Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1900-10-25
Annual Report Of Rear Admiral
O'Neil.
ESTIMATES FOR NEXT YEAR ST. 57,S55
Large Amount of Work Done at
the Navy Yard.
OVEMENTS NEEDED


armor and powder. The estimates for the
next year which aggregate T,457 $50, in
cIude a single item of 81 100000, under the
head of increase of the navy, armor and
armament. Besides there are items of
100000 for new magazine at Boston.
100000 for reserve ammunition, 100000
for smokeless powder and S923,S49 for the
Washington navy yard and proving ground.
and d new battery for the Baltimore. For
reserve guns for the auxiliary cruisers, to
be kept in readiness for instant service.
there is an Item of S250,OO0.
Guns for New warships.
The chief of ordnance says that such
progress has been made in his work that
all of the guns will be ready for the ships
now building when they are complete. An
increased supply of all kinds of ammunition
has been accumulated and large quantities
sent to the ASiatic station Many guns are
held incomplete to the breech mechan-
ism at the gun factory, awaiting the devel-
opment of some new designs, so that next
year will show an unusually large NUMBER
of finished guns turned out. Promising re-
suits have been attained with an S-lnch
gun in which the breech plug is conical
surrounded by a continuous screw thread,
which locks perfectly with one pull of
lever This gun has been fired six shots
per minute, extraordinary accomplish
ment for a gun of that heavy character
Further experiments are being made with
this weapon, which was designed by Lieut.
HaeSeler, u. S. N.
From the report 1t appears that the D.
inch guns of the San Francisco have been
converted into rapid-fire guns. 1t is recon-
mended that the Ba .timore's battery be
modernized while she IS being overhauled,
so as to give her twelve of the 6-inch naval
rifles and a good secondary battery.
Store of SmokeIess Powder.
I,-oa c,,a,t.fias of exoeJlept smokeIess
powder were procured during the year from
private manufactures, and the new battle
Ships as well as the Atlanta, have been
supplied with 1t, while a stock has been ac-
Cumulated for general issue. No unfayor-
able qualities have yet been detected in
the naval powder.
Admiral ONeil praises the double turret
system He says the turrets successfully
stood their gun fires. they were under per
feet control and were strong, and in fact
no unfavorable reports Of the battery nave
been received. The admiral says the tur-
rets are without doubt an unqualified sue
cess and that while there has been diff
ference of opinion among naval officers as
to the merits many officers who originally
opposed the superimposed turrets have
changed their views since they have seen
them complete and now agree that the SHIPS
are a valuable addition to the naval ser
vice.
The ArmOr Plate Question.
The armor question is treated historically
in the report and only the most concise
statement respecting the operations OF the
year Is made, unaccompanied by any rec
ommendation for the future. 1t Is said
that the armor companies delivered during
the year 4.st9 tons of armor. leaving only
143T tons In manufacture, which Will De
completed within six months. There re-
mains to be contracted for $40 tons. Elk
perirnents have shown that the superiority
= hot a a
five inches in thickness: the bureau divided
the armor to be contracted for into two
classes with a view to reducing the cost
by allowing the thinner armor to be treated
under the ordinary processes
Submarine Boats.
One, of the references in the report is 10
the submarine boat Holland, and Admiral
O'Neil says that while the trial runs PROD
ably made under favorable conditions have
created a favorable impression, 1t Is too
early as yet to say much TO regard to the
nr,ctical utility for war purposes Of boats
of that type. Undoubtedly the moral Ell
feet of their known or suspected proximity
will be considerable, he says, but more m
innate knowledge Of their qualitles VIII 10
necessary before a correct estimate Oh tneii
military value can be made
The Washington Gun Factory.
In a chapter on the Washington gun FAC
tory Admiral ONeil says:
while large volume OF work has been
performed at the naval gun factory ana
great number of guns are in process OF man
ufacture, a comparatively small nunoer
have been completed. though quite a num-
Der are nearly so, their complexion haVihs
been purposely held up to develop some
detail of the breech mechanism, ana the
next year will make an unusually large
showing of finished guns.
THE number of guns completed Is
TWENTY-FIVE for main batteries, Wig: one
13-inch. one Finch. three s-inch, eight t.
inch. four 5-inch and five finch. For sec
ondary batteries, sixty five, viz: one D.
inch and sixty-four 1-pounder automatic
in addition to the above. forgings are
on hand and in various stages OF manufac-
ture for 2T guns for main batteries and
1Ol for secondary batteries viz: Nineteen
Pinch of 40 calibers, one S-tnch nickel or
20 calibers. one finch experimental, fifty
6-inch of 80 cal.oers, sixty-one 5-inch OF 90
calibers sixty-six finch of 90 calibers,
ninety-nine 3-inch of 30 calibers (1i-pound-
er), sixty-fve 8-pounder semi-automattc
and thirty-six 1-pounder automatic These,
with their mountingS and the details con-
nected with them. represent an immense
amount of work.
THE average monthly force employed at
the naval gun factory has been 1.667 men.
THE extension to the north end Of the
gun shop has been completed, after a long
delay due to difficulty in obtaining material.
and affords the much-needed floor space
under the heavy cranes. New skylights are
now being fitted TO the north gun shop, and
this fine building nearly 1000 feet In
length, is in most excellent condition and
fully equipped with the best class Of ma
chinery. An additional 15-tou overhead cleo
trio travelling crane has been installed in
the south gun shop.
Owing to the increase of machinery, ad-
ditional boiler power has become necessary,
and an annex has been built to the boiler
house in the quadrangle in which three
new boilers each of us horse power, are
being installed.
New BuiIdinSx
Since the date of the last report the
cartridge-case shop has been completed and
is now in successful operation. Cartridge
cases from those for 1-pounder to those for
G-inch guns are being manufactured. and OF
excellent quality. Considerable difficulty
at first experienced in getting out the
proper blanks and in procuring suitable ma
terial for the punches and dies, but these
matters have now been overcome and work
il progressing satisfactorily.
THE old tool shop has been torn down
and a large and fine building for the ac-
commodation OF the tool-nlaking Depart
Eaent IS now in process Of erection On its
site. the toolnaker being temporarily locat-
ed in the old breech mocha nism shop.
lA4r