The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1901-11-23
GUN CARRIAGE
QUESTION REVIVED.
ENQUIRY BY CONGRESS EXPECTED
Comment Heard Upon Awarding
Contracts for the disappearing
Type OF The Machine-situse-
ton in Ordinances bureau.


The disappearing gun carriage question
is almost certain to be revived before
Congress at the coming session. This
subject has been one of controversy for
some time with the officials of the War
Department and the members of the
Board Of Ordnance and Fertilization.
General BufHagtor, one of the inventors
Of this type of carriage for our coast de-
fence guns. strongly favcred it over the
stationary type. and there were several
clashes between General Burlington and
other members OF the Beard of Ordnance
and Fertilization when he was a member
OF that board and Chief of Ordnance. BY
close vote the board adopted a report
adverse to the disappearing gun carriage
system.
oHered a Minority Report.
General Burlington made minority re-
port. to the Secretary OF War, in which he
| defended the disappearing system. The
subject had been a bone of contention for
SO long that Secretary Root, in order to
Z
| repose quietly in his desk, so that for the
| time being the questions was not before
/ the board ----.
! General Niles was strong opponent of
| the disappearing carriage. ard so ex-
( pressed himself on several occasions be-
| fore the Military Committees of Congress.
| He pointed out why it was not best
adapted to our seacoast Notifications and
why it was advisable to purchase in the
/ future only the barbette type.
! The appointment of Captain Crozier to
! be Chief Of The Bureau Of Ordnance
will continue the controversy, as he is a
/ Joint inventor Of tn disappearing type
with General BuHng en-
May Sc an Investigations.
The most recent development in this
/ matter viii very likely, however, cal!
for some investigation by Congress. i
/ has lust become known that, notwith-
standing the action Of the Board Of Ord
/ nance and Fortldcatf5ls against the sys-
+ ten. the Ordnance Be.Is.su has awarded q
contract to the NidvaIe Steel Company
| fer several Of these gun carriages at a
| cost Of So. 500 each. or il the total OF
/ seven carriages are to be purchased, the
total cost shall not exceed $2S4,s65, or
about sio.7e9 each.
! This result of opening bids has caused
son surprise among War Department Of
dcials who remember the estimate fur
nfghed by the Ordnance Bureau in 1895
At that time the price OF material was
much higher than it is today. and the es-
! timated cost of gun carriages was based
on an emergency delivery incident to the
condition of war. General FIagIer, then
Chief Of Ordnance reported to the Sec
rotary Of War that Pinch disappearing
gun carriage could be built for from
$4,000 to So. Geo.
Adverse Comment Heard.
In view of this action by the Ordnance
Department. Just at the time that Cen
eraI Burlington retfres. there is some adj
verse comment among army officers, and
II IS declared TO be the intention of mem
bers Of the Board Of Ordnance and For
tifcatIon to again take up the subject at
its next meeting, December :. with view
to bringing the subject before Secretary
Root fer q fraI decision. General Crozier