The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-11-03
INCREASED DEMANDS
ON NAVAL GUN FACTORY
Annual Report Of the Blu
reau of Ordnance.
LIMITED CAPACITY OF SHOPS
Rear Admiral O'Neil's Views on Let
ting Out the Government Work to
Private Contractors.

Necessity for immediate increase IN
the capacity of the naval gun factory
at the Washington navy yard is the
chief topic discussed by Rear Admiral
O'Neil in the annual report OF the work
of the Bureau of Ordnance, Navy De-
partment, which has Just been made
nuhl'c.
III expenditure of 81. 900. 900 for the i'm
mediate Improvement Of the local gun
factory is urged that The plant may run
at full capacity The board named to
report on plans for completing arma-
ment for the new battleships advised the
expenditure Of sS.s79.07s on the gun fac
tory at once. Admiral O'Neil does not
think this advisable. He believes it will
be necessary to call on the army gun
factory at Watervliet and to let con-
tracts to private establishments TO meet
the demands of the growing navy
Although the local gun factory has
worked three shifts for many months
IL has been impossible to even begin
work on the batteries Of twelve vessels
which are now under course Of construc-
tica. Work on the vessel and its battery
should begin at the same time. but I'M
fortunately this has not been possible
for several years in the case Of new
Contracts With Private Firms.
Contracts have been executed with
private manufacturers for the manu-
facture Of twenty-four S-inch and thirty
six 7-i1ch guns and mounts for vessels
whose completion is most remote. These
contracts aggregate nearly e. 600. 900. and
the cost is said by Admiral O'Nen to
be nearly half million dollars more
than the batteries would have cost II
manufactured in a Government fnctory.
Admiral O'Neil IS not in favor of Civ
Ing out Government work. and discusses
the subject in his report as follows:
When the Government gives out a
number of guns and mounts to be made
by contract. 1t loses control of the stu
alton so far as their completion Is con-
cerned- Private establishments cannot
give exclusive preference to Govern
ment work. whereas at the Government
shops, If the armament OF any particu-
lar vessel is behind. the whole resources
OF the establishment can be turned upon
It, Again. business reverses may over
take the pest and soundest private es-
adjustment through no fault OF its
own. especially in this day OF mergers
and trusts. and they are more liable TO
suffer from strikes than are Government
The bureau is rot averse to giving
out a portion OF its work 20 private
parties. but believes that the major
portion OF Il should be done b. the Gov
eminent in its own shops. in order that
IL may exercise full control and super
vision of the work. and because It can
do It in a more satisfactory manner
than anyone else. and, above all. be-
cause II is deemed advisable for the
GOV eminent TO be in position TO con-
troll, to a great extent. the manufacture
OF its naval ordnance"
Fer Bureau of Ordnance.
Rear Admiral O'NeiI asks an appro-
priation Of s1e.O5s. 1855 for the Bureau
of Ordnance, in the yeae 1905. The chief
item included in this estimate is
$1,000, 900 for armor and armament
necessary for the increase Of the navy.
An appropriation OF S121. 800 is sought for
improvements at the Indian Head prov
ing ground.
In the fiscal year which ended June
90 the bureau completed the armament
and ordnance outfits for the battIeships
Maine. Missouri. and Ohio, the mont
tors Arkansas, Florida, Nevada. and
Wyoming, and most of the outfits for
the S,OO0-ton cruisers Cha ttanooga.
Cleveland, Denver, Des Moines, Cal
weston, and Tacoma.