Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-12-08
Improvements Suggested.

1.-THE superintendent of the naval gun fac
tory recommends that the following i'm
provements in the plant Of the naval gun
factory be made. They are enumerated in
the order OF their Importance: For the
purchase and erection Of new and improved
machinery for existing shops, $4,000; new
brass, iron and steel foundry and foundry
yard building, $780, ITO; machinery, cupolas,
furnaces, etc, for new brass, iron and
steel foundry, 1921 .075i new pattern-shop
building, $780, 100; building for new sighting
shop, SS7 1000; for new machinery for pro-
posed sight shop and the installation OF
same, S15O,OO0; building for gun shop for
medium and small caliber guns, $3.50 500;
machinery for proposed new gun shop FOR
medium and small caliber guns, 36S930;
new forge-shop building, S134,93T FORCES.
hammers, furnaces and machinery for pro-
posed new forge shop, S14S 600; extension
for gas plant, 1881; locomotive house, SOL
TAI; machinery for locomotive house, ST.
900; steel shed for timber, S40,320; fireproof
pattern storehouse, s156,0oo; extension of
building, east and west gun carriage and
erecting shops, 1884, AS; machinery for
same, $500, 232: 75-ton locomotive wreckfng
crane for handling Pinch guns, etc, $16,-
coo; the fourth battery of boilers and In
stallation of same $500 horsepower, thus
completing the plant, $4,000; muster house
and closets, $500. Total, $3,3Oo5So.
"While the bureau considers the above
mentioned improvements, recommended by
the superintendent OF the gun factory, as
very necessary to increase the efficiency of
the factory and making 1t capable of fulfill
ing all OF the requirements Of the service
in the way of repairs, altera tons, ETC.. and
also to be able to manufacture al least one
third of the new guns and mounts required
working on an eight-hour per diem basis
it is realized that in all probability such a
large appropriation cannot be obtained this
coming fiscal year. 1t therefore urgently
recommends that the appropriation for the
purchase and erection of new and improved
machinery for existing shops and the ap-
preparation for the brass, iron and steel
foundry, together with the necessary ma
chinery, etc, be made, and as much of the
remaining appropriations be granted as pos
sibIe.
Pay Of Employees.
'"The superintendent of the naval gun
factory also makes the following recon-
mendations concerning pay of employees,
atn.:
"Quite number Of the clerical employees
do not receive pay commensurate with the
duties performed. In recognition of the
services of these men an effort should be
made to obtain higher pay for them.
''The great increase in the volume of Office
business will require additions to the office
force. as 1t is only through strain1ng every
effort that the work Is kept up to date. At
tention is invited to the proposed increases
in the estimates for the fiscal year ending
June go 1907, ana 1t is urged that these in
creases be made.
"A separate appropriate ton Is recon-
mended to cover the expenditures for leaves
of absence granted. with pay to per
employees who have been continuously
employed one year; also to cover ex-
penditures for National Guard duty etc At
present this amount Is charged to the prod
uct of the factory. AS this is a gratuity
to the employees. for which nothing is OBJ
tanned so far as the output Is concerned It
should not be charged against the product
About $4,000 would cover the amount.
at Is desired to use the magazine and
Shell house at the naval magazine, Belle
vue d. c., as am annex to the gun and
mount storehouse These places could be
made very desirable for storage purposes
with a very small expenditure. The present
wharf could be extended about 600 feet
which would permit the landing OF the tugs
and barges."