Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1904-11-18
Report Of Chief Of b.
reau of Ordnance.
Appropriations Deemed Nec-
essary for Next Years Work.
Operations at the indian Head Proving
Grounds.

that the work of the bureau during the
past fiscal year embraced the prepara-
ton of the ordnance and armament
equipments of vessels nearing compile
ton. repairing or modifying ordnance
outfits of vessels in service and in
making authorized improvements at
navy yards and stations. Lack of Off
GERS for ordnance duty and the over
taxing of the naval gun factory at
Wa shington continue to be the two
most serious problems facing the bu-
reau. Smokeless powder has received
considerable attention by the bureau in
the last year. The report says the
normal output of private powder fac
tories 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 commits
stoned ships.
The chief of the bureau says that the
naval gun factory has been running
night and day at full capacity. and. al
though good progress has been made
the cOngested condition of all work
there. he says, gives assurance that its
capacity is being ONertaXed and must
unless this capacity is materially in
creased. eventually result in failure to
supply the ordnance outfits of ships in
time to meet the demands OF the COM
tractors.
Rear Admiral Mason calls attention
TO the overcoming of the rooms accu-
pied by the bureau and To the poor ac-
concentrations ii has for thu. TRANSACT
ton OF business. As the 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
occupied by thirty-three persons At
| least five additional rooms are consid-
cred necessary to relieve the conges-
ton and to allow the work nf the bu-
reau to be properly and efficiently
carried on.
The chief says that the work of the
bureau has suffered greatly from the
constant changes in its force of clerks
by transfers to other departments and
by designations. The bureau is strong
ly of the opinion that some induce
ment should be given capable clerks to
remain in it's service and learn the
ence can not be trusted independently
! with the important technical subjects
| constantly before it. Three additional
| clerks are asked for in order to put the
| bureau on Il better footing
| Captain PendletOn superintendent of
the naval gun factory at the Washing
ton navy yard, reports fully regarding
the important work accomplished at
the factory during the past year. in
GLIDING the assembling OF rs guns TO,
the navy. of which number eleven
were l2-inch, nineteen S-inch and fif-
ty-three 6-inch. Statistics are given
TO show that there is an increase in the
product over the amount expended for
Labor ana material amounting to $751;
?S5.6i.
The following improvements are
recommended to be made in the plant
of the naval gun factory. enumerated
! III the order of their Importance: For
! the purchase and erection of new and
| improved machinery for existing
| shops. $4,000 building for new sight
| ing shop, $4,000, machinery for this
| shop and installation of same, $3.50, 900;
new brass, iron and steel foundry and
foundry yard building, 5000, 40; ma
chinery, cupolas. furnaces, etc, for new
brass. iron and steel foundry, $12l ,075:
building for gun shop for medium and
small caliber guns, $l90.S00: machinery.
$36S. $50: new locomotive. $4,000; third
fourth of boilers and installation of the
same. viz. five 3O0-horsepower, similar
to those now being installed, $4,000;
new locomotive house. SOL 747; machin-
cry for same. $4,000: new forge shop,
S134 1887; FORCES. hammers, furnaces
and machinery for new forge shop,
s14S 900; extension of building for east
and west gun-carriage and erecting
shops, 1894. AS; machinery for proposed
gun carriage and erecting shop extern
sions. $3.50, 232.
| Other estimates are made as follows:
Pattern shop. $500 100; fireproof pattern
storehouse. sl56. 900; muster house and
closets $500.
Captain Pendleton says that the
clerical force under the efficient direc-
ton of the chief clerk has kept up the
increasing volume of work i'm the Office
to his entire satisfaction. He recon-
mends general increase Of salaries.
He renews former recommendations
that a separate appropriation be made
! to pay for leaves of absence, National
Guard duty. etc. and estimates $780,
600 as necessary for the purpose
| Rega riding the Bellevue magazine.
Captain PendletOn says: The present
wharf should be extended about GOO
feet. which would permit the landing OF
the tugs and barges alongside. The
use of the magazine as place for stor-
age for serVceable articles. which
now occupy great deal of space in
the yard. would relieve the yard con-
siderably of its congested condition"
In an accompanying report. Lieu
tenant Commander Dieffenbach, in
charge of the naval proving grounds al
Indian Head. Md. gives a detailed ac-
count of the operations at the proving
grounds during the past year in the
testing Of guns. carriages. mounts
j armor. projectiles. ammunition. ETC.:
During the year two, casualties oc-
Cured, in which one man. a battery
attendant, was instantly killed and
}. another severely injured losing al