Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-12-05
KEEPS TO STANDARD
Naval Gun Factory Maintains
Its Reputation.
CHIEF OF BUREAU REPORTS
Asks Appropriation to Make Facili'
ties of Yard Adequate.
RECORD OF WORK PAST YEAR
Superintendent Calls Attention to
Discrepancy in Salaries With
Those in Other Departments.
CHIEF OF BUREAU REPORTS
RECORD OF WORK PAST YEAR

The naval gun factory at the
Washington navy yard" Rear Admiral
Mason chief of the naval bureau ~
ordna nee. says. in his annual report.
made public today has maintained the
high standard of efficiency which has
long characterized 1t. Anticipating pos
sihle need of a more powerful gun, the
bureau early in the year completed the
design of a 14-lnch gun designed to
fire 400 pound proiecte The facil-
tiles of the Washington navy yard are
not at present adequate to assemble a
gun of this length. but an appropria =
ton for raising the roof of the gun
shop over the shrinking pit has been
asked of Congress, and if it is made and
made Immediately available the naval
gun factory will be able To undertake
the manufacture of such guns early in
the coming year"
Referring to the operations of the
gun factory. Admiral Mason says that
during the year 2o3 guns, of all cali
bers from 1pSunder to the 12-lnch.
have been completed. and 40S have been
we'll advanced toward completion:
sights and sight fittings have been
made for 39S guns and partially made
for Ala guns: gun mounts have been
manufactured in numbers correspond
ing to new guns of all calihers; and at
the same time an immense amount OF
work has been done in the way of mod
flying and improving both guns and
mounts of older types in service. Many
thousand small parts and accessories
have also been manufactured. some of
those made in large quantity being
completed during the year.
Factory superintendent Reports.
In his annual report to the bureau the
superintendent of the gun factory
makes a number of recomme ndations,
which are fully approved by the bu-
reau. and funds for which have been
included in the bureaus estimate. Adj
miral Mason says that these recommen
dations cover only such improvements
as are urgently needed.
The largest of these estimates is
S15O.OO0 for the purchase and erection
of new and improved machinery for eX-
listing shops. Admiral Mason says that
owing to the extension of the gun fac
tory and the working of increased
shifts In all the shops. the constant
wear and tear on the present machinery
have been very great. and 1T is neces-
sary that this amount should be OBJ
tanned to keep up reasonable stand
ard of efficiency.
An estimate of 10000. is submitted for
remodeling the 11O-ton crane in the north
gun shop. This crane, Admiral Mason
says. has been in use for about seventeen
years and the trolley and carriage are
somewhat antiquated, besides being very
much worn. These parts can not last
much longer, he says. and they should
be replaced with the latest improved
parts which would make the crane
serviceable for years to come. He says
further that there Is proba ability of occi-
dent, by some of the worn parts giving
away, If this crane should not be properly
repaired within the next year.
Moving to Raise Roof.
An estimate Of s25. 900 is submitted in
connection with raising the roof over the
shrinking pit In the north gun shop, be-
tween crane supports, etc. for an addi-
tional eighty-ton crane to enable the gun
shop to assemble the 12-inch -4.i-caliber
gun over the muzzle end Of the tube. or
to line such guns. and also In connection
with the proposed manufacture of the
14-inch Mark l guns.
An estimate of s19.S75 is submitted for
over shrinking pit, supports for crane,
etc.
The superintendent of the gun factory
also calls attention to the wide discrep
ancy between the salaries paid to en-
ployeS in other departments and those
at the gun factory for work of equal
character Admiral Mason says that the
pay of the clerical force is entirely in
adequate and should be substantially in
creased.