Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-25

DuilQlnS mas DeSn erected carrying
on the necessary experimental work in con-
nection with The manufacture Of torpedo
tubes for und rwater discharge.
A New Forge Shop Needed.
Funds were appropriated by the last
Congress for new roof and north wall for
the forge shop but It having been deemed
expedient to rebuild the entire building
and enlarge it, the above alterations will
not be made, but additional estimates have
been submitted with a view to erecting an
entirely new building.
"A new steel barge Is being built to carry
guns. cars, etc. to and from the proving
ground. This became necessary, as one OF
the wooden barges used for the purpose
was cut through by the Ice last winter and
narrowly escaped sinking.
Experiments of an interesting and in
structive character have been carried on
to determine the practicability of reducing
the temperature of magazines on shipboard
by means of coils of pipes connected with
the dense-ar machines, and 1t has been
shown to be quite practicable
"A number of experimental sights of va
rious kinds have been made. and several
kinds OF fuses Of new type have been ex-
perimented with.
The general character of the streets OF
the yard has been improved, the grade has
been or is being raised wherever necessary
several Of the streets have been repaired
and conduts g now being laid throughout
| the yard for electric wires, etc.
"A new building is to be erected for the
storage of conbusttbe materials.
Further improvements Necessary.
lowing to the increase of the naval es-
Establishment, the demands upon the gun
factory such that further improve
ments are necessary, and the annual esti-
mates submitted by this bureau and the
bureau of yards and docks contain items
as follows:
"One new building, to be erected on the
site of the old breech- mechanism shop
which Is unfit for use except for temporary
| occupancy-for a machine shop for mis-
Cellaneous purposes
"One new building. to be erected the
east side of the main avenue. for a shop
for the instruction of seaman gunners,
for coppersmiths and for pipe filters.
New roof for boiler house in the quad
rangle and for the purchase and installa-
ton of automatic coal conyeyers
Three small flreproof buildings for the
storage of fuses, primers and fireworks.
Rebuilding the forge shop; purchase and
installation of overhead electric travelling
crane and new steam hammer.
New laboratory and office building, the
present ones being Of Inadequate size,
New quarters of the superintendent.
New and improved machinery for pro-
posed shops
New and improved machinery for ex-
listing shops.
Additional land adjoining the yard. as
nearly all the available space in the pres
ent reservation is built upon.
During the past year twenty-five off,
GERS have been attached to the yard for
! the purpose Of receiving instruction in
ordnance matters, and 123 enlisted men
have taken the usual course prescribed
for those who desire to qualify for sea-
man gunners
The buildings, grounds. fences and wharf
at the naval magazine, Bellevue, near this
city, have all received proper care and at
tention and needed repair and are in good
condition
The Naval Proving Grounds.
One of the appendices to Admiral ONeirs
annual report Is made by Lieutenant
Strauss, in command at the proving ground
at Indian Head. where an explosion &C.
Cured last night. His remarks on the
ques ton Of stability of smokeless powder
are topical. in view of one theory that the
explosion resulted from spontaneous COM
bustton of such powder. He says in his re-
port:
In a new explosive, the question of sta
btlity is one that occupies the first place.
A sample of five-inch powder that had
been in a magazine of the Marblehead for
two years was recently tested at the prov
Ing grounds. 1t does not show the least
deterioration in baIlistic qualities. nor does
chemically. Another sample kept in a
| magazine here for one year shows equally
good results"
Lieutenant Strauss reports that he has
also Deen IuaAiHS extensive Oh tHoEite
q new high explosive, somewhat similar to
the famous English lyddite. He reserves
an expression of opinion as to Its merits
| until further experiments have been made,
! but makes the significant comment that no
difficulty has been experienced in bursting
| armor- piercing shells with ordinary black
! powder into as small fragments as desir-
| able.
The Work of the Year.
| Admiral O'Neil summarizes the years op-
| erations at the naval proving ground. and
| states the needs of the station. as follows:
During the past year 159 guns OF va
r.ous calibers have been proved; 663 shell.