Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-31

less diameter of the gum These elements
Of economy are so considerable that the
weight of the 14-inch gun becomes actually
less than that Of the Pinch gun, but its
muzze energy will be about 10 per cent
greater. Such a gun can be fired 24O times
before its accuracy Is impaired, which
half hours of battle while the cost Of the
charge of powder will be $40 less than we
are now using for the 12-inch guns.
Eyes, we are up to the rest of the world
in gun-making and have had some very I'M
portant developments recently. The changes
in the science Of gun-making ran parallel
with the development Of steel-making, De-
ginning about twenty-five years ago and
guns in pieces by shrinkage. If we put the
Dieces together while they are hot the steel
contracts as they cool off and the problem
was to determine how large and thick the
est degree Of strength. That was worked
out by the mathematical calculations OF
Russian named Gadolin, and Frenchman
named Vergile worked out q set OF formulae
on the same subject. Their methods have
been modified and improved by subsequent
study and experiment, but they essentially
solved the problem. The method we use in
the United States at present is that of Yer
gile and ClaNarino ian Italan), modified by
Col. Roger Birnie Of our army.
Larger Gun Proposed.
1--WE have been running after high veloci-
ueS, continued N1eHcTdl SEOZicE, dHu have
not stopped to think what they cost us. both
In the expensive construction, in the weight
of the gun and in the rapid dissipation Of
the energy Of the projectile, which the high
velocity gives 1t. Now we propose In our
coast defenses to modify our previous
methods and obtain the same energy from
a larger gun, firing heavier projectile at a
lower velocity. In this way we can get a
lighter and a cheaper gun that will strike
a harder blow at short range and rela-
lively harder blow at long range. and one
that will last three or four times as long
as those we have been making.
Those are the guns we propose to make
hereafter. The only advantage we give up
by the change is that the path of the pro-
jectile is more curved and not so<direct.
Consequently 1t is more difficult to hit the
mark when the range Is unknown. For
that reason the navy people do not intend to
change in the guns they have. 1t 10 more
difficult to find a range from floating ship
than on the earth. The navy cannot tell
ranges as closely as we can"
Are our coasts now well protected?
asked.
Coasts Well Fortified.
YES" replied General Crozier. "our guns
are as effective as those of any other ma
ton. We are well fortified. Our fortifica-
ton plans are not yet complete. but we
have strong coast defenses. All our coast
cities are well protected and no naval power
would attempt to enter any of our harbors
without a very much stronger feet Of bat
tleships than has ever yet been thought Of
There is no such thing as absolute protec-
ton, but we approach quite near 1t SO far
as our coast cities are concerned"
''Can you build guns and other war ma
terials in the arsenals of the government as
cheaply as they can be produced by private
contract?'
THE cost of production by the govern
ment in most cases is not greater than by
private contract, although the private manu.
facturer has certain advantages. He is not
restricted to eight hours Of labor q day, al
though that may or may not be an advan-
tage Sometimes l think an Industrious
workman can do more in eight hours than
he can in ten, working day after day: but
there is no doubt that the government is at
a disadvantage because of its liberality to
its workmen in paying them for fifteen days
of vacation every year, for seven national
holidays, and for half-holidays on Saturday
during the summer months. The time for
which the government pays without any
return in labor in this manner amounts to-
about 10 per cent of the working time of a
year. On the other hand, the government
does not have to borrow money and pay In
terest to carry out its enterprises; It does
not have to pay insurance, and In case of
FIRE, its losses are limited to those that ac-
tually occur: and then again. 1t does not
lose anything by q lack of future orders.
Nor does 1t have to make profit. Taking