The Benson signal., 1918-04-20

Cnree counts: quicker nrlnE as re-
suit Of bolt-handle design, easier and
quicker sighting as a result OF sight
design. greater accuracy OF bullet
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 1t 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 $2,OOO,OOO,OOO.
. 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 $40.-
100000 for plant facilities to manu-
facture artillery cannon. with an es-
innate that $3OO,OO0.OO0 will be spent
for cannon alOn, 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 a
plant for the f1xatiOn Of nitrogen and
its final conversion into ammonium
nitrate
Construction, now undertaken. OF a
gas filing plant TO cost approximately
81 100000 and five large shell filing
plants with q total cost of $25,OOO,OOO.
A special farm-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
Tic places.
All third and fourth class post Of
fices, Of which there are 5000. are
now authorized farm-labor employ
ment offices. During the harvest sea.
son in certain states temporary offices
win be opened in a number Of cities
for the purpose of furnishing accl.
rate information as to where harvest
hands are needed.
A weekly report Of farm-labor con-
@ions is being sent to the main office
It Washington by all the branch Of
fees and by many state employment
Offices.
The use of gas as substitute for
gasoline for motor traction Is increas-
ing in England. According to a re-
port TO the United States department
Of commerce about 1900 commercial
vehicles have already been equipped
to run on coal gas, with an estimated
saving Of gasoline of 100000 gallons
q 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 capac-
ity of 10000 in summer. $4,000 men
in winter.
In 16 cantonments 650,OOOO0O feet
Of lumber were used.
Paymaster general Of the navy drew
checks for more than S3O.OOO,OOO in
one day-February 23-for munitions: !:
total advertised purchases for the
navy for. 1915 were $10.00O.OOO.
During February. with % business
days, $13,87S,S11 were loaned to fnrm-
ers by the federal land banks. accord
ing to a statement Of the farm loan
board. This Is $2,O91 ,294 more than
the January total.
On March ! the total amount Of
mortgage loans placed since the es-
tablishment Of the federal land banks
- 0AQ cosoripu 90 dQE 1nnuS