The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1901-04-11

charge Of eight to ten pounds Of black
powder, was adopted, and in 1881 the
forty-two FOUNDER, with Il calibcr Of
seven inches and using ten to fourteen
pounds of black powder. came into use
In 1914 the eight and ten inch Colum-
biads fired shot weighing sixty-iiv
pounds and used a charge of ten to fif-
teen pounds Of black powder. The ten
inch shot weighed 1876 pounds, and the
powder charge was eighteen and twcn-
ty pounds.
In 1851 the first fiftccn-inch Rodmar
gun was cast. These guns were
smooth5ores of cast iron. The process
Of manufacture was evolved by Gen.
eral Rodman, who, to prevent injuri.
Gus strains produced by cooling cast,
ings from the exterior, cast these guns
on hollow core and cooled by n
stream of water or air passing through
the core. Rodman's fiftecn.lnch gun
fired shot weighing 42S pounds with
charge of forty pounds of black pow
der and was the first great gun intro.
duccd in modern times in any service
Just before the Civil War rihcd mus
kets and guns began to displaco
smoothbores. Captain Parrott's rifles
were the first ones of large calibcr used
In the United States service. The lar
Sest of these had an eight and ten
inch bore and were cast hollow and
cooled from the interior on the Rod.
man plan. They were strengthened by
shrinking coilcd band of wrought
iron over that portion of the gun which
surrounds the powder charge. The
eightinch Parrott rifle fired an elon
gated projectile weighing 100 pounds
with charge of sixteen pounds of
black powder. The ten-inch rifle fired
go pound elongated projectile with
twenty-five pounds of powder.
Inside of the main Government build.
ing will be exhibited the machine guns
of all kinds, including the automatic
gun now being used by the United
States Army In the Philippines and
China; also several hundred small
arms. showing the development of
these arms from the match lock, wheel
lock, flint lock and percussion cap lock
to the breechloading magazine small
arms Of today.
In the Engineering section of the
War Department will be exhibited
models of engineering work, both mil
itary and those constructed by Ovr
Engineer Corps In the river and harbol
work. Among the latter will be mod
els Of the breakwater being construct
ed in Buffalo harbor. A very inter.
esting collection of models of engineer
ing work on the Mississippi River vii!
also be displayed. Two of the Missis
slppi models-the Hydraulic Dredging
Plant and Hydraulic Grader-wcrY
given the grand prize In the recent
Paris exposition.
In the Signal section of the War De.
partment exhibit will be displayed all
Instruments and appliances used in
communication by flag. heliograph
wire, telegraph. cable and by wireless
telegraphy. Wireless tclCgraphy will
be In operation at all times during the
Exposition, one station being located
at the Government building on the
grounds and the other station some
miles away, probably at Fort Porter.
The Military Academy ut West PonI
has never been represented at any pre-
vious exposition. \ very complete and
interesting exhibit, showing history
curriculum, plant of the Academy, It's
work and workingsA will constitute n
part of the War Department cyhibt,
The inClosure Of the West Point O..
hibit will have the form and appear.
ance Of regular cadet barracks. TIVE
top of the partition showing battle
ments, with n tower at each corner. a
committee of professors of the Military
Academy has been appointed by the
superintendent OF the Academy to pre-
pare this exhibit g. w. Larned, Pro.
fessor Of Ora wing, who Is member OF
the committee, has recently sent Cap
tain Harris a plan of this feature.
In the Quartermaster's section will
be shown paintings, photographs and
drawings illustrating the Army Trans
port service. Uniforms of the army at
different periods from the Revolution
to the present day will be exhibited on l
about forty lay figures.
The entire exhibit Of the War De.
partment under Captain Harris will be
Of most entertaining character, as
Of the country, gathering such things
as to him seemed Of public interest
and value In order to make an entirely
7ew and attractive exhibit
MARK BENNITT.