Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-11-03

factory by making such additions and I'M
provements as are absolutely necessary at
this time to enable II to maintain its maxi
mum degree of efficiency and are most
urgently required
While some relief can be had from the
army as regards the manufacture of guns
ut having offered to manufacture twenty
four eight-inch and twenty-four seven-fnch
guns. none can be had regards mounts,
but as the making of gun mounts is not a
special industry to the same extent that the
manufacture of guns is. any large and we'll
equipped machine shop can. under proper
supervision as to inspection. ETC. be trusted
to manufacture them; consequently the b,-
reau believes that with the aid of the army
gun factory and by contracts with private
parties, the Situat ton can be met. provided
some important improvements made as
soon as practical to the naval gun factory.
Suggested Needs.
The most important of these improve
ments is the completion and equipment Of
the new power plant. this being indspensa-
BILE. The improvements in the order Of
greatest necessity and which are now rec
commended are as follows:
Complete new boiler house and steam
plant; complete coal-storage and coal-han-
ding plant; erect and equip building for
electric power plant; erect and equip a new
gun shop for medium-caliber guns.
a new general storehouse is urgently
needed at tine Washington navy yard.
Should such a building he authorized IL
would become necessary to pull down the
present locomotive house (Which is too
smalD and build new one elsewhere.
The improvements above recommended
are believed to be sufficient for the present.
ana as many as can will he undertaken at
one time. Others will he necessary here
after. but canoe considered at subsequent
period"
Rear Admiral O'Neil refers to the opera
tons at the naval proving grounds. Indian
Head, during the past year in proving guns
and testing armor plate. gun mounts. pro-
Jectiles, smokeless powder. etc. and re-
news his recommendation for the erection
at Indian Head of a plant for the manufac-
ture of sulphuric acid. There is always"
he says, great hostility and opposition on
the part of private manufacturers to the
government doing its own work and there
was opposition to the government establish
ing smokeleSs powder factory; but the
establishment has been of incalculable BEN
eht to the government and the amount If
powder manufactured there has in no way
affected the interests of private manufac-
turers. all of whom have been given
much work as they could properly per-
form"
Improvements at Proving Grounds.
improvements have been made. are in
progress or have been recommended at the
naval proving ground follows: New en-
placements for heavy guns; two buildings
for officers quarters; cast-steel platform
for gun emplacements; concreting range
battery; improvements to wharves and
slips; Sulphuric acid plant: cOal-storage and
coal-handling facilities; additional powder
magazine and extension of boiler plant.
In an accompanying report, Capt. PEN
dleton, superintendent of the gun factory,
renews former recommendation that a sep
arate appropriation be made to pay for
leaves of absence, national guard duty,
etc. During the past year S67o4SS5
expended for these purposes, and this
amount charged to the product of the fac
tory. Taking into consideration, says
Capt. Pendleton this sum for which MOTH
ing is obtained, together with the fact that
we work eight hours per day against ten
on the outside, ii will be seen how very
difficult 1T is to compete with private estab-
lishments, which do not grant the privi-
leges given under the government, and
keep the work here If the cost of produc-
ton is taken into consideration 1t would
be entirely impossible for to produce
work here for less than that charged in
outside establishments If the interest on
the investment for the plant were to be
taken into account.
The Bellevue Magazine.
Regarding the Bellevue magazine, Capt
Pendleton says:
THE buildings and grounds at Bellevue
ne gazine have been properly cared for, and
such work necessary to keep the place in
a neat and sanitary condition attended to.
The attention of the bureau is again called
to the desirability of using this magazine
and the shell house as an annex to the
gun and mount storehouse in this yard.
The present wharf should be extended
about COO feet, which would permit the
landing of the tugs and barges alongside.
The use of the Magazine as a place for the
storage of serviceable articles which re-
quire a great deal of space, would relieve
the yard considerably of its present con-
Gested condition