Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-14
GUNS FOR THE NAVY
Report of the Chief of the Bu-
reau of Ordnance.
WORK AT NAVY YARD
DEEMED NECEs-
SARY FOR NEXT YEARS WORK.
Operations at the Indian Head Proving
Grounds-Compensation for In
juries to Employees.
WORK AT NAVY YARD

Rear Admiral Mason, chief Of the naval
bureau OF ordinance says in his annual
report that the work of the bureau during
the past fiscal year embraced the prepara-
ton OF the ordnance and armament equip
ments of vessels nearing completion, re-
pairing or modifying ordnance outfits of
vessels In service and in making authorized
improvements at navy yards and stations
Lack of officers for ordnance duty and the
overtaxing of the naval gun factory at
Washington continue to be the two most
serious problems facing the bureau Smoke
less powder has received considerable at
tention by the bureau in the last year. The
report says the normal output of private
powder factories and Of the government
factories at Indian Head and Newport Is
not greater than is required to meet the
demands of service target practice and to
fill the outfits of the newly commissioned
ships.
The chief of the bureau says that the
naval gun factory has been running night
and day at full capacity, and although
good progress has been made, the con-
gested condition of all work there, he says
gives assurance that It's capacity Is being
overtaxed and must unless this capacity
Is materially Increased, eventually result
In failure to supply the ordnance outfits
Of ships In time to meet the demands of the
contractors.
Work Of the Bureau Hampered.
Rear Admiral Mason calls attention to
the overcrowding Of the rooms occupied by
the bureau and to the poor accommoda-
tions 1t has for the transaction Of business
AS result of this overcrowding, he says,
the efficiency of the work Is affected and
health of the occupants menaced.
There are at present allowed to the
bureau seven Office rooms which are occu-
hiFfU vii =
additional rooms are considered necessary
to relieve the conges ton and to allow the
work of the bureau to be properly and
efficiently carried on.
The chief says that the work of the
bureau has suffered greatly from the con-
slant changes in its force of clerks by
transfers TO other departments and by
designations. The bureau is strongly of
the opinion that some inducement should
be given capable clerks to remain in its
service and learn the business as those
who have no experience can not be trusted
Independently with the important technical
subjects constantly before 1t. Three ad-
ditional clerks are asked for in order to
put the bureau on better footing.
Output Of Naval Gun Factory.
Captain Pendleton, superintendent of the
naval gun factory at the Washington navy
yard. reports fully regarding the impor-
tant work accomplished al the factory dur
ing the past year, including the assembling
of 21s guns for the navy. of which number
eleven were 12-inch nineteen S-inch and
fifty-three 6-inch. Statistics are given to
show that there is an increase in the prod
uct over the amount expended for labor
and material amounting to 1881, 9S5.61.
Improvements Urged.
The following improvements are recon-
mended to be made in the plant of the ma
val gun factory, enumerated in the order
of their Importance: For the purchase and
erection Of new and improved machinery
for existing shops, $150,0O0: building for
new sighting shop, $4,000; machinery for
this shop and installation of same $780,
900: new brass, iron and steel foundry and
foundry yard building, $500. 10; machinery,
cupolas. furnaces, etc. for new brass iron
and steel foundry, $121,075; building for
gun shop for medium and small caliber
connective, $1,000: third fourth Of boilers
and installation of the same, viz, five 800
horsepower, similar to those now being in
stalled, $4,000: new locomotive house $751;
I47; machinery for same. $4,000; new forge
shop. $134,931; FORCES, hammers. furnaces
and machinery for new forge shop, $14S-
600; extension of building for east and west
gun-carriage and erecting shops, $334, AS;
machinery for proposed gun-carriage and
erecting shop extensions, s660,232.
Other Estimates.
Other estimates are made as follows: Pat
tern shop $500. 100; fireproof pattern store
house, $4,000: muster house and closets,
s. 800.
Capt Pendleton says that the clerical
force under the efficient direction of the
chief clerk has kept up the increasing vol
ume of work in the Office to his entire salts.
faction. He recommends a general increase
of salaries. He renews former recommen-
dations that a separate appropriation be
made to pay for leaves of absence, Ma
tional Guard duty, etc. and estimates $780,
OOO necessary for that purpose.
The Bellevue Magazine.
Regarding the Bellevue magazine. Capt
Pendleton says: THE present wharf should
be extended about coo feet. which would
permit the handing OF the tugs and barges