The evening times., 1899-11-30
4 NAVAL POWDER PLANT
Work on the Structures at the In
dian Head Grounds.
Railways Constructed md Many Ins-
proNements Already MRde-COm-
mander Couden's Plans Carried
out SuccessfulIy-Thc Manufacture
of Different Kinds of Explosives.

Work on the naval smoke,ess powder
mill. in course of construction az the Ma
val Proving Grounds, Indian Head, is going
on rapidly, and it is the hope of Rear Ad-
miral Charles O'Neill, chief of the Bureau
of Ordnance. that the factory will re in
operation next spring. The factory il to
have a daily output of one thousand
pounds. The work is under the direct-7l-
pervision of Commander A r. Couden,
Inspector of Ordnance. who says that the
building operations are being pushed with
vigor, and that while much has been done,
there remains much to be done. A trolley
railway has been completed to connect all
of the several buildings, but branch line
is yet to be built to lead to the powder
drying houses packing house, and maga-
zine. which are isolated.
The Bureau of Ordnance directly after
the close of the war with Spain, convinced
of the superiority of smokeless powder,
discontinued the purchase OF brown pow
der. and is now using up its old stock OF
This comparatively worthless article In tar
get practice Powder manufacturers were
urged to give their attention TO the pro-
duction of sInokeless powder of the navy
standard known as pyro-ceilu-ose. Rear
Admiral O'Neill has said that thus far no
unfavorable qualities have been detected
in this powder, when properly made lis
bailistc properties and keeping quailues
are said to be excellent. and its strength
Hpppears TO remain unimpaired, even when
subjected TO excessive temper atures OF
heat and cold, and to extreme degrees of
moisture.
The methods of manufacture have been
SC improved that the Navy Department Is
enabled 10 require close adherence 10 its
specifications boIh as 10 nitration and
solubility of the cellulose \ grain of suit
able dimensions has to be prepared for
each calibre OF gun. and considerable eX-
perimentation has been required to obtain
The exact size which will burn properly and
give the highest ve!ocities with the least
and most uniform pressures. The powder fol-
all guns is of the same composition. it be-
ing a question of shape and size of grain
ur strip that determines its adaptabiiity-
Ii was in 1883 that a tract of land in the
Indian Head reservation was cleared for the
smokelass powder plant. and that building
operations were begun on the strength of
an appropriation of 100000. The
TASK was fraught with difficulties.
As new information was gained
tts bureau found it advisable TO revise its
plans for the different buildings and for
had but little data to work from. and was
obliged to make patient Investigations. The
grounds have ben. cleared, drained ana
graded the electric railroad has been prac-
iically completed. Il new wharf has been
built on N-tJaNCm2r Creek. and all the
machinery and appliances have been
oIdCIyd. and in part have bsen received.
NeGrly all the buildings ars well under way.
but delays hays bs-n encountered owing TO
the difficulty in gSttiEg prompt deliveries of
building material.
In the matter of this new smokeless
powder plant, il is said at the Navy De-
partment that 1t is not the intention of
the Government to enter into competition,
except to quality. with private manu-
facrures as the Government must rely
upon them for the greater part of its sup
ply. as they have, it is said. devoted
much time and money to the development
III the best processes and are in a position
tc supply lagre quantities of a satisfactory
article
According 10 the last statement of prog
ress made by Commander Coudsn. the
buildings for the powder works have been
completed as follows:
The boiler house is complete: the boilers !
are in place. but are not bricked up. and
The cement floor awaits the installation of
the boilers. The delay in this building has
been caused by the non-deivery of the ma
terIal for the automatic stokers. which
should be built in with the brickwork .
The power house is finished. The engines !
and electric generators are in place and /
piped. The storehouse is complete and is /
in use. The inspectors office and the |
chemical laboratory are under roof. The I
coal shed. with an automatic railway, is /
ready for the reception of coal. The wharf 1
on Mattawoman Creek is finished The /
walls of the nitric acid house are up. The I
cotton storehouse is finished and in use. 1
The foundation for the cotton washing !
house has been laid. The picking house is .
under way and the cotton-drying house is /
finished. and the heater, blower and hot !
air ducts are in place. The pulping and I
poaching house is ready for its roof and I
the dehydrating house, mixing house, and
press house are practically complete.
The foundations of the nitrating and SOL
vent-recovery houses are in and the
foundations of four powder drying houses
are being laid. Work on the packing
house and TWO magazines has not as yet
I