokeless powder at tho outbreak OF the
war, though 1t VAS an American invention.
produce IL In Sufficient amount. Congress
long ago should have provided for the
manufacture OF such powder in this ooun-
try. Contracts should have been made 50
- to warran, the production OF IL. but
Il costs a little more than other powder,
end too many OF our people IN congress-
thought We never would have war. and
therefore would not prepare for the posi-
baiity. We tried 20 bay IL abroad when
the war came bat Spain had bought 1. all
there. think the fault lies with our
congressional system"
What ss going 80 be done about ST."
was asked.
There Is nothing fin contemplation In
congress. / wish the department would
take the matter In hand and ISSUE con-
tracts. The house committee ON naval af-
fairs did al IL was asked to do In connec-
ton with furnishing this powder. The first
appropriation contemplated was for 81, ooe.-
90 for @nokeisss powder. This was sub
sequentiy reduced 10 sg0.1sa because the
department. could draw upon the S0.o00 900
emergency appropriation for this purpose.
We also gave So. 90 to increase the gov
ernment's plant at Newport for the man
uiaeture OF these explosives. The govern
nent ought TO make smokeless powder and
Keep large stocks OF IL Oh hand for emer-
Gency."
committee on naval affairs. said:
The question OF providing amokeless
powder for the navy IL to H.. dealt with In
the department. We have given 10 the de-
paItmenf every dollar they have asked for.
ana ! have no doubt they are de!ng the
osst they can In that respect
Representative Hilborn. OF California. q
member Of the naval committee. said:
Tho trouble - that there are b,,, two
Places in the United states PREPARED 10
make sznokeless powder They had lust
started on = for the government when the
~ar came on. We had just worked out a
formula Tor slnokeless powder. she best In
.ne world, ard had started In make II when
he war broke out We undertook to pre-
pare formula which would elinninais the
extremely dangerous character of ordina-
~ siihokeless powder. The Dtrpons now
or MUS IN Delaware and she California
powder tnisls have started TO manufactures
~. ntit when the war broke ont tasv we're
not prepared 10 furnish a sufficient auan~
tity Tor the use of our arnv ana rsvry
IL thongnf that some had been cough,
SSs<es he secretary asked FOR 81 90 90
Ior lisat p5apnre and az So 40 eso sas q n,
propriated, he sstid that s2-ot would do
We should nave used some Of the 80 90 az,
20 nuy this powder abroad. bus il seems
That We have not" '>'