Evening star., 1901-10-23
Increased Efficiency Must Come From
Heavier Projectiles.i
REPORT OF BUREAU OF ORDNANCE
Good Work in Large Quantities at
the Navy Yard.
INDIAN HEAD GROUNDS

powder possessing high balliSt1c qualities
rather than from increase in the weight
and dimensions of the guns themselves,
says Admiral Charles O'Neil chief of the
naval bureau of ordnance, in his annual re-
port. ''The latest types of guns are so large
and so heavy he says, that it is mad
Visable to make an increase in either re-
spect and the bureau now will confine it
self to developing weightier projectiles and
powder of greater energy" Admiral O'Neil
believes that the ordnance equipment of
United States naval vessels is fully up to
the highest standard maintained abroad for
vessels of corresponding age and class, and
says he knows of no guns afoat, or soon
to be put af1oat, equal in energy to those
manufacturing for the United States navy.
In regard to smokeless powder, Admiral
O'Nell says there is no doubt that the
grade of this powder made today is con-
slderably superior to that of year ago
due to natural process of development,
not to inferiority in the powder formerly
manufactured. The ordnance bureau con-
siders the powder question in very salts
factory state at the present time.
Admiral O'Neil believes that the subject
of submarine boats is being given undue
prominence. If these boats are shown to
nave any value, he says, it will be as an
adjunct to the system of coast defense
They cannot and will not, he continued,
type or render a less number necessary
Submarine boats, says the admiral, have
not yet emerged from the experimental
stage.
Admiral ONeil says that the latest armor
contracts are extremely advantageous to
the government, the price being lower than
that paid abroad and the armor being the
best that can be produced
The Naval Gun Factory.
In regard to the naval gun factory at the
Washington navy yard, Admiral O'Neil
says:
This important establishment is still un-
der the immediate charge of Commander e.
I'll. .. Leutze, under whose able and yigor-
Gus administration it has increased in ef-
hclehcy ana capacity. The plant has been
worked practically to it's maximum ca
paclty, running day and night for a large
part of the time. A number of new ma
chimes have been installed and several i'm
proVements OF permanent character have
been made A vast amount of work has
been accomplished.
Among the most important improve
ments are the completion and equipment of
the new tool shop, the remodeing of the
interior of the pattern shop and the COM
pletfon of the gunners' workshop which
nave added materially to the efficiency of
the establishment. Other important i'm
proVements are now in progress, the chief
OF which are the rebuilding of the forge
shop on a larger scale and the erection of
new machine shop for miscellaneous
work. the extension of the quarters for
seamen Sunners, new workshop for sea-
men sunners, and a chemical and physical
laboratory.
More Land Needed.
Addltlonal land is urgently needed and
"houid De procured as soon as practicable.
rurther improvements are very much
needed and items covering them have been
iiioiuoeo IN the annual estimates, namely,
additional machine tools, new gunners'
store mouse on the site of the present shell
mousse tne latter building being an old one
story aHalr, which has outlived its useful
ness; two-story fireproof building, with
vaults for valuable records is required in
place of it. W. "
store No. 10 should be remodeled. as in
Its present condition 1t does NOT AFFORD
accommodations commensurate with it's
size. 40
"A steel casting plant of small canacitv
Is urgently required.
over 1000 men are employed in the va
fious departments of the gun factory. At
the present time there is difficulty in oh
tanning sufficient number of machinists
Inc recommendation of the superintend-
ent that there should be a permanent
board for the inspection of material ex
empt from other duty meets with the bu-
reauS approval, as the officers on ordnance
duty have enough to occupy all their time
in attending to their regular duties.
1he general character Of the yard has
oeen much improved by the raising of the
grade in its lower sections and by the nav
ing OF the streets by the bureau of wards
and docks
plans have been prepared and proposals
iilVNeo 1or raising the roof of the boiler
house and installing automatic coal convey
Ors.
Guns of All CaIibers Made.
Guns Of all caliber from one to thirteen
inches, with their mountings and equip
ments are in process of manufacture.
The class of seamen under instruction
during the past year numbered fifty-two,
the number varying considerably from
month to month. A class should be main
dations exist for that number and pro-
vision is made for their instruction
SO far as the gun factory is concerned
there Is little more to be said beyond the
fact that the establishment is in satisfac-
tory running order, turning out good work
In large quantities at moderate cost and
that the present superintendent has infused
his characteristic push and energy into all
its departments
Naval Proving Grounds
Admiral O'Neil devotes a chapter TO the
naval proving grounds and smokeless-pow-
der factory as follows:
This establishment is still ia charge OF
Lieut. Joseph Strauss, U. s. N, under
whose able and efficient management a
great amount of important work has been
performed during the past year.
Gums of various calibers to the number
of III, have been proved with satisfactory
results In all cases; also the mounts for
each caliber and type.
Sample proJectiles, to the number Of 639
representing lots submitted by various
manufacturers, have been tested against
armor plate, and with few exceptions have
successfully passed the prescribed accept
ance test. Fifty-nine samples Of smokeless
powder, reprenting lots submitted tor ac-
ceptance, have been tested both chemically
and REALISTICALLY, and nineteen samples of
brown prismatic powder have been tested
ballistically to fix charges, or to check up
their efficiency as compared with that of
earlier date.
Guns of various calibers have been
ranged. Thirty-three armor plates. seven
of which were Kruppized, have been SUBJ
jected to ballistic test. Large numbers OF
sample cartridge cases, fuzes primers. FIR
ing devices and gun Implements ard e.;njp-
ments have been tested, AMI much other
work incidental to the proving ground has
been performed.
Numerous experiments have been car
ried on to determine the leasa amount of
black powder necessary to effectively ignite
charges Of smokeless powder. and to de-