Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-27
THE PROVING GROUND
WoJk of the Year at Indian Head
Described.
SMOKELESS Pow DER FACTORY
Progress in the Construction of the
Plant Described.
TESTS WITHOUT MISHAPS

IESIS WITHOUT M1SHAPS
In his annual report Admiral O'Neil, chief
| of naval ordnance. devotes chapter to the
naval proving ground at Indian Head, Nd
in which he says:
This important station is still in charge
OF Commander A. R. Couden, U. S. N, whose
energy, industry, ability and excellent
judgment entitle him to the warmest COM
mendation Of the bureau and of the depart
ment.
During the year 161 guns of various
calibers have been proved. No weakness
or defect has been observed In any of
them though usually subjected to pressures
much higher than obtained in service Nu-
merous tests of armor plate for vessels now
building have been made Armor- piercing
and common she'll representing numerous
lots of all calibers. have been tested with
IN most instances, satisfactory results. Oc-
casionally a lot has failed whereupon tie
manufacturers have been required to re-
treat them and submit other test shells
which must pass the firing test successful
ly before acceptance. The general quality
of all shell submitted by the manufacturers
has been excellent, and the bureau has
been enabled to add materially to its re-
serve supply of projectiles. Numerous
tests have been made of navy smokeless
powder with gratifying results, and large
quantities have been accepted.
The bureau discontinued the purchase
OF brown powder as soon the iite war
with Spain was over. and having q
good supply on hand, which can gradually
be used up for target practice, directed the
powder manufacturers to give their &tten-
ton entirely to the production of smoke
less powder of navy standard, known as
pyro-celluose.
Powder Good When Properly Made.
ut is most gratifying to the bureau to be
able to report that thus far no Unfavorable
qualities have been detected in this powder
when properly made. It's ballistic prop
erues and keeping qualities appear to be
excellent and to remain unimpared even
when subjected to excessive temporal ures
of heat and cold and to extreme degrees of
moisture. The methods of manufacture and
of inspection have been considerably i'm
proved, and the bureau is therefore enabled
to require close adherence to its specifica-
lions both as to nitration and solubility of
the cellulose AS a grain of suitable dimen-
sfons has to be prepared for each caliber
of gun, considerable experimenting is nee
essary to obtain the exact size which will
burn properly and give the highest veloci-
ties with the least and most uniform pres
sures. The powder for all guns, however
is of the same composition, 1T being a
question of shape and size of grain or strip
only that determines for what purpose it
may be used. No dangerous pressures have
NAL character been observed in weil-1nade
powder Of this kind
The question to the best mode of ig
milton IS now receiving considerable atten-
ton. The custom at present is to ignite
the charge from the rear end. 1t may
prove to be advantageous to ignite 1t 9TH
erwise, and experiment will soon show.
The proving ground has been consider
ably improved by the completion of the
sea wall: much grading and filling in has
been done; the railroad tracks have been
relaid with heavy rails and extended. and
an electric surface trolley introduced for
purposes of transportation in the firing
valley A new and substantial bombproof
and ready magazine for powder have
slip for heavy guns have been improved
new house for the officer in charge has
been constructed, and many minor i'm
provemepts have been made.
SmokeIess Powder Factory.
'In the bureaus last annual report it was
stated that tract of land at the Indian
Head reservation had been cleared for a
site for a smokeless powder factory, and
that building operations We're then in pro-
gross. 1t was hoped that by this time the
work would have been completed but it
has proved to be more of undertaking
than was anticipated. Much has been
complished, but there remains much to be
cerned as to the quality and character of
the work than as to the time of its compile
ton. AS increased knowledge was gained,
the bureau considered it advisable to revise
its plans for the different buildings and for
the apparatus to be contained in them. 1t
had but little data to work from, and was
obliged to make patient Investigations, to
prepare designs of various appliances,
building plans and specifications and get
the grounds in proper order. This has now
been done. The grounds have been drained,
cleared and graded where necessary. an
electric railroad completed, giving com
piete access to all the buildings, to the
proving ground. and to a new wharf that
has been built on the Mattawoman creek.
All the machinery and appliances have
been ordered, and a considerable portion is
already delivered The buildings are fairly
well under way, but the bureau has ex-
perienced the prevailing difficulty in pro-
curing material. The work has nearly all
been performed by day work by the prov
ing ground force, under Commander Cou-
den's direction and supervision it being
impracticable on account Of the remote
location of the site, to do much work by
contract The building for the power
house. containing the electric plant for OPP
Grating the entire works, railroad, etc, is
practically completed. The machinery is
in place. and this part of the establishment
will soon be ready for operation, and is
very complete and up to date in every re-
spect. The boiler house, connected by an
inclosed passage to the power house, is
completed with stack up and boilers in
place, though not bricked in, awaiting the
delivery of some automatic stokers, now
type and will soon be ready for use.
New Buildings.
"a large brick storehouse, near the power
house, for miscellaneous purposes, is now
completed and in use. The administration
building, containing the inspectors office
and chemical laboratory, Is being rooted.
The coal shed. with its hoist and automatic
railway, near the wharf on Mattawoman
creek is completed. The nitric acid factory
is ready for it's roof; the apparatus for the
manufacture of nitric acid has been deliv-
cred and the work of installation will be
proceeded with soon the building is
completed. The cotton storehouse is COM
pleted and in use. The cotton washing
house, foundation just commenced. Cotton
picking house, foundation in and walls
partly up. Cotton drying house, heater
and blower in place, hot-air ducts and dry
ing bins in place, and building practically
finished. Ether factory, building up to win
dow sills; apparatus for making ether con-
tracted for and ready for installation.
Pulping and poaching house, lower story
Of brick completed and material just deliv-
cred for roof and upper story; pulpers and
MI.