Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-06-10
STATE HOUSE,.
Army Rifle Bullets May
Be Made Heavier.
Forest Fire Conditions Bad
In Aroostook County.
Hearing Assigned in Bridgton &
Saco River R. R. Petition.
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR.
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council
Tuesday, June IS, at $50 A. M.

A subject which is attracting no
small amount of interest among the
members of the National Guard of the
state of Maine in common with that
OF the other states of the Union is that
OF a heavier bullet for the army. Elk
perlmental ammunition has been made
by the ordnance department of the
army for tests, with view to ascer-
tanning if it is advisable to adopt a
heavier projectile for the musket and
the result of the experiment will be
awaited with much interest The am
munition has been sent to the armory
at Springfield and the school of mus
kerry for the firings. The present bull
let weighs $50 grains, but the expert
mental ammunition includes bullets
tnat weigh 100 grains, 40 grains and
1870 grains.
1t is appreciated that the heavier
bullets will be subject to less deviation
on account of wind influences, but on
the other hand, with the present DOW
der charge, which gives a pressure of
$1,000 pounds per square inch, the heav-
Ter the bullet the greater will be the
arc of flight. The lighter bullet there
fore has 1iatter trajectory and a
greater danger area. If the weight
of the bullet is changed great
amount of work will be involved in re-
adjusting gun sights and computing
new range tables.
Another matter which is at present
under consideration by the military au-
thorities and in which it is understood
there is probability of change is that
of the army capes and hats.
Consideration has been given by the
general staff of the army to the issue
of the slicker, in place of the poncho,
to all troops. Reports have been re-
ceived from commanding officers of
artillery districts and of regiments of
infantry, cavalry and field artillery on
the relative advantages, according to
their observation and experience with
those two articles. The preference is
expressed for the slicker as permitting
greater freedom of movement as COM
pared with the poncho. The objection
to the latter is that, being of rubber,
it is apt to crack when folded, be-
Sides being costly and not durable. 1t
has been decided to submit to the in
fantry equipment board, in session at
Rock Island, the poncho, the slickcr
anu IL cape anu SHELTER
tint invented by Lieut.. Charles H.
Mason, 18th Infantry. for examination
and practical test. 1t is desired to OBJ
tain recommendation of q suitable
garment which will serve the purpos-
eS of the poncho or slicker. The re-
ports which have been made on the
subject will be forwarded to Rock Is
land with the pOncho. There has also
been sent to Rock Island the new cam
paign hat as tentatively adopted by
the general staff. This hat is some
what lower in the crown and sitter
in the brm than the present article of
headSear. The instructions to the Rock
Island board are that the new hat shall
be critically examined in comparison
with the service hat, the latter worn
with the Alpine crease and the Mon
tana peak. The new hat, on account
of its low crown. may not be "creased''
OF peaked" but will probably be worn
with four dents in the crown, after the
manner Of the hats worn by the north
western mounted police.
Announcement was made at the af-
flee of the Board of Railroad Commits
SioDcrs Wednesday of the assignment
of a hearing on the petition of the
Bridgton and Saco River Railroad Co.
asking the approval by the board of
the location of a branch railroad track