The Washington times., 1902-10-28
Rear Admiral O'Nell De-
clares ThatCraze torSpeed
No Longer Afflicts Strate-
gists of This Country.
Report Compliments Con-
dition of Shops at Naval
Gun Factory and Tells OF
innovations introduced

The annual report of Rear Admiral
Charles O'Neii. chief of ordnance OF
the navy, was made public at the Navy
Department yesterday and contains some
exceedingly interesting Information per-
tanning TO the development of nava! ord
nance and details OF gun manufacture
al the naval gun factory in this city
Admiral ONeil reports that the gen
eral condition OF the shops at the naval
gun factory is excellent. and many i'm
portant improvements. adding 10 their
efficiency, have been made during the
year The total value of finished work
during the year was s3.S69. .2lo.2o. nf
which 81 1858. .750.49 was expended for
labor. and $2.Olo. .46O.41 for material
History of Factory.
In part the report is as follows:
"As a matter of general interest. and
for convenient reference. il may be stat
ed that the naval gun factory was estab-
lished by virtue of Navy Department
general order No. 354. of August II.
1886 promulgated by Hon. William c.
Whitney. then Secretary of the Navy.
upon the recommendation of Commodore
Montgomery Sicard. u. S. N. then
chief of the Bureau of Ordpance. and
work on the new establishment was be-
gun in May. 1887.
Prior to these dates, however. the
tiles as the existing shops at the Wash
ington navy yard afforded, begun the
manufacture of high power breechload-
ing. steel rifles. and the first six 6-inch
guns for the new navy we're constructed
there, the first one. which was tested AT
the annapolis proving ground, being
completed in February, 1884, and the
others In 1856. No new buildings were at
first erected for the gun factory, but the
existing shops, formerly used for max
ing anchors and chains and for build
ing steam machinery, were remodeled to
adapt them for new conditions, being
supplied with new and suitable machin-
cry, travelling cranes, ETC., and the pres
ent shrinkage pit was constructed in the
year 1855. much difficulty having been
which was disclosed during the progress
o. the work.
Innovations introduced.
From the date of its inception up 20
the present time. improvements have
been made nearly every year; new shops
have been built: the old ones enlarged
and improved; new and improved ma
chinery has been installed; the power
plant has been increased from time to
time as necessary; electric power has
largely superseded the use of steam; new
branches of industry have been success
fully introduced. and the establishment
has now become one of large proper
tions, second to none in this country
and to few abroad. in its capacity for
turning out expeditiously and economi-
cally all classes of work for which it is
adapted. The employees in general are
efficient and Industrious, and loafing.
which is the plague of many large es-
Establishments. is rare thing at the gun
factory.
Additional facilities are necessary to
improve the condition and increase the
facilities of the naval gun factory, and
the following are recommended: New
power house and boiler plant, new and
improved machinery for existing shops
IT is proposed to convert the heavy gun
lathes from steam to electric drive. and
nAt.s I,-
commence the work. A new breech
mechanism shop and various new sheds
are also recommended.
Personnel of Force.
The average number OF men en-
rloyed during the past year has been
2.113. and whole they are very
satisfactory. Among SO many men there
are necessarily some black sheep and
professional agitators.
Il would renew my recommendation of
last year that separate appropriation
be made TO pay for leave and for holi-
days, National Guard duty. etc During
the past year sl37, $780, 59 was expended
for these purposes. and the amount
charged TO the product of the factory
Taking into consideration this sum.
for which nothing is obtained. together
with the fact that we work eight hours
against ten of outside parties. it viii be
seen how very difficult it is to compete
with private establishments apG keep
work here. 1t would be entirely impos-
sible If the interest on the investment
FOR the plant would be taken irto the
account"
Work of Bureau.
or the work of the Ordnance Bureau
fol- the year, the admiral says in part:
THE operations Of the bureau during
the past year have chiefly been those of
preparing the armament and ordnance
outfits and in providing armor for yes
sells under construction. maintaining
vessels In commission. overhauling and
rcfitting for service the batteries etc,
of vessels in ordinary. and in improv-
ing the condition and facilities of the
ordnance department at the several
tious 20 meet the increasing require
mcnts Of the navy
..Th,. armament and ordnance outfit
fcf basi,eships Maine. Missouri and
CHS. a3d for h,rbor- defense monitors
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