Middletown transcript. [volume] (Middletown, Del.) 1868-current, 1918-04-06

QUICKER FIRING, EASIER SIGHT
ING AND GREATER ACCURACY
CLAIMED FOR WEAPON.
BIG SUM FOR MOBILE CANNON
Bureau Of Ordnance Program Calls
for $4,000, 100000 Expenditure BY
Gun Division-EmpIoyment Service
Plans to Supply Farm Workers.
From Committee on Public 1nformation.)
Washington-Ameri troops are
armed with a faster firing and more
accurate rifle than used by the Ger
mans, according to our expert design
ers, manufacturers, and marksmen,
says a statement by the bureau of ord
nance. One military critic and writer
claims the German Mauser does not
permit the most skilled user to get
more than so per cent of the firing
speed of the modified Enfield adopted
for the United States service.
The superiority claimed for the
American weapon is supported on
three counts: Quicker firing as re-
suit of bolt-handle design. easier and
quicker sighting as a result of sight
design, greater accuracy OF buliet
flight resulting from bullet design and
greater mechanical accuracy Of cham
Der and bore.
A summary of the work Of the gun
division of the bureau Of ordnance
shows it has been necessary to equip
16 large plants for manufacture OF
mobile artillery cannon. The total
program of the gun division calls for
an expenditure of nearly $4,000, 1000, 600.
The major projects have included:
Construction of smOkeless powder
plants in face Of the necessity OF
doubling the present output. These
are now under way.
Expenditure of approximately $4O.-
100000 for plant facilities to manu-
facture artillery cannon, with an es-
innate that $3OO,OOO.OOO will be spent
for cannon alone within two years
after the beginning of the war.
Preparations for the erection of
plants to extract toluol from the illu-
minating gas being furnished cities by
private gas companies.
Conservation of the supply Of am
monium nitrate and acids and con-
structiOn at government expense Of
plant for the flxation of nitrogen and
its final conversion into ammonium
nitrate.
Construction, now undertaken. of
gas filling plant to cost approximately
81 100000 and five large shell filling
plants with total cost of $25.OOO.OOO.
A special farn-service division is be-
ing established in most of the 100 Of
fees of the United States employment
service as one of the plans for meet
ing the labor requirements Of the
farmers. Special field agents are be-
ing sent into districts where acute
farm-labor shortage exists or where
unusually large numbers will be need
ed.
A weekly bulletin will be issued in
which opportunities for farm employ
ment and the needs of certain districts
will be listed. Posters announcing the
location of federal and state employ
ment offices are being hung in post
offices, railway stations. and other pub
lie places.
All third and fourth class post Of
fees, of which there are 5000, are
now authorized farm-labor employ
ment offices. During the harvest sea-
son In certain states temporary offices
will be opened in a number Of cities
for the purpose of furnishing accu-
rate information MS to where harvest
hands are needed.
A weekly report OF farm-labor con-
ditions is being sent to the main office
at Washington by all the branch Of
fees and by many state employment
offices.
The use of gas as a substitute for
gasoline for motor traction is increas-
ing in England. According to a re-
port to the United States department
of commerce about 1850 commercial
vehicles have already been equipped
| to run on coal gas, with an estimated
saving of gasoline Of 100000 gallons
year.
Over 20 large companies are manufac-
turing airplanes, Is are producing en-
gines, and more than 400 are produc-
ing spare parts, accessories, and sup
plies.
Naval training camps have a capac-
| fly Of $4,000 in summer, $4,000 men
in winter.
In 16 environments 65O.OOO.OOO feet
Of lumber were used.
Paymaster general Of the navy drew
checks for more than $3O,OOO,OOO in
one day-February 23-for munitions {:
total advertised purchases for the
navy for 1915 were $19,OOO.OOO.
| During February, with % business
| days, So, S79, 81 were loaned to farm
ers by the federal land banks, accord
ing to q statement of the farm loan
board. This is $2O91 ,2294 more than
the January total.
On March l the total amount of
mortgage loans placed since the es-
Establishment of the federal land banks
l IL