Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-12-14
INCREASE NECESSARY
Capt. Pendleton's Estimates
for the Navy Yard.
CROWDED CONDITIONS
LACK OF FACILITIES IN THE GUN
FACTORY.
Machinists to Appeal to Board of Trade
and Other Local Or
CARNATIONS.

and Other Local Or
CARNATIONS.
The necessity for the increase in men,
machinery and buildings at the Washing
| ton navy yard as described in detail in
| The Star yesterday, has caused consfdera-
BILE comment, and will, it is claimed, spur
| the friends of the naval establishment to
renewed activity in behalf of increased Ia
| ciities for the naval gun factory. In TINS
connection it is stated that resolutions Will
| be presented to a number of civic and semi
| military bodies urging the Secretary OF the
Navy to recommend the relief asked for
| and Congress to grant 1t.
Action in the matter was taken last night
| it is stated, by the local branch of the In
| ternational Association of Machinists at
conference held at their headquarters ON
| Capitol Hill. An active committee has been
| appointed to endeavor to bring about the
desired conditions, and it is said this COM
| mittee will ask the cooperation of the
Board of Trade Business Mems Associa-
| ton, the Grand Army and Spanish War
Veterans.
Capt. Pendleton's Report.
In his annual report to the Navy Depart
ment Capt Pendleton says: THE gun fac
| tory is increasing, and necessarily must
continue to do so, in order to meet the In
creasing demands Of the service, which in
| the future will probably be more pro-
| nounced." He adds that the necessary OPP
Grafton of all the machinery from sixteen
to twenty-four hours each day has caused
| more wear and tear, necessitating renewing
and repairing, which makes the appropria-
ton of $4,000 asked for not excessive.
The report shows that there is an increase
In ha nf no fp1ln
amount expended for labor and material,
amounting to 1881 ,9S561.
Improvements Recommended.
The following improvements are recon-
mended to be made In the plant of the
naval gun factory, enumerated in the order
| Of their Importance:
For the purchase and erection of new
and improved machinery for existing shops
| 100000; building for sighting shop,
| $4,000: machinery for this shop and IN
stallation of same. $4,000; new brass,
| iron and steel foundry and foundry yard
| building, $3OO.170: machinery, cupolas, fur
naces. ETC.. for new brass. iron and steel
| factory, $121 075: building for gun shop for
medium and small caliber guns, $19O,SOO;
machinery 1868, $50: new locomotive, 5000;
| third fourth Of boilers and installation OF
| the same. viz. Ave 800 horsepower similar
| to those now being installed. 10000; new
| locomotive house. $61. TAI: machinery for
same. $4,000; new forge shop $134,037;
FORCES, hammers, furnaces and machinery
| for new forge shop, $14S, 900; extension of
building for east and west gun carriage and
erecting shops 1894 .44S: machinery for pro-
posed gun carriage and erecting shop ex-
| tensions, 5000. 232.
Capt. Pendleton enumerates the urgency
for the improvements and shows the tn
| adequacy of some Of the present shops and
| their outfits.
Says Need is Urgent.
for he Of
| says Capt. Pendleton. lis urgent. The sight
ing work has recently become a very large
and important part of our work, owing to
the many improvements IN design and the
providing of the ships in service with new
sighting devices. The shops which form
erly had to do this work are entirely In
adequate, and a considerable portion OF
this work is being done in other shops in
the yard. This condition of affairs. how
ever, Is very unsatisfactory, as the proper
accuracy can not be maintained; besides
such work requires that suitable shop or
shops and machinery specially designed for
! the purpose be provided. Something must
| be done, and 1t should be done as soon as
| possible, to provide suitable means for the
performance of this extremely important
| class of work.
| The new brass. iron and steel foundry
| and foundry yard is indispensable for the
| economy of this factory. The contemplated
extension of the east and west gun-carriage
and erecting shops will take in the ground
| at present occupied by the foundry, which
| of course will necesstate the erection of
| new foundry in another portion of the yard.
| Our experience in the recent past as to OBJ
| tanning castings from outside firms in any,
| where near the time stipulated in the con-
tracts has been such as to indicate very
clearly that unless We have some sort of
| source of supply which can be relied upon,
this factory will be frequently at a stand
still from it's inability to obtain castings
| due existing acquisitions. The present
| foundry is aQtiUllated when COmD9re6 with
| the progress and improvements in other
| portions of the gun factory. 1t Is entirely
| Inadequate to meet the demands made upon
! it., and its present location is really a mem
| ace and Inconvenience to the gun factory.
Congestion in the Shops.
After describing the congested conditions
| existing in the north and south gunshops,
| Captain Pendleton continues: 1.-The use Of
very valuable and large machinery is fire.
| quently required for the turning of small
| and medium caliber guns. This machinery
| could be put to far better use in the manu-
| facture of the larger calibers, for which
these shops were originally built and pro-
| the standard of economy alone, that it
| would well repay the government to pro-
vide for shop for medium and small cali
bers guns"
One of the most crying needs at the gun
| factory is said to be for new foundry.
| 1t is also stated that 1.-The present forge
! shop, although q model In its way and doing
excellent work, is not large enough to meet
| the increasing demands upon 1t. There are
many forgings which should be made at
this yard from rough bllets which we are
compelled to have made on the outside,
paying exorbitant prices for the forgings,
| owing to the lack of facilities in the forge
| shop at the present time. Not only are
these exorbitant prices paid, but great de-
| lay results In obtaining such forgings on
acquisitions from the contractors. We need
larger and stronger hammers and other ma
chinery for the purpose. The new forge
| shop should be located in the western part
of the yard, south Of the present pattern
| shop. where it will be convenient for the
| use of the factory.
| Gas Plant is Overworked.
| Necessarily, with new forge shop, the
extension of the gas plant becomes impera-
| tive, as the forging is done by the use Of
gas, instead Of the old method Of coal
FORCES The present gas plant is now being
worked to Its limit: in fact, 1t Is overtaxed,
on account Of the addition Of riveting and
| soldering furnaces"
The present pattern shop is said to be In
| adequate. The houses in which the pat
! terms are stored are not freproof and are