The Wallace miner. [volume] (Wallace, Idaho) 1907-current, 1917-01-25
AMERICAN FIRE ARMS
NOT UP TO STANDARD
AMERICAN MACHINES BEST BUT
CLAIM MANAGEMENT Is
INEFFICIENT.

II Is surprising and not little dis
appointing to be told that American
manufacturers of fire arms failed to
make good in meeting the require"
,ants of the large contracts received
fron european countries in the early
stages of the war, but this seems to
be the fact nevertheless. The Engin-
asring and Mining Journal comments
ON the failure in the following edit
orial:
we Americans are a curious people.
We make a lot of egregious blunders,
lust as other folks do, and then we
proceed Immediately to tell all about
Them Perhaps this is one reason why
we get ahead. We disclose and dis
cuss in this way not only our nation
al affairs, but also our private ones, no
matter how notifying they may be.
The recent publicity about the for
eign rifle contracts is of this kind.
Early in the war the foreign govern
menus LuIACd MAUI w 10 Ava
rifles. Did we not have manufacture
ing concerns like the Remington and
the Winchester whose names were
household words all over the world?
Those companies received some large
contracts. The Midvale and West
inghouse companies, not previously
experienced in rifle manufacture, but
highly experienced in other lines of
manufacturing, also obtained some
contracts. At that time every owner
of machine shop reasonably equip
ped was looking for rifle contracts.
Ever since then they have been con-
graduating themselves that they did
not get any. Where would the tyro
have come out, If the experts had the
trouble that they did?
It was long time before the REM
ington and Winchester companies de-
livered any rifles. Then they ran foul
of the military inspectors and did not
succeed in delivering many. Finally,
they surrendered their contracts to
JUS IOI6lkA SON Cl IllACAAlo va SSAAAAS
that let them out with whole skin,
and they considered themselves lucky.
The early dreams of fabulous profits
had vanished. This is an extraordin-
airy and depressing tale. What is the
explanation of it?
A little more than 100 years ago
two pioneer American mechanics and
business men founded the industry OF
rifle manufacture in this country and
developed what has since come to be
known as the american system OF
mass production. These men were
Eli Whitney and Simeon North.
Their successors carried the art of
rifle making to such high degree OF
perfection that American machines
and methods are in use today in prac-
tically every arsenal in the world.
With this achievement as back
ground, it would naturally be expected
that In the United States, If anywhere
military rifles could be produced
quickly, satisfactorily and in large
numbers.
This was the expectation of foreign
governments when they placed orders
in this country some two years ago
for from 100000 to 100000 rifles
But these expectations were not ful-
filed. The way in which several OF
the military contracts were handleo
iustifies the Characterization that they
form a pitiable failure in the record
OF American industry. There was
failure to obtain material OF proper
grade. to produce parts of a quality TO
satisfy the specifications, and to make
shipments when promised.
The principal reason for this preak-
down of American rifle manufactur-
ing In private plants seems to be mis-
management. The difficulties in ma
king an arm which must duplicate SO
perfectly that the parts of any Two
adjacent weapons on the battleneld
may be interchanged without using
tools, the severe requirements for ma
terial and the rigidity of inspection
nnueF military law NO'S OPt
overlooked or disregarded. But the
worst lack of foresight was IN connee-
tion with the selection Of men for ex-
ecutive positions and the gathering
+opather Of a suitable working force.
II seems as If the writing of checks,
erecting shop buildings and buying
machinery were considered all the
needful acts in order to complete
rifle contract 1t appears that the
producing organization was forgotten
The botch resulting from this lack OF
planning is apparent when we realize
that a factory organization is thing
of very slow growth. 1t is more like
an oak than mushroom. 1t can moi
come into being overnight or during
n few months, but must progress lit
tle by little from it's beginning to III
maturity.
The long and the short of the matter
ia that the United States is obliged u
confess that it has not yet Learned
how. successfully, to make militar!
rifles. This is not only a mortifyin'
admission. but also it is nationali
imnortant one. 1t ought to reviv