UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA. 
 
 GHFT-OF 1 
 
 i COL. T, H. r - 
 
 C/ass 
 
X 
 
REPORT 
 
 *^i~^1 
 
 OF THE ,, 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD 
 
 ORGANIZED BY 
 
 THE PRESIDENT 
 
 IN ACCORDANCE WITH 
 
 ACT OF CONGRESS APPROVED MARCH 3, 1883. 
 
 WASHINGTON: 
 
 GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFPIOB. 
 1884. 
 
CONTENTS. 
 
 Page. 
 
 REPORT 7 
 
 ENGLAND 8 
 
 Sources from which the armament of England is supplied 8 
 
 Elswick 10 
 
 Woolwich 11 
 
 Steel manufacturers 12 
 
 Condition of steel manufacture 13 
 
 Whit worth's Works 14 
 
 Basic Process 16 
 
 Present condition of the English artillery 18 
 
 Material 19 
 
 Construction 20 
 
 Breech-closing 20 
 
 Gas-check 21 
 
 Vent 21 
 
 Form of chamber 21 
 
 Rifling 21 
 
 Rotating rings 21 
 
 Wire construction 21 
 
 FRANCE 22 
 
 Sources from which the armament of France is supplied 22 
 
 Bourges 24 
 
 Ruelle 24 
 
 Condition of steel manufacture 25 
 
 St. Chamond 25 
 
 Le Creusot 26 
 
 Terre-Noire 28 
 
 Present condition of French artillery 30 
 
 Material 31 
 
 Construction 31 
 
 Breech-fermeture 33 
 
 Gas-check 33 
 
 Rifling 33 
 
 Rotating rings 33 
 
 Wire construction 33 
 
 GERMANY 34 
 
 RUSSIA 35 
 
 Sources from which the armament of Russia is supplied 35 
 
 Russian artillery gun factory 36 
 
 Aboukhoff Works 36 
 
 Condition of steel manufacture 37 
 
 Present condition of Russian artillery 37 
 
 Construction 38 
 
 Rotating rings 38 
 
 5 
 
O REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY .BOARD. 
 
 REPORT Continued. 
 
 THE UNITED STATES 39 
 
 Sources from which the armament of the United States is supplied 39 
 
 Condition of steel manufacture 39 
 
 Present condition of the artillery of the United States 39 
 
 COST OF PLANT FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS 40 
 
 Machines and tools for steel plant 40 
 
 Machines and tools for gun factory 42 
 
 Buildings 44 
 
 GENERAL SUMMARY ^ 46 
 
 Selected sites for gun factories 49 
 
 J IP IP E NT3 ICES. 
 
 A. Copy of circular letter to steel manufacturers 55 
 
 B. Circular letter to South Boston Iron Company and to Paulding, Kemhle 
 
 & Co 55 
 
 C. Letter from Naylor & Co., Boston, Mass 56 
 
 D. Letter from Paulding, Kemble & Co., West Point, N. Y 5G 
 
 E. Letter from Park, Brother & Co. , Pittsburgh, Pa 56 
 
 F. Letter from South Boston Iron Works, Boston, Mass 57 
 
 G. Letter from Pittsburgh Steel Works, Pittsburgh, Pa 57 
 
 H. Letter from Midvale Steel Company, Nicetowu, Philadelphia, Pa 57 
 
 I, Letter from Park, Brother & Co. , Pittsburgh, Pa 58 
 
 J. Letter from Springfield Iron Company, Springfield, 111 58 
 
 K. Letter from South Boston Iron Works, Boston, Mass 59 
 
 L. Letter from West Point Foundry Association, West Point, N. Y 60 
 
 M. Letter from Cambria Iron Company, Johnstown, Pa 1 60 
 
 N. Letter from Cambria Iron Company, Johnstown, Pa 61 
 
 O. Letter to Fried. Krupp's Cast Steel Works, Essen, Germany 63 
 
 P. Letter from same 63 
 
 Q. Letter from same 64 
 
 R. Telegram to same 64 
 
 S. Letter to same 64 
 
 T. Letter from same 65 
 
 U. Letter from same 65 
 
 V. Letter to same 66 
 
 RECORD OE FROCBEDIlSr&S.. 71 
 
48TH CONGRESS, \ HOUSE OF EEPEESENTATIVES. f Ex. Doc. 
 
 1st Session. f \ No. 97. 
 
 KEPOET OF GUN FOUNDEY BOAED. 
 
 Of THE 
 
 UNIVERSITY 
 
 MESSAGE 
 
 FROM THE 
 
 PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES, 
 
 TRANSMITTING 
 
 A report of the Board of Army and Navy Officers relative to the best 
 location for establishing a Government foundry. 
 
 FEBRUARY 20, 1884. Referred to the Committee on Appropriations and ordered to be 
 
 printed. 
 
 To the Senate and House of Representatives : 
 
 I transmit herewith to the House of Eepresentatives the report of a 
 Board of Army and Navy Officers, appointed by me in accordance with 
 the act of Congress approved March 3, 1883 
 
 For the purpose of examining and reporting to Congress which of the navy-yard 
 or arsenals owned by the Government has the best location and is best adapted for 
 the establishment of a Government foundry, or what other method, if any, should be 
 adopted for the manufacture of heavy ordnance adapted to modern warfare, for the 
 use of the Army and Navy of the United States; the cost of all buildings, tools, and 
 implements necessary to be used in the manufacture thereof, including the cost of a 
 steam-hammer or apparatus of sufficient size for the manufacture of the heaviest 
 guns. 
 
 CHESTEE A. AETHUE. 
 
 EXECUTIVE MANSION, 
 
 February 18, 1884. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 1727 Pine Street, Philadelphia, Pa., February 16, 1884. 
 To the President: 
 
 In accordance with your instructions of April 2, 1883, issued under 
 the provision of section 1 of the "Act making appropriations for the 
 naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, and for other 
 purposes," approved March 3, 1883, the Board, composed of six officers 
 selected from the Army and Navy, " for the purpose of examining and 
 reporting to Congress which of the navy-yards or arsenals owned by 
 the Government has the best location and is best adapted for the estab- 
 lishment of a Government foundry, or what other method, if any, 
 should be adopted for the manufacture of heavy ordnance adapted to 
 
Z REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 modern warfare, for the use of the Army and Navy of the United 
 States; the cost of all buildings, tools, and implements necessary to be 
 used in the manufacture thereof, including the cost of a steam-hammer 
 or apparatus of sufficient size for the manufacture of the heaviest guns," 
 has the honor to submit herewith its report and the record of its pro- 
 ceedings. 
 
 In order to reply satisfactorily to the act of Congress, it was neces- 
 sary for the Board to seek information in Europe, and visits were made 
 to England, France, and Eussia. It is appropriate to state that your 
 Board was received by both Government officials and by private com- 
 panies with much cordiality, and every assistance was rendered in its 
 investigations in those countries. 
 
 It was the desire of the Board also to visit the large German steel 
 works at Essen, but the permission to do so, which was requested of 
 Mr. Fried. Krupp, was not granted for reasons that will be found stated 
 in the copy of correspondence attached to this report. 
 
 The Board, having completed its duties, has adjourned sine die. 
 Yery respectfully, for the Board, 
 
 E. SIMPSON, 
 Rear- Admiral, United States Navy y President of the Board. 
 
REPORT 
 
 OF THE 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 The act of Congress, approved March 3, 1883, under which the Gun 
 Foundry Board was organized, calls for a report on the following 
 points : 
 
 1st. Which of the navy-yards or arsenals owned by the Government has the best 
 location, and is best adapted for the establishment of a Government foundry. 
 
 2d. What other method, if any, should be adopted for the manufacture of heavy 
 ordnance adapted to modern warfare, for the use of the Army and Navy of the United 
 States. 
 
 3d. The cost of all buildings, tools, and implements necessary to be used in the 
 manufacture thereof, including the cost of a steam-hammer or apparatus of sufficient 
 size for the manufacture of the heaviest guns. 
 
 The first question presupposes the establishment of a Government 
 Gun Foundry, properly so called, the establishment to be under the 
 absolute control of the Government, and the details of all work to be 
 supervised and directed by Government officers. 
 
 The answer to this question involves simply an expression of opinion 
 as to the superior adaptability, for the purposes of a gun foundry, of 
 any navy-yard or arsenal now owned by the Government. 
 
 The second question imposes no limitation, and calls upon the Board 
 to suggest "any other method" (apart from a Government foundry, 
 pure and simple) by which the purposes of the act of Congress can be 
 achieved. The Board is evidently called upon to consider the subject 
 of joint action between the Government and private parties for the ac- 
 complishment of a national purpose. 
 
 The Board decided that there were three points of view from which 
 this subject should be considered, viz : 
 
 1st. That the Government should supplement the plants of some of the steel workers 
 of the country with such additional tools and implements as would enable them to 
 turn out finished steel cannon. 
 
 2d. That the Government should give contracts of sufficient magnitude to enable 
 the steel workers of the country to supply the finished guns without its direct aid. 
 
 3d. That the Government should establish on its own territory a plant for the fab- 
 rication of cannon, and should contract with private parties to such amounts as would 
 enable them to supply from the private industries of the country the forged and tem- 
 pered material. 
 
 The course of the investigation being thus indicated, the Board ad- 
 dressed circular letters to several of the steel manufacturers in the 
 country and to the two companies employed in the fabrication of can- 
 non. These letters and the replies thereto will be found in the corre- 
 spondence attached to the record of proceedings of the Board, and 
 copies are appended to this report. The replies were unsatisfactory, 
 the subject being a new one to the parties addressed. The expense to 
 be incurred could not be calculated upon any known basis, and the 
 
 7 
 
8 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 Board was unable to satisfy the calls made upon it for further infor- 
 mation as to the number of guns required or the probable extent and 
 cost of a plant for the manufacture of such heavy guns as the act of 
 Congress contemplated. 
 
 It was evident that none of the desired information could be obtained 
 from our manufacturers, because of their lack of experience on this 
 subject. It was known, too, that several of the European Governments 
 had had more or less experience of joint action with private artillery 
 establishments. The call by the act of Congress for " the cost of all 
 buildings, tools and implements for the manufacture of the heaviest 
 guns " could only be answered by information and experience obtained 
 from abroad, as no such tools or implements have been manufactured 
 or are in use in the United States. The steam-hammer mentioned in 
 the act was recognized as a subject requiring careful consideration. It 
 is coupled with a qualification, " or apparatus of sufficient size," which 
 indicates that there existed a doubt as to the propriety of the use of a 
 steam-hammer for forging if other ''apparatus of sufficient size" could 
 be made more efficient. The advances made of late years in the process 
 of forging by compression made this a very important matter for con- 
 sideration. This subject is necessarily connected with that of the man- 
 ufacture of the metal to be forged, and involves a study of the recent 
 developments in steel. The actual condition of the armaments abroad, 
 so far as it illustrates the latest ideas, was felt by the Board to be an 
 important part of the information on which it should report, as the char- 
 acter of the new constructions of cannon would necessarily control that 
 of the tools to be recommended for use in their fabrication. 
 
 The foregoing reasons governed the Board in its decision to represent 
 the necessity of seeking information abroad. Orders were issued and 
 the Board proceeded to Europe. The first visit was made to England. 
 
 ENGLAND. 
 
 SOURCES FROM WHICH THE ARMAMENT OF ENGLAND IS SUPPLIED. 
 
 Previous to the year 1859 the Royal Arsenal of Woolwich was the 
 only source from which the armament of England was supplied. The 
 arsenal was a purely governmental establishment, in which there were 
 several departments. The department of the Koyal Gun Factories was 
 always under the command of an officer of the Royal Artillery ; and here 
 all cannon for the army and navy were fabricated. 
 
 Since the year 1859, the Elswick Works at Newcastle-on-Tyne has 
 been a source of supply on which the Government has drawn more or 
 less for guns. The experience of the connection of the English Govern- 
 ment with these private works bears directly upon the subject of joiut 
 action between a Government and a private firm. 
 
 This connection dates from the time when attention was called to the 
 improvements in rifled ordnance inaugurated by Mr. William G. Arm- 
 strong. 
 
 The Armstrong gun was first brought to the notice of the Government 
 in 1854, and in July, 1855, a 3-pounder was delivered, with a report of 
 the experiments that had been made with it. The gun was re-bored up 
 to a 5-pounder, and in December, 1856 was tried ; the report stated 
 that good practice was obtained at 1,500 and 2,000 yards. In January, 
 1857 a second gun was ordered. It was an 18-pounder, and was tried 
 in January, 1858. The report was favorable, and the gun was so far 
 
ENGLAND. 9 
 
 approved as to cause the recommendation that two should be issued to 
 the artillery t.o "knock-about, and be reported on as to their endurance 
 of work in comparison with the service guns." 
 
 In 1858 there arose a pressure for a supply of rifled field guns for the 
 army, and a committee, after investigation, reported that it was expe- 
 dient to experiment only with the Armstrong and Whitworth guns. 
 
 There has always been a controversy as to the manner in which the 
 comparison between these two guns was made. But the result of the 
 trial was the adoption of the Armstrong system for field service, which 
 at this time involved the following combination of construction, viz : 
 breech-loading, rifling, and coating the projectile with soft metal. 
 
 In order to obtain as soon as possible a supply of these guns, it was de- 
 cided to supplement the resources of Woolwich by entering into arrange- 
 ments with a company set up at Elswick for the manufacture of the guns 
 and projectiles. A guarantee was given to this company on the 16th 
 of January, 1859, to secure them against loss by the erection of build- 
 ings and machinery. The Government undertook to keep them in full 
 work, but reserved the right to terminate the engagement on the pay- 
 ment of compensation. The necessities of the service requiring a larger 
 number of these guns to be provided than was at first anticipated, the 
 original guarantee was increased, first to 50,000, arid then to 60,000. 
 In October, 1859, owing to increased pressure for guns, the guarantee 
 was raised to its final amount of 85,000. 
 
 Sir William Armstrong was, on the 22d of February, 1859, appointed 
 engineer of rifled ordnance, and on the 4th of November, 1859, he be- 
 came also the superintendent of the Eoyal Gun Factories, which office he 
 held until February, 1862. This was the first time that office had been 
 filled by a civilian. 
 
 In September, 1859, the 40-pounder Armstrong gun was approved for 
 the navy. Proposals were also approved for the construction of a 110- 
 pouuder gun, and one hundred of these guns were constructed before 
 any experiments with them had been concluded. 
 
 The Government was thoroughly committed to the Armstrong system, 
 and the manufacture was carried out at Woolwich by the Government, 
 and at Elswick by a private company. 
 
 The large expenditures having attracted attention, a committee was 
 appointed in 1862 to inquire into them, and in April, 1863, the agree- 
 ment with the Elswick Company was terminated by the Government, 
 which discontinued all orders to it and concentrated its work at Wool- 
 wich. The guarantee of 85,000 was paid, the Government, however, 
 being credited with the value of plant and stores, estimated at 19,000, 
 making the amount in money paid 65,534 4*. 
 
 The committee reported that during the continuance of the agreement 
 with the Elswick Company the following sums had been paid: 
 
 (1.) The sum of 965,117 9*. Id. for articles supplied. 
 
 (2.) After giving credit for the value of plant and stores received from 
 the company, a sum of 65,534 48., as compensation for terminating the 
 contract. 
 
 (3.) The outstanding liabilities of the War Office to the Elswick Ord- 
 nance Company, for articles ordered, amounted on the 7th of May, 1862, 
 to the sum of 37,143 2s. lOd. 
 
 The whole of these payments and liabilities amounts to the sum of 
 1,067,794-16,9. 5d. 
 
 During the same period there had been expended in the three manu- 
 facturing departments at Woolwich on the Armstrong guns, amniuni- 
 
10 RKPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 tion and carriages, the sum of 1,471,753 Is. 3d., making altogether a 
 grand total of 2,539,547 17s. Sd. 
 
 A statement prepared by one of the assistant accountants-general of 
 the War Office shows the cost of certain guns and projectiles obtained 
 from the Elswick Ordnance Company compared with the rates of those 
 produced at the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich. According to this state- 
 ment, taking the class of stores which have been supplied from Els- 
 wick and from Woolwich, and which therefore admit of a direct com- 
 parison, the sum of 242,173 10,?. 6tf., on an expenditure of 593,275 10s. 
 lid., would have been saved to the public had these guns, projectiles 
 and fuzes, supplied by the Elswick Ordnance Company, been manu- 
 factured in the Royal Arsenal. 
 
 The evidence on this subject is acknowledged to be somewhat con- 
 flicting. Colonel Boxer, who was the superintendent of the Royal 
 Laboratory at Woolwich, and the accountant-general of the War Office 
 state their belief that the statement is substantially correct, while Mr. 
 Reiulel and Captain Koble, R. A., partners in -the Elswick Company, 
 object to the basis on which the prices at the Royal Arsenal were astier- 
 tained; but there seems no doubt a saving would have been effected if 
 all l he articles had been manufactured at the Royal Arsenal. 
 
 The above is a statement of facts which exhibits the experience of 
 the English Government in its experiment of joint action with a pri- 
 vate company. The plant put up by the Government became the prop- 
 erty of the private company at a nominal valuation, and the Govern- 
 ment paid about 65,000 to break the agreement, besides paying an 
 increased price on articles manufactured for it. 
 
 Elswick. The subsequent history of the Elswick Ordnance Com- 
 pany under the control of Sir William Armstrong is well known. The 
 plant for the manufacture of cannon has been kept employed by orders 
 from foreign Governments, and during late years much work has been 
 done for the English Government. The enterprise and ability in its 
 management has been of great assistance to the country, and, at the 
 recent readoption of the breech loading system, the Government found 
 Elswick prepared to assist in advancing the manufacture. 
 
 Tims, though there seems to have been no profit to the Government 
 in working jointly with the Elswick Company, much aid has been de- 
 rived from it as an independent assistant, and it may be said that it is 
 the only one which supplements the royal factories in finishing guns. 
 
 The establishment at Elswick is thoroughly equipped for heavy work 
 and has produced the largest guns in the world. The shops are sup- 
 plied with an abundance of fine tools, and the forge arrangements have 
 been, up to the present time, all that was required Jor the manufacture 
 of the guns heretofore turned out. But a change is being made in some 
 of the details to better accord with the demand for steel cannon, and 
 steel works are being erected capable of casting 100- ton ingots. Blast 
 furnaces are also in operation. 
 
 The fact that the Government has abandoned the wrought-iron gun 
 impairs the usefulness of the broad tup-hammer with which the wrought- 
 iron coils were welded, and this is being modified to be more effective 
 for forging steel ingots and hoops. The advantages of the Whitworth 
 manufacture are also recognized and a forging press is being introduced. 
 
 The use made of hydraulic power is probably greater at Elswick than 
 at any other establishment in the world. This might naturally be ex- 
 pected, when it is borne in mind that the world is indebted to Sir Will- 
 iam Armstrong for the advance made in this direction. 
 
ENGLAND. 11 
 
 The system of hydraulics at Elswick extends to all parts of the 
 grounds, reaching all the shops, wharves, and water front. Pump- 
 ing-engines are established at convenient intervals, only one work- 
 ing at a time, and the connection of pipes being continuous, the uni- 
 form working of the system is established by five or six accumulators 
 with 18-inch rams. The working of the pumping-engine is made auto- 
 matic. The accumulator nearest to it is slightly more heavily loaded 
 than the others to give a lead in rising to the distant one, and is connected 
 with a steam regulating valve to act as a governor for adjusting the 
 speed of the engine to the varying demand of the hydraulic machines. 
 The pressure sustained throughout the system is 750 pounds to the 
 square inch. The pipes are usually 5 inches in diameter, the largest 
 being 6 inches. 
 
 Hydraulic power is used for the forge and foundry cranes, also for the 
 movable cranes which operate along the water-front. For the accommo- 
 dation of these last, pipes are run, in junction with the pressure main, 
 with hydrants from 18 to 36 feet apart, from which connection is made 
 with the cranes by means of telescopic tubes. Two or more cranes can 
 thus be brought into operation on any vessel at the water-front. 
 
 On the east end of the wharf are erected large hydraulic shears, 
 worked by a direct-acting hydraulic cylinder, 40-feet stroke, lifting 120 
 tons. The back leg moves so as to bring the lifting cylinder about 30 
 feet out; the foot is moved by a screw 50 feet long, with hydraulic en- 
 gine and gear. 
 
 The most notable hydraulic crane that has been produced from these 
 works is the one erected in the Italian naval arsenal at Spezzia, which is 
 capable of lifting 160 tons through a range of 40 feet. It is carried 
 upon a ring of line rollers supported by a pedestal of masonry, and the 
 slewing is effected by an hydraulic engine applied to a pinion which 
 gears with a circular rack. The rake of the jib or projection from the 
 center of rotation is 65 feet, and its height from the quay-level is 105 
 feet. The crane is counterbalanced on the side opposite to the load. 
 
 About the grounds at Elswick, particularly at the approaches to the 
 shops, there are numerous small capstans worked by hydraulic engines, 
 which are of great service in hauling heavy loads into or out of shops, 
 and in transporting them from shop to shop. 
 
 It is almost unnecessary to add that it is at Elswick that the applica- 
 tions for working heavy guns by hydraulic power have been designed 
 and manufactured. 
 
 No foundry or gun factory can be considered efficiently equipped with- 
 out being provided with arrangements for the plentiful supply of hy- 
 draulic power. 
 
 Woolwich. The Koyal Gun Factories at Woolwich are of very 
 extensive proportions, and have, in the course of many years, become so 
 well equipped that the present change which has been inaugurated in 
 the system of manufacture of the English gun does not find it unpre- 
 pared. In a Parliamentary report of 1878->79 a balance sheet states the 
 value of all the property and material in the three departments at Wool- 
 wich, as follows, viz: 
 
 *. d. 
 
 Land 2^05 9 4 
 
 Buildings 97,684 7 11 
 
 Machinery 166,110 11 3 
 
 To one year's interest, at 3 per cent, on invested capital, viz : stores 
 
 and semi-manufactured articles in stock, April 1, 1878 196,949 15 3 
 
 Total 463,550 3 9 
 
12 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 The capacity for production in the gun factory is stated in 1873-'74 to 
 have been 6,000 tons of guns of various calibers per year, or 7,500 tons 
 of rough forgings (wrought iron). 
 
 An approximation to the number of tools may be reached by citing 
 the number of boring-machines now in place, viz: 
 
 2 of 72 inches swing, 4 of 51 inches swing, 4 of 42 inches swing, 
 
 4 of 36 inches swing, 6 of 30 inches swing, 6 of 24 inches swing, 
 
 12 of 20 inches swing, 
 
 besides 50 or 60 others of various smaller sizes. 
 Of other machines there are 
 
 6 planing-raachiues, 12 shaping-machines, 12 milling-machines, 
 
 12 drilling-machines, 12 slotting-inachines, 6 radial-machines, 
 
 2 dividing- machines, 
 
 Of traveling cranes there are 
 
 4 of 60 tons capacity, 6 of 30 tons capacity, 6 of 25 tons capacity, 
 
 besides several of from 20 to 9 tons capacity. 
 
 The steam-hammers are comprised in the following list: 
 
 1 of 40 tons, I of 12 tons, 1 of 10 tons, 2 of 7 tons, 2 of 6 tons, 
 
 besides nanny of from 3 to 1 ton. 
 
 The steam power in the Royal Gun Factories is supplied by 40 boilers 
 of 40 horse-power each. The uniform capacity of boilers is found con- 
 venient in case of repairs, when substitutions have to be made. At one 
 point there are assembled 24 boilers in one group. 
 
 The new feature about the gun factories at Woolwich is the establish- 
 ment of a foundry for casting steel. The development of this branch of 
 the manufacture is still in its infancy, but already there are several Price's 
 retort furnaces in operation, having a total capacity of about 18 tons. 
 The tests of the metal have proved to be very satisfactory, and already 
 some tubes have been accepted for the manufacture of 6-inch steel guns. 
 It is expected, in a very short time, that tubes for 8-inch guns will be 
 produced from this foundry. 
 
 The 40- ton steam-hammer, which has been used for welding the large 
 coils of wrought iron used in the late manufacture of the Woolwich 
 gun, is undergoing a change, by having the face of the tup reduced in 
 area in order to be made more efficacious in forging steel ingots. Op- 
 portunity is also being taken to reconstruct and repair a portion of the 
 foundation and the anvil block in order to suit the new conditions. In 
 this connection it may be well to state the cost of this hammer, includ- 
 ing that of the four cranes used in connection with it, furnished by 
 Nasmyth, Wilson & Co. : 
 
 Hammer 4,980 
 
 Cranes and framing * 13, 500 
 
 Expended in department 10,915 
 
 Inspector of works, charges for building foundations, furnaces, &c 9, 245 
 
 Floor plates 3,683 
 
 42, 323 
 
 Steel Manufacturers. While considering the sources from 
 which the armament of England is supplied, the steel manufacturers 
 who provide the tubes, jackets and hoops should be named. They are : 
 
 Thomas Firth & Sons, Sheffield. 
 
 Charles Cammell & Co., Sheffield. 
 
 Vickers, Sons & Co., Sheffield. 
 
 Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Manchester. 
 
ENGLAND. 13 
 
 A foundry for steel casting is now being added to the plant at Els- 
 wick. 
 
 Heretofore the gun-carriages for both the army and navy have been 
 provided from the gun-carriage department 'at Woolwich on their own 
 designs; but since the adoption of the Vavasseur gun-carriage by the 
 Admiralty, the works atElswick, as well as the London Ordnance Works 
 of Mr. Vavasseur, have been called upon to supplement Woolwich in the 
 production of a supply of these carriages. At the present time the Ad- 
 miralty have on hand, or under construction, about 450 of them suited 
 for all calibers of guns. 
 
 CONDITION OF STEEL MANUFACTURE. 
 
 The Board visited the following works, viz : 
 Thomas Firth & Sons, Sheffield. 
 Sir John Brown & Co., Sheffield. 
 Charles Cammell & Co., Sheffield. 
 Vickers, Sons & Co., Sheffield. 
 Sir Henry Bessemer, Sheffield. 
 Sir Joseph Whitworth & Co., Manchester. 
 Bolckow, Vaughan & Co., Eston. 
 
 Until within a very few years, the steel for gun metal has been con- 
 fined in England to that produced from crucibles, and it is only since 
 the general application of the Siemens-Martin Process that Open- Hearth 
 steel has come into competition with it. The uniform results that are 
 now attainable with this process show that the period for the exclusive 
 use of crucible steel for cannon has passed. Some of the steel manu- 
 facturers have advanced very far in the use of the open-hearth, and 
 all are making arrangements for embarking in this system of manufact- 
 ure. This process ivS much cheaper than that by the crucible, and, its 
 success being established, that reason alone would be sufficient to cause 
 the change in the system ; but there are other reasons now operating 
 in England which make the change of manufacture necessary in order 
 that her steel works shall retain their position in commerce and be en- 
 abled to answer the calls made on them by the Government. 
 
 As long as the demand for steel was confined to orders which required 
 small ingots, the product of the crucibles was sufficient, and the force 
 of laborers required was not excessive ; but since the introduction of 
 steel into the process of forming armor-plates, and the conesponding 
 increase in the size of parts requisite for the guns to pierce the new 
 armor, the organization of a force to cast, from crucibles, masses to 
 answer these demands has become a difficult matter. The changes that 
 were commenced a few years ago in some, and which are now being in- 
 troduced in all the works at Sheffield, are necessary to prevent the pur- 
 chase from other sources of the masses of steel now required by the 
 Government. 
 
 The new departure in the system of gun construction, described far- 
 ther on in this report, will demand from the Sheffield steel manufactu- 
 rers increased effort. Up to the present time the only portion in the 
 construction of the Woolwich gun that required steel was the tube; the 
 breech-pieces and hoops, being made of coiled wrought iron, were fab- 
 ricated at Woolwich. The new construction requires that steel shall be 
 used throughout, and the castings for the jackets for guns now in hand 
 at Woolwich can hardly be supplied from Sheffield. It is well known 
 that the tubes for the 100-ton guns, manufactured at Elswick by Sir 
 
14 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 William Armstrong, which required an ingot of 42 tons, had to be made 
 in two pieces because the capacity of Sheffield was not sufficient to 
 make the casting in one, and it is fair to suppose that the use of the 
 coiled steel breech pieces, now used at Woolwich to build up the 4'3-ton 
 gun, was induced by the difficulty of procuring masses of steel of suffi- 
 cient magnitude to make proper jackets for them. If this be not the 
 case in regard to the 43-ton guns, the embarrassment is very likely to 
 arise with the 62-ton steel gun now in contemplation. But whether any 
 serious embarrassment has yet arisen or not, owing to the limited ca- 
 pacity of Sheffield for casting gun-metal, it is evident that whatever 
 margin the manufacturers now have, it is very slight, and it behooves 
 them to increase their plant for casting. 
 
 The question of forging steel ingots is one which is evidently occupy- 
 ing the attention of the steel manufacturers in Sheffield, but on which 
 they are reticent. The important works are all supplied with steam- 
 hammers of greater or less weight, varying from 15 to 25 tons, and each 
 manufacturer claims that his works are thoroughly equipped in this 
 respect for accomplishing the necessary work on an ingot of any size ; 
 but it was observed that in one important establishment preparations 
 were being made for the introduction of a large press to take the place 
 of, or to supplement the work of, the hammer. The success of Sir Joseph 
 Whitworth's process of forging by hydraulic compression, and the en- 
 viable character acquired by the products of his works in Manchester, 
 have induced the Sheffield manufacturers to take into consideration 
 the probable advantages of the process. As to the advantage or prac- 
 ticability of the compression of steel in the liquid state they are entirely 
 skeptical, but the efficacy of forging under hydraulic compression is 
 conceded, though it is claimed that this must be done under a heat 
 much higher than that required for forging under a hammer, which is 
 considered an objection to the process. 
 
 Owing to the character of seclusion that Sir Joseph Whit worth has 
 preserved to his works, the manufacturers of steel at Sheffield have 
 no personal knowledge of the process adopted at Manchester. Their 
 knowledge is limited to meager reports, but the Board was allowed 
 the privilege of carrying on its investigations within the works, where, 
 under orders from Sir Joseph, his representatives exhibited, with ex- 
 planations, the operations carried on in this unique establishment. It 
 may be distinctly asserted that the experiences enjoyed by the Board 
 during its visit amounted to a revelation. 
 
 Whit worth's Works. Upon its first arrival in London the 
 Board was invited by Sir Joseph Whit worth to examine his works, but 
 with the desire expressed that the visit should be postponed until the 
 close of our foreign investigations. This request was, of course, readily 
 acceded to, and it will be thus seen that previous to the visit to Man- 
 chester the members of the Board had received all the impressions that 
 could be produced by viewing the operations at the chief steel factories 
 in France and Russia, and the great factories of Sheffield, in England. 
 
 In speaking of the Whitworth establishment at Manchester as unique, 
 and of the process of manufacture at that place as a revelation, reference 
 is specially made to the operation of forging. As to the assorting of 
 ores, and the treatment of metal in the furnaces, there is no intention 
 to draw distinctions ; but as to the treatment of the metal after casting 
 there can be no doubt of the superiority of the system adopted by Sir 
 Joseph Whitworth over that of all other manufacturers in the world. 
 The process here adopted has been kept singularly exempt from scrutiny. 
 Even in the offices of the chiefs of artillerv there can be found no in- 
 
ENGLAND. 1 5 
 
 formation, within the knowledge of the Board, which is at all satisfactory 
 upon the subject. Whatever knowledge there is seems to come from ' 
 hearsay none from personal observation and it is only from personal 
 observation that the merits of the system can be fully appreciated. 
 
 The system of forcing consists in compressing the liquid metal in the 
 ^mould immediately after casting, and in substituting a hydraulic press 
 for the hammer, in the subsequent forging of the metal. 
 
 The flask is made of steel and is built up of sections united by broad 
 flanges bolted together in such numbers as to accommodate the length 
 of the ingot to be cast. All moulds are cylindrical in form. The inte- 
 rior of the flask is lined with square rods of wrought iron, longitudinally 
 arranged, which form when in place a complete cylindrical interior sur- 
 face. Where the square edges of these rods meet they are cut away, 
 both on the inside and on the outside, and, at intervals of two inches, 
 small holes are drilled through betweeen the rods, forming a channel- 
 way from the interior to the exterior for the passage of gas and flame. 
 The interior is then lined with moulding composition. The flange at 
 the bottom of the flask, as well as that at the top, is perforated with 
 small holes which act as a continuation to the perforations between the 
 segments of the lining for the escape of gas. 
 
 The casting is made directly into the mould from the top. On tho 
 completion of the casting, the mould is moved (by means of a railway 
 at the bottom of the casting-pit, which is a deep trench running parallel 
 to the position of the furnaces) to a position under the movable head 
 of the press, which is allowed to descend until the tup is in contact with 
 the metal in the mould, and in this position it is locked; a shower of 
 metal is induced, which ceases almost as soon as commenced, by the 
 complete closing of the mould. The first impress felt by the metal is due 
 to the weight of the head of the press alone. This pressure is gradu- 
 ally increased from below by hydraulic action, applied by four rams 
 upon the table on which the flask rests, until the pressure exerted 
 amounts to 6 tons per square inch. The interval from the commence- 
 ment of the pressure until the maximum is reached varies with the size 
 of the ingot, being for a 45-ton ingot as much as 35 minutes. During 
 this time the flow of gas and flame from the apertures in the flanges of 
 the flask, at top and at bottom, are continuous and violent, exhibiting 
 the practical effect of the compression. This pressure is applied by the 
 direct action of steam and pumping engines, and is indicated by a dial. 
 At the end of this time the pump is taken off, and a uniform pressure 
 of about 1,500 pounds per square inch is established by attaching an 
 accumulator to the press, and allowed to remain until the metal is suf- 
 ficiently cooled to insure no farther contraction in the mould. 
 
 The contraction in length in the mould during the action of the pump, 
 while the maximum pressure is being reached and sustained, amounts to 
 one-eighth of the length of the ingot. After this effect has been produced, 
 there is no farther advantage derived from the pressure in the way of 
 eliminating impurities, but the contraction, in cooling, still goes on and 
 the pressure by/the accumulator is considered necessary in order to fol- 
 low up the metal as it contracts, for the purpose of preventing cracks 
 being inaugurated at the end and on the exterior of the ingot by the 
 adhesion of particles of the metal to the sides of the mould. 
 
 When cooled and reheated, the ingot is brought under the influence 
 of the forging-press. This press is hydraulic, with a moving head 
 having the main hydraulic cylinder fixed in it, and it is provided with 
 an arrangement of mechanism for raising and lowering the moving 
 head of the press and for locking the same in any desired position. 
 
16 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 The press has four hollow pillars screwed part of their length, which 
 are attached to the base of the press by nuts. On the top of the pillars 
 is fixed a cast-iron head or table supporting two bydraulic lifting cylin- 
 ders, the rams of which are fitted with cross-heads carrying four suspen- 
 sion bars. These bars pass through the moving head, and are connected 
 at the lower ends by cross bars, which are fastened to the pressing ram. 
 The moving head works between the base and the top or fixed head of 
 the press, and is raised or lowered by the admission or exit of water from 
 the underside of the rams of the lifting cylinders. The moving head 
 can be firmly and rapidly locked at any height from the base which 
 may suit the work to be operated upon. The moving head, as already 
 mentioned, carries a forging or compressing cylinder, which forces a 
 ram down upon the work. By attaching the compressing cylinder to, 
 and making it part of, the moving head, a short stroke can be employed 
 when forging objects which may vary in size from a few inches to several 
 feet in diameter. 
 
 This in general terms explains the working of the ram. The effect 
 produced by it requires to be seen in order to be thoroughly appreciated, 
 and is altogether different from that produced by the hammer. The 
 heated ignot resists the blow of the hammer, but the insinuating, per- 
 severing effort of the press cannot be denied. The longer time (several 
 seconds) during which the effort lasts is a great element in its success- 
 ful effect. As pressure succeeds pressure the stability of the particles 
 is thoroughly disturbed and a veritable flow of metal induced, which 
 arranges itself in such shape as the pressure indicates; the particles are 
 forced into closer contact and the whole mass writhes under the con- 
 straint which it is impotent to resist. 
 
 The Board witnessed the operations of casting followed by that of 
 liquid compression, the enlarging of hoops, the drawing out of cylinders, 
 and the forging of a solid ingot. The unanimous opinion of the mem- 
 bers is that the system of Sir Joseph Whitworth surpasses all other 
 methods of forging, and that it gives better promise than any other of 
 securing that uniformity so indispensable in good gun metal. 
 
 The latest exhibition of the wonderful character of the Whitworth 
 steel has attracted great attention, and may be stated as indicating the 
 
 E resent culmination of his success. From a Whitworth 9-inch gun, 
 itely constructed for the Brazilian Government, there was fired a steel 
 shell, which, after perforating an armor-plate of 18 inches of wrought 
 iron, still retained considerable energy. The weight of the shell was 
 403 pounds, the charge of powder 197 pounds, and the velocity about 
 2,000 feet. The shell is but slightly distorted. The tests of the metal of 
 which it was made show a tensile strength of 98 tons per square inch 
 and a ductility of 9 per cent. 
 
 Basic Process. The manufacture of steel as treated in the Besse- 
 mer converter came under the particular notice of the Board at the works 
 of Sir Henry Bessemer, in Sheffield, but nothing in the practice de-erving 
 of special remark was observed with the exception of the use of a me- 
 chanical stirrer, which is inserted into the molten metal in the ladle 
 after the recarburating charge of spiegeleisen has been added. The 
 stirrer is, in form, a two-bladed propeller on the end of a vertical shaft, 
 actuated by a geared engine of 6 horse power, conveniently placed at 
 the side of the casting pit. The revolutions of the stirrer have the effect 
 of more thoroughly incorporating the spiegeleisen with the charge, dis- 
 seminating it throughout the mass. 
 
 No product of the Bessemer converter has yet been found to answer 
 all purposes for gun construction ; it has been used with success for 
 
ENGLAND. 1 7 
 
 hoops for light gnus, but it is deficient in the hai dness required for 
 tubes and has the reputation of want of uniformity. Extensive experi- 
 ments were made in France several years ago with this metal, with a 
 view to adopting it for gun construction, but failure after failure caused 
 the abandonment of the effort. Those who are laboring to perfect this 
 process insist that great improvements have recently been made, and 
 that the character of want of uniformity is no longer deserved. Should 
 final success attend these efforts, there will be a probable future of great 
 usefulness opened up for the numerous phosphoric ores in the United 
 States, as the Bessemer converter is found to be a most convenient 
 means of applying dephosphorizing elements to these ores when in a 
 state of fusion. For the purpose of investigating this matter, the Board 
 visited the extensive works of Bolckow, Vaughan & Co., near Middles- 
 brough, where, under the guidance of Mr. E. Windsor Richards, the 
 manager, the manufacture by what is termed the u Basic Process" was 
 witnessed. 
 
 This immense establishment is located at Eston, 5 miles from Mid- 
 dlesbrough, and there is evidence of great executive ability guiding 
 the details of its conduct. The company owns very extensive territory 
 adjoining the works and tributary mining districts of coal and ore, and 
 employs fourteen thousand men. At Eston there are twenty-six blast 
 furnaces; 11,000 tons of pig-iron are cast per week, and, in addition to 
 other fuel, there is a weekly consumption of 13,000 tons of coke; 8,000 
 tons of coal and 7,000 tons of ore are raised per day. 
 
 One point may be mentioned in connection with the manufacture of 
 steel rails at this establishment. The iron is not cast into pigs, but is 
 carried direct from the blast furnace to the Bessemer converter ; after 
 casting, the ingot is removed at the earliest possible moment from the 
 mould, and after a short reheating is carried to the rolls, from which 
 it comes out in the form of a finished rail, the whole operation being 
 completed in one heat. 
 
 Ten Bessemer converters are in operation, six worked by the Basic 
 Process and four on the usual Acid Process, with a siliceous (gauister) 
 lining. 
 
 In the Basic Process the converter is lined with a mixture of dola- 
 mite (magnesia limestone), calcined, pulverized and incorporated with 
 coal tar to make it pasty. The converter is taken to pieces and lined 
 with this mixture 18 inches thick. Before lining the bottom, through 
 which are the perforations for the passage of air during the operation 
 of blowing, long rods are inserted in the holes and the mixture is packed 
 around them. When this operation is completed the rods are removed, 
 leaving holes through the bottom lining. The pieces of the converter 
 are then assembled, and a fire is lighted on the inside to burn out the 
 coal-tar on the inner surface ; the whole lining then has a set. One 
 lining of the sides is good for 40 or 50 blows ; one lining of the bottom 
 is good for 10 blows. 
 
 The converter being in place and heated, a charge of pure, common 
 lime, uuslacked, is introduced (15 per cent, of the charge of iron). The 
 molten metal, brought from the blast furnace, is then poured in and 
 the blow commenced. When the phosphorus is removed, which is 
 ascertained by mechanical tests, about three-fourths of the charge is 
 emptied into the ladle, in which ferro- manganese has been previously 
 placed ; a charge of 4^ per cent, of molten hematite, imported from 
 Spain and containing from 2J to 3 per cent, of silicon and a mere trace 
 of sulphur and phosphorus, is then brought from a cupola furnace and 
 poured into the ladle, causing a violent ebullition ; this goes on for a 
 H. Ex. 97 2 
 
18 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 time, more ferro-manganese being added, if necessary, to prevent red- 
 shortening. When the boiling ceases, 4J per cent, of spie^eleisen is 
 poured into the ladle, which is then brought again under the con- 
 verter and receives the rest of the charge. The casting is then made 
 from the ladle. 
 
 The ore used in this process is of very inferior quality ; it is called 
 Cleveland stone, has 42 per cent, of iron and high phosphorus, the pig 
 containing 1 per cent. Being very low in silicon it does not destroy 
 the lining, which would be the case if silicon was high. The object 
 of the lime is to take up and hold the phosphorus in the slag. The 
 phosphorus is increased in the charge by adding some of the old slag, 
 making the proportion of phosphorus 1.75 per cent. The amount of 
 silicon in the iron is from 0.75 to 1 per cent. During the operation of 
 blowing this silicon is the first to disappear; the carbon is then con- 
 sumed, immediately after which the phosphorus passes into the slag. 
 This operation requires about 2J minutes and is timed from the moment 
 the collapse or falling of the flame shows that the carbon is burned out. 
 
 Mr. Eichards stated that previous to the introduction of the charge 
 of hematite during the operation there was a want of uniformity in the 
 results; that sometimes there would remain traces of phosphorus, but 
 that the introduction of the pure hematite, which has only a trace of 
 phosphorus and is high in silicon, before casting gives such stability to 
 the mass as to prevent the slag from parting with any of the phosphorus 
 it has taken up; the silicon also in the hematite is oxidized in calming 
 down the steel, and it also goes into the slag. The introduction of the 
 hematite also makes it possible to halve the ordinary charge of spiegel- 
 eisen, which, as spiegel is costly, cheapens the operation. 
 
 The Basic Process, thus briefly sketched, has for its object the utili- 
 zation of inferior ores. It is the only one now known by which this 
 injurious element, phosphorus, can be eliminated. For guns the natural 
 prejudice would be against metal made from ore which was originally 
 defective, but the operators of this system hold that their product is as 
 good as if made from pure ore. Whether it will ever be used for gun 
 metal will depend upon the confidence that it may inspire in the future, 
 but the problem of its application for general purposes has been suc- 
 cessfully solved. 
 
 PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ENGLISH ARTILLERY. 
 
 It is well known that the essential characteristics of the Woolwich 
 gun were that it was a muzzle-loader and depended for its strength 
 upon wrought-iron coils. The security of muzzle-loading and the safety 
 derived from the wrought iron used in the construction of the gun have 
 been claimed as advantages over other constructions. 
 
 At the time of the visit of the Board to England it was found that a 
 great change had taken place in the opinions of the English artillerists 
 on these two points, and that the military and naval services were 
 changing the character of their armaments. The first effort was di- 
 rected to the substitution of the breech-loading system. This was 
 induced by the increasing difficulties attending the loading of large 
 guns at the muzzle both on shore and at sea. Adherence to the practice 
 of muzzle-loading had imposed much additional expense for machinery 
 necessary for manipulation, and the ever increasing length of guns and 
 weight of projectiles complicated the difficulties. It was determined 
 that attention should be given to the question of applying the breech- 
 loading principle to guns, and in 1879-'80 plans were made for such 
 
ENGLAND. 19 
 
 constructions and the experiments were inaugurated which promise to 
 involve an entire change in the armament of the country. 
 
 Although the idea of introducing the system of beech-loading seems 
 to have been forced by the difficulties attendant upon the use of large 
 calibers, the effort is now being made to apply the change to all calibers. 
 The Board found that in the gun factory at Woolwich guns of all cali- 
 bers were being fitted on the breech-loading system. 
 
 One of the first experiments tried was with a 12-inch 43-ton gun, 
 manufactured at Woolwich, which was built of wrought-iron coils and 
 fitted with the French fermeture, necessarily inserted in the rear of the 
 steel tube. Good ballistic results were obtained, but the construction 
 of the gun does not seem to have given satisfaction. At the same time 
 some experiments with 6-inch breech-loaders were carried on. These 
 were built up in the same way ; several failed, some of them after being 
 fired with battering charges. The reasons assigned refer to bad metal 
 and to errors in manufacture. These failures, however, seem to have 
 convinced the authorities that it was not wise to continue the use of 
 coiled wrought-iron hoops and breech-pieces, and the Board finds that 
 with the adoption of the system of breech-loading there is a positive 
 move to the use of steel for all parts of their gun construction. 
 
 The guns under construction at the Woolwich Gun Factories indicate 
 that this conclusion has been accepted by the Government, though the 
 differences perceptible in some of them show the gradual growth of the 
 developed idea. For example, though the 12-inch 43-ton gun of latest 
 order is composed entirely of steel, there are other guns of the same 
 caliber and weight which have aportion of their hoops made of wrought- 
 iron coils. There is no doubt, however, that the use of wrought iron 
 and the system of muzzle-loading have been abandoned. 
 
 In addition to the 12-inch 43-ton steel guns, there are in hand 13-inch 
 62-ton steel guns ; also 10-inch 26-ton steel guns designed to throw a pro- 
 jectile of 500 pounds with an initial velocity of 2,100 feet. Much inter- 
 est is also felt in the success of the 9.2-inch 18-ton steel gun, which is 
 designed to supersede in sea service the present 10-inch 18-ton wrought- 
 iron muzzle-loader. Four 8-inch llj-ton steel guns are being manufact- 
 ured in the Koyal Gun Factories ; two of them will be 30 calibers in 
 length and two will be 26 calibers in length, the shorter being intended 
 for sea service. Breech -loading guns of 6-inch, 5-inch and 4-inch cali- 
 bers are also now constructed of steel. 
 
 In this transition from wrought iron to steel it must be particularly 
 noted that the change as thus far made in large guns consists in 
 the substitution of coiled steel for coiled wrought iron ; the reason for 
 taking this intermediate step being the want of experience at the Royal 
 Gun Factories in the manufacture of solid steel hoops, and the greater 
 certainty of the manufacture of the steel coils. The superiority in 
 strength of the steel coil over that of wrought iron is positively claimed 
 by the superintendent. Jackets (breech -pieces) and hoops of forged and 
 rolled steel are to be used as soon as practicable. 
 
 What has been recognized by the world as the Woolwich system no 
 longer exists in practice. In its place we find the Vavasseur design, a 
 gun composed of a steel tube, with a steel jacket (breech-piece) supple- 
 mented by superimposed layers of steel hoops. This change has been 
 brought about by public opinion, which has asserted itself in condem- 
 nation of the material and the system of construction so long in use. 
 
 material. It is stated by a very high authority that wrought iron 
 welded into such large masses, as are required for the Frazer system, 
 loses it fibrous character and becomes highly crystalline. 
 
ZU KEPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 The use of the coiled steel hoops, adopted as a temporary expedient 
 at Woolwich, is objected to by high authorities, who, while allowing 
 that steel of an extremely mild quality might be used for welded coils, 
 say that it would be no better than iron, and that at the point of weld- 
 ing no greater strength than that due to iron can be obtained. 
 
 All authorities concur that steel, superimposed in layers over an inner 
 barrel, is the best material for ordnance and the preponderating testi- 
 mony favors its manufacture by the Open-Hearth Process. This is not 
 due to any objection to crucible steel, which has heretofore been used 
 for all gun-tubes, but because the results of the Open- Hearth Process 
 are equally satisfactory and cheaper. Even those who insist in retain- 
 ing crucible steel for tubes are willing to adopt the Open-Hearth steel 
 for jackets and hoops. 
 
 There is a difference of opinion as to the mode of manufacture of the 
 hoops and jackets. All agree that small hoops should be rolled after 
 having been forged into a ring shape from a cast ingot; but for larger 
 hoops and jackets it is recommended by some that they should be cast 
 hollow and then forged, and by others that they should be cut from a 
 solid ingot and forged; while still another authority thinks that hoops 
 and jackets of large size should be bored out of the solid after forging. 
 
 Construction. In the latest designs for steel guns the system 
 of Mr. J. Vavasseur has been adopted. This consists of a tube as thin 
 as is consistent with strength ; a long jacket shrunk on to provide longi- 
 tudinal strength ; and layers of superimposed cylinders or hoops shrunk 
 on, the number of layers varying with the size of the gun. The thin 
 tube develops more thoroughly the principle of a built-up gun, and is 
 less liahle to contain concealed detects. It makes the ultimate strength 
 of the gun less dependent on its integrity. 
 
 Sir William Armstrong advocates a greater number of layers than 
 Mr. Vavasseur or the superintendent of the Royal Gun Factories. The 
 latter agree that the thickness of the layers should not be reduced to a 
 point where the mass is not sufficient to compress the structure under 
 it in process of cooling. 
 
 Sir William Armstrong considers that he increases the end strength 
 of the layers of his guns by interposing sheet copper between the sur- 
 faces, and states that copper has been used in this way at Elswick for 
 two or three years. The superintendent of the Royal Gun Factories and 
 Mr. Vavasseur object to the use of copper as rendering the compression 
 due to shrinkage uncertain in amount. They prefer to rely for end 
 strength on hooking the layers together. In their latest designs the 
 chase of the gun is not reinforced, but depends for its strength on the 
 thickness of the steel tube. Sir William Armstrong, however, considers 
 it desirable to extend the hoops to the muzzle of the gun to provide 
 against the possible premature bursting of a shell in the bore. 
 
 The pressures to which the guns will be permitted to be habitually 
 subjected will not exceed 18 tons to the square inch. 
 
 The propriety of lining the tube with a thin steel lining is being closely 
 considered for the purpose of providing a plan for renewing the portions 
 of the metal scarred by firing without having to resort to retubing. 
 There is no doubt that experiments will be made in this direction. 
 
 Breech-Closing". All the authorities in England now advocate 
 the breech loading system for cannon. The interrupted screw, com- 
 monly known as the French system, is preferred and has been adopted 
 at Woolwich. In the heavier guns, at least, the breech screw will not 
 engage in the tube, but in the cylinder immediately surrounding it, thus 
 relieving the tube from that portion of the longitudinal strain which 
 
ENGLAND. 2 1 
 
 tends to blow out the breech. The number of interruptions increases 
 with the caliber; there are four in the breech mechanism of the 12-inch 
 43- ton gun. 
 
 CJas-Check. The de Bange gas-check lias been adopted at Wool- 
 wich and is preferred by Mr. Vavasseur. It is considered as complying 
 more nearly. than any other with the conditions required of a perfect 
 gas-check. It requires no seat to be prepared for it in the chamber, is 
 not liable to derangement, and does not require perfect accuracy in its 
 manufacture. Sir William Armstrong adheres to the Elswick cup, as 
 opposed to the Broadwell ring, and objects to the de Bange gas-check 
 because of the additional length of gun required ; in the 12-inch 43 ton 
 gun this amounts to 6 inches. 
 
 Vent. The vent is in the axis of the gun and the escape of gas 
 through the orifice after tiring is checked by a device by which a plug 
 is drawn into the neck of the primer by the action of pulling the laniard 
 attached to the friction tube. 
 
 Form of* Chamber. At the Royal Gun Factories it is considered 
 that the best results are obtained with chambers not more than 3 
 diameters in length, and witli an opening the full diameter of the 
 chamber. Sir William Armstrong, though preferring a long, narrow 
 chamber as being favorable to strength of tube, thinks that under the 
 present aspect of the powder question the short, wide chamber, with 
 full-sized opening, must be adopted. 
 
 Rifling'. All the authorities except Sir Joseph Whit worth, who 
 adheres to the polygonal system, agree that the grooves should be nu- 
 merous and shallow. The rilling is polygroove; the grooves are cut 
 to a depth of 0.05 inch, and their non-driving edges are sloped to di- 
 minish the scoring. The twist is an increasing one (from about 1 in 120 
 calibers to about 1 in 35 calibers) for about half the length of the rifling ; 
 the other half, to the muzzle, being a uniform twist of about 1 in 35 
 calibers. The number of grooves is determined by the caliber and is 
 the product of 4 and the diameter expressed in inches ; thus, the 12-inch I i 
 gun has 48. 
 
 Rotating* Rings. The Vavasseur rotating ring is now adopted 
 by Woolwich and Elswick, the dimensions being determined by experi- 
 ment. Mr. Vavasseur lays great stress on the position of the rotating 
 ring on the projectile. He states that it should be at the center of per- 
 cussion with respect to the front bearing. 
 
 Wire Construction. The employment of steel ribbon or wire 
 in gun construction has been more or less considered since 1855, when 
 Mr. James A. Longridge brought to the notice of the War Office his 
 proposed method of increasing the strength of guns by this means. 
 Some experiments were made, but they were not satisfactory. Of the 
 strength that was given circumferential ly there was no doubt, but the 
 difficulties of providing it longitudinally were so great that the subject 
 was dropped at the time. Recently, however, the matter has been taken 
 up by Sir William Armstrong, who has manufactured several wire guns. 
 
 A 10.2-inch gun of this manufacture has been purchased by the War 
 office and is now under trial. In this gun longitudinal strength is ob- 
 tained by disposing some of the wire lengthwise around the tube, and 
 some very satisfactory experiments have been made with it. The gun 
 weighs 21 tons, is 25 calibers long, and the following present some of 
 the particulars of the last reported filing: 
 
 Charge of powder pounds . . 220 
 
 Weight of projectile do 404 
 
 Muzzle velocity feet.. 2, 160 
 
 Pressure per square inch tons. . 17 
 
22 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 A (5-inch breech-loading gun and a 6.3-inch muzzle-loading howitzer 
 manufactured by the same firm are also about to be tried. In these the 
 longitudinal strength is entirely dependent on the steel tube. The same 
 firm is manufacturing several 6-iuch breech-loading guns in which the 
 longitudinal strength is partially provided for by a jacket, the wire 
 wrapping being only called upon to provide circumferential strength. 
 
 The Royal Gun Factory has taken up the subject and has matured 
 designs for experiment on a large scale. In its designs the longitudinal 
 strength is obtained by means of steel segmental hoops placed between 
 layers of wire. 
 
 The following is the present state of the wire-gun question in England : 
 
 Manufacture of Sir William Armstrong : 
 
 Under trial, 10.2-inch breech-loading gun. 
 
 To be tried, 6-inch breech-loading gun, 6.3-iuch muzzle-loading howitzer. 
 Manufacture of Royal Gun Factories : 
 
 Under manufacture, 10-inch breech-loading howitzer. 
 
 Recommended for manufacture, 15-inch breeeh-loading gun of 63 tons. 
 
 Opinions vary as to the form, size and other characteristics of the 
 wire. One authority recommends square wire for the first six or eight 
 coils, gradually increasing the size of the wire as the coils proceed out- 
 wards. This authority states that the higher the elastic limit the better, 
 the breaking strain and power of elongation being of comparatively small 
 importance, and that the wire should never be strained up to its elas- 
 tic limit. Another authority recommends a flat wire of 100 to 110 tons 
 breaking strain wound on a tension of 60 tons for the inner and about 
 70 tons for the outer layers, the longitudinal strength to be provided by 
 the inner tube of the gun and by steel segments divided longitudinally, 
 but, when put together, forming a tube. Another authority states that 
 the full benefit of wire cannot be obtained unless strained beyond its 
 elastic limit. Another authority prefers wire of a circular section, it 
 being impossible to keep any other shape to gauge. For heavy guns he 
 would use wire of 0.0984 section, with a breaking strain of about 125 
 tons, and an elongation of about 2 per cent. This authority says that 
 the elastic limit of the wire should riot be passed in winding it on. He 
 estimates that there would be a saving in weight of about 30 per cent, 
 on the breech portion of the gun, and more certainty of manufacture 
 than with steel hoops. 
 
 FRANCE. 
 
 SOURCES FROM WHICH THE ARMAMENT OF FRANCE IS SUPPLIED. 
 
 Previous to the Franco-German war of 1870, it was the custom in 
 France to confide all matters relating to cannon to the artillery corps 
 of the army and navy ; aid from private sources was neither sought 
 nor offered; much secrecy was observed in all things relating to the 
 business of ordnance; admission to the Government foundries was ob- 
 tained with difficulty, and the experimental ground at Gavre, with rare 
 exceptions, was closed to all applicants. 
 
 For army purposes, the gun factories at Bourges, Puteaux and 
 Tarbes supplied all demands, while for the use of the navy the found- 
 ries of Ruelle and of Nevers, and the gun factories attached to them, 
 provided the entire armaments. 
 
 With the advent of the war came the proof that a close corporation, 
 such as was constituted by the system heretofore adopted, could not 
 work to the best advantage of the country ; and, with the return of 
 
FRANCE. 23 
 
 peace and the necessity of re-armament, came a revolution of ideas 
 which has led the Government to modify its practice. 
 
 It was recognized that the Government must have under its control 
 some establishments purely governmental ; but that, in order to pro- 
 vide for all contingencies as well as to prevent official ideas from run- 
 ning too much in a groove, it was desirable to encourage private in- 
 dustries, so that a spirit of emulation might be excited by competition 
 and a channel afforded through which new ideas and inventions might 
 reach the national works. The adoption of this course was made the 
 more imperative in consequence of the new departure in gun-metal, and 
 this opened the way to the encouragement of the steel industries of the 
 country. 
 
 The plan thus decided on has been consistently carried out. The 
 Government gave assurances to the private companies which induced 
 them to expend the funds necessary to erect new and suitable tools, 
 both for the casting of the metal and the fabrication of the guns. 
 
 The result of this action can be appreciated by reference to the fol- 
 lowing list of private companies which are now employed in providing 
 armaments for the Government. 
 
 STEEL MANUFACTORIES PRODUCING STEEL UP TO TUBES FOR 16-CENTIMETRE GUN. 
 
 Jacob Holtza & Co Uuienx (Loire). 
 
 Marrel Freres Rive de Gier (Loire). 
 
 Socie"t6 ties Acieries et ForgeH de Firminy Firminy (Loire). 
 
 Compagnie des Forges et Acieries de St. Etienne St. Etienne. 
 
 STEEL MANUFACTORIES PRODUCING STEEL UP TO TUBES FOR 42-CENTIMETRE GUN. 
 
 Henri Schneider & Co Le Creusot. 
 
 Acierie de la Marine St. diamond. 
 
 PRIVATE COMPANIES HAVING PLANT OF GUN FACTORY. 
 
 Henri Schneider Le Creusot. 
 
 Cail &Co Paris. 
 
 Societe" des Forges et Chantiers de la Mediterranne' Havre. 
 
 Compagnie de Fives-Lille Fives-Lille (Nord). 
 
 Socie'te" Anonyme de Constructions Navales dn Havre Havre. 
 
 Acierie de la Marine St. Chamond. 
 
 STEEL MANUFACTORIES PRODUCING ARMOR PLATES. 
 
 Henri Schneider & Co. (forged steel) Le Creusot. 
 
 Acierie de la Marine (compound) St. Chamond. 
 
 Marrel Freres (compound) Rive de Gier. 
 
 Chatillon et Commentry (compound) Montlucon. 
 
 The compound plates are manufactured under the patent of Mr. Wil- 
 son, of Charles Cammell & Co., Sheffield, England. 
 
 All the gun-carriages for the navy and for coast defense are made at 
 private works. 
 
 The above lists illustrate the immense increase of resources that the 
 Government has obtained by encouraging private industries and they 
 contribute an important historical chapter for the instruction of a Gov- 
 ernment about to provide an armament for its military services. 
 
 The following is the list of the Government works manufacturing for 
 the army, viz : 
 
 (1.) Fonderie de Canons a Bourges, in the center of France. At this place steel 
 guns are made of 90 millimetres, 155 millimetres, 190 millimetres, and 240 millimetres; 
 also rifled mortars of 220 millimetres. 
 
 (2.) Atelier de Construction a Tarbes, in the Hautes Pyrenees, in the southwest 
 
 UNIVERSITY I 
 
24 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 part of France. At this place steel guns are made of 90 millimetres, and 120 milli- 
 metres ; also carriages for field and siege guns. 
 
 (3.) Atelier de Construction de Puteaux, near Paris. At this place all the steel 
 mountain and field guns of 80 millimetres are made; also siege guns of 120 millime- 
 tres, and the Hotchkiss revolving cannon for flank defense. 
 
 (4.) Gun carriages, limbers, &c.,are made at Government shops at Vernon, Avig- 
 non and at Angers. 
 
 Gun-carriages are also manufactured for tlie army at private works. 
 
 Boiirges. The gun factories of tbe army fabricate no guns above 
 the caliber of 24 centimetres, and it is only at Bourges that army guns 
 of this caliber are constructed. At the private establishments men- 
 tioned above the work of fabrication has been carried as high as 34 cen- 
 timetres, but the advantageous working capacity of the factories does 
 not extend beyond the 24-centimetre gun. 
 
 Ruelle. At the " Fonderie a Kuelle" all the constructive force of 
 the marine artillery has been concentrated, and here all the largest 
 guns are made. It contains the most remarkable collection of tools of 
 the age. They are designed for guns of 34 centimeters and upwards, 
 and have a capacity for handling guns of 100 tons in weight and 60 
 feet in length. The shop in which these tools are placed is about 450 
 feet in length and 131 feet in width, having a height of 85 feet at the 
 central peak of the roof. At one end is the tubage pit, in which the 
 gun tube is placed upright to receive the hoops. The bottom of this 
 pit is at a depth of 85 feet below the floor. It is excavated in a rectan- 
 gular form and is divided into four stories, contracting in area as the 
 lower level is reached ; at each story or landing place, the opening can 
 be floored over to accommodate the work of hooping any length of tube. 
 The heating furnaces are on the first story below the floor. The tools 
 already in place are the following, but there is room for fully a dozen 
 more of similar character : 
 
 Two turning lathes, capable of turning guns 15 metres long. These can be in- 
 creased in length 10 metres. 
 
 Three boring machines for same. 
 
 One rifling machine for same. 
 
 Two smaller boring machines with adjustable connections for turning. 
 
 Two other machines for performing all the details of the work about the breech, for 
 receiving the ferrneture, turning the screw, slotting, piercing holes, &c. 
 
 Two movable cranes ; one of 100 tons, the other of 30 tons capacity. 
 
 The contractors for these tools were Yarall, Blwell & Middleton, 
 Paris. The plant has cost millions of francs, and five years elapsed 
 from the giving of the order to the setting up of the tools. A large por- 
 tion of the time charged to the manufacture must be credited to the 
 preparation of designs, no tools of their size and great capacity having 
 been before conceived. 
 
 Taking the above short notice of the works at Ruelle in connection 
 with what has been stated on the subject of private industries, it will be 
 seen how well all the requirements are provided for a joint production 
 of cannon by the Government and private parties. The latter assist up 
 to a point justifying on their part a reasonable outlay of money for a 
 plant, and the Government, though working in this common field as 
 well, yet reserves to itself all the more onerous charges involved in the 
 manufacture of the heaviest ordnance. 
 
 It seems as if in France the happy mean has been reached by which 
 the Government and the private industries can work harmoniously to- 
 wards the accomplishment of a national object. 
 
 In a combined system of this kind, it is very important to be assured 
 that there exist mutual checks which act to prevent the one party im- 
 
FRANCE. 25 
 
 posing improper or hard terms on the other. Tbe board is not without 
 evidence of the existence of these salutary checks in France. 
 
 A short time since the Government deemed it necessary to increase 
 its armament by 300 additional guns, and decided that certain addi- 
 tional tests should be required of the metal for the tubes. When the 
 provisions of the proposed contract were made known to the steel man- 
 ufacturers, they resisted the requirements as being too hard and in- 
 sisted on the acceptance of such steel as had been previously supplied ; 
 but to this the Government would not accede. Finding them deter- 
 mined in their resistance, the Government made inquiries abroad as to 
 the possibility of securing the metal it required, and, finding that a 
 foreign manufacturer would undertake the contract, a promise was given 
 to him that he should receive the order. The steel manufacturers of 
 France, hearing that the order was likely to be given to a foreign tirm, 
 endeavored to arouse a national feeling on the subject to constrain the 
 Government to make the purchase in France, but to no effect; and 
 they finally proposed to accept the Government proposition. But the 
 minister had already given his word to the foreign manufacturer and 
 the contract was lost to France. In this instance both parties, the 
 Government and the private companies, acted within their independent 
 rights, but neither could compel the other. This exhibition of effective 
 counterpoise is a good proof of a happy adjustment of forces. 
 
 CONDITION OF STEEL MANUFACTURE. 
 
 Since the termination of the Franco-German war of 1870, and in the 
 course of the re-armament of the country, the Government has given 
 every encouragement to private industries to justify them in incurring 
 the expense of establishing plants at various points to assist in the 
 construction of guns ; and by embarking largely in the fabrication of 
 steel cannon it has given a great impetus to the manufacture of this im- 
 portant material. The numerous works that can produce metal suit- 
 able for tubes and hoops for field-pieces have been mentioned. These 
 establishments have made a study of the subject of gun-metal, and, so 
 far as their facilities for forging reach, can all supply the demands that 
 the country can make upon them. 
 
 For tubes and hoops, however, for large guns, requiring massive forg- 
 ings, the supply is limited to the works of the " Compagnie de FAcierie 
 de la Marine" at St. diamond, and to those of H. Schneider & Co. at 
 Le Creusot, the former having a steam-hammer of 80 tons, and the- 
 latter one of 100 tons weight. 
 
 There are some establishments, notably at St. Etienne, where crucible 
 steel of a high order is manufactured for purposes of trade, but no 
 effort is made to utilize it for gun purposes. 
 
 St. diamond. The cast steel used for cannon in France is manu- 
 factured by the Open -Hearth Process with Siemens' furnaces. This 
 process is combined with the rotating bath of M. Pernot at St. Ghamond, 
 where three 25-ton and two 12-ton Pernot furnaces give a capacity lor 
 casting an ingot of 100 tons. 
 
 The ingots cast here for the 42 centimetre 75-ton guns are of 75 tons 
 weight ; the tube, after rough boring and turning, weighs about 35 tons. 
 
 The tempering-pit is a large excavation 15 metres deep. At one ex- 
 tremity is the furnace where the tube is placed erect and heated. At 
 the other is a cylindrical excavation, reaching to 15 metres below the 
 floor of the pit, where is placed the tank containing 100 tons of colza 
 oil into which the tube when heated is lowered rapidly. 
 
26 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 Creusot. The most important steel works in France are situ- 
 ated at Le Creusot and bear the name of the location in which they are 
 situated. These works have advanced year by year in importance and 
 in magnitude since their purchase by Mr. Eugene Schneider. 
 
 This gentleman's death, in 1875, was a source of mourning to the whole 
 town, the inhabitants of which looked up to him as a father. The 
 grateful people have erected to his memory a monument in the market 
 square. 
 
 Under the administration of his son, Mr. Henry Schneider, the fame 
 of the products of the works has been enhanced, and the proportions of 
 the establishment have been much increased. The whole number of 
 workmen now employed here and at other points amounts to 15,000 ; 
 and it is the great center of industry of the adjoining region. At no 
 other place in the world is steel handled in such masses. 
 
 It would be foreign to the purpose of this report to dwell on the many 
 objects of commerce which are supplied from these works, but it is safe 
 to say that no proposed work can be of such magnitude as to exceed the 
 resources of the establishment. 
 
 For the preparation of metal for cannon and armor-plates Le Creusot 
 is thoroughly equipped. The iron is produced on the premises from the 
 purest imported ores, and the manufacture of the steel is carried on by 
 the most approved application of the Open-Hearth system with the Sie- 
 mens furnace ; the chemical and mechanical tests are such as to satisfy 
 the most exacting demands of careful Government officials, and the ex- 
 ecutive ability apparent in all the departments and the evident condi- 
 tion of discipline that pervades the whole establishment inspire confi- 
 dence in the productions of the labor. 
 
 The capacity for casting steel is represented by seven open-hearth 
 furnaces of 18 tons each, equal to 126 tons ; and the process of casting 
 large ingots is a model of order and security. Ladles capable of hold- 
 ing the contents of one furnace, mounted upon platform cars, are suc- 
 cessively filled at a previously determined interval of time and run on 
 railways to a convenient position over the mould; before the first ladle 
 is exhausted the supply from the succeeding one has commenced to run, 
 and so on to the completion of the casting, the supply to the mould 
 being uninterrupted during the entire process. The precision with 
 which the several ladles are brought into position in succession makes 
 it entirely unnecessary to provide a common reservoir into which all 
 the furnaces may discharge. By this process the casting of a 45-ton 
 ingot, which was witnessed by the Board, was effected in 23 minutes. 
 
 The process of tempering the gun-tubes was also witnessed by the 
 Board. The excavation of the pit is, as at St. diamond, 15 metres 
 deep, with the furnace at one end and the oil tank (100 tons) at the 
 other. One side of the upright furnace is constructed in the form of a 
 door, which, by a convenient arrangement for swinging, is made to turn 
 on its hinges. Thus, when the tube is raised to the right temperature, 
 it is seized by the traveling-crane, the door of the furnace swung open, 
 and the tube at once advanced to the tank in which it is immersed. 
 
 All tubes are immersed in oil the second time, but at a temperature 
 much below that to which they are raised at the first immersion. This 
 process constitutes the annealing after tempering. 
 
 The manufacture of steel-armor plates is a specialty of Le Creusot, 
 which is engaged in an active competition with the manufacturers of 
 compound armor. Plates up to 60 centimetres in thickness and 3 metres 
 wide are forged here ; they are tempered after forging, but what subse- 
 quent treatment they receive was not explained. 
 
FRANCE. 27 
 
 The tempering-pit for the plates consists of an excavation of conven- 
 ient size, in the center of which is placed a tank containing 180 tons of 
 oil. At the four corners of the pit are furnaces in which the plates are 
 raised to a proper temperature. When sufficiently heated a plate is 
 seized by a walking-crane and immersed in the oil. 
 
 Hoops for cannon are manufactured here in large quantities. They 
 are cut from solid ingots, and those for guns up to 24 centimetres are 
 rolled like railway tires; those for larger calibers are forged on a man- 
 drel. Jackets of large size are also manufactured ; these are made from 
 solid ingots, which, after being forged, are bored out. 
 
 At Le Creusot a remarkable test of hoops was witnessed which ex- 
 em pliiies not only the excellence of the manufacture of the steel but 
 also the exacting character of the French requirements. The hoops for 
 naval guns are made with the interior surface slightly conical. When 
 forged, turned and brought under a hammer, a standard mandrel of 
 steel, conically shaped to suit the form of the cone in the hoop, but of a 
 slightly increased diameter, is introduced, the smaller end of the man- 
 drel being able to enter the larger end of the hoop. The mandrel is 
 then forced in by the hammer until its lower edge has passed- through 
 the hoop. The blows are then made to operate on the upper edge, de- 
 taching it from the mandrel. Careful measurements are taken of the 
 diameter of the hoop before and after this test, and it is required that 
 the measurement subsequent to the operation shall show that the hoop 
 has partially, but not entirely, returned to the diameter that it had be- 
 fore the entrance of the mandrel. This would show that there is left to 
 the metal a small margin within its elastic limit. A system of manufact- 
 ure which can comply with such a refinement of exactitude must be 
 very precise. 
 
 Perhaps the most striking feature at Le Creusot is the forge, where 
 is assembled an array of steam-haminers not equaled in the world, viz: 
 
 One 100- ton hammer with a fall of 5 metres. 
 One 40-ton hammer with a fall of 3 metres. 
 One 15-ton hammer with a fall of 3 metres. 
 Two 10-ton hammers with a fall of 2^ metres. 
 One 8-ton hammer with a fall of 2$ metres. 
 
 As the 100-ton hammer at these works is the largest in the world, 
 some particulars concerning it will be appropriate. 
 
 The foundations are composed of a mass of masonry laid in cement 
 resting on bed rock, which occurs at a depth of 11 metres, an anvil block 
 of cast iron, and a filling in of oak timber designed to diminish by its 
 elasticity the vibrations resulting from the blows of the hammer. The 
 masonry foundation presents a cube of 600 metres. Its upper surface 
 is covered with a layer of oak about 1 metre in thickness, placed hori- 
 zontally, on which rests the anvil block. 
 
 At the Perm foundry in Russia the anvil block for the 50 ton hammer 
 is made in one piece, moulded and cast in the spot it was destined to oc- 
 cupy. Its weight is 622 tons. At Le Creusot, however, this idea was 
 not approved and it was determined to construct the block in six hori- 
 zontal courses, each bedded upon plane surfaces. Each course is formed 
 of two castings, except the upper one, a single block, which weighs 120 
 tons and supports the anvil. Thus formed in 11 pieces, it is 5.6 metres 
 high, 33 square metres at the base and 7 square metres at the top. Its 
 entire weight is 720 tons. The space between the block and the sides 
 of the masonry in which it rests is tilled in solidly with oak. Th*. block 
 is thus independent of the frame of the superstructure. 
 
 The legs of the- frame, inclining towards each other in the form of an 
 
28 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 A, are secured at their bases to a foundation-plate imbedded in the 
 masonry. They are hollow, of cast-iron, and of rectangular cross-sec- 
 tion, each leg in two pieces joined midway of their length by flanges 
 and bolts. The legs are also bound together by four plates of wrought 
 iron which, at the same time, hold the guides. The height of the legs 
 is 10.25 metres and their weight, with the guides, 250 tons. The bind- 
 ing plates weigh together about 25 tons, and the foundation plates 90 
 tons. 
 
 The entablature of the frame- work weighs 30 tons; on it is placed 
 the steam cylinder, single acting, made in two pieces, each 3 metres 
 long, united by flanges and bolts. The diameter of the cylinder is 1.9 
 metres, giving a surface of 27,345 square centimetres (deducting the sec- 
 tion of the rod, which is 36 centimetres in diameter) ; which, for 5 atmos- 
 pheres, gives a pressure under the piston of about 140 tons. As the 
 weight of the hammer is 100 tons, it is evident that it can be raised 
 with great velocity. 
 
 The stroke of the piston in the cylinder is 5 metres. This height of 
 fall, multiplied by the 100,000 kilogrammes of the mass, gives a working 
 ing force of 500,000 kilogram metres, or about 1,640 foot tons. The 
 width between the legs is 7.5 metres, and the free height under the 
 cross-ties 3 metres, thus providing ample space for maneuvering large 
 masses of metal. 
 
 The entire height of this colossal structure from the base of the ma- 
 sonry foundation to the upper part of the steam cylinder is 31 metres 
 (10J feet), but notwithstanding this unfavorable condition for stability 
 and the enormous effect resulting from a shock of 500,000 kilogram- 
 metres, everything is so well proportioned that there is but slight vi- 
 bration. 
 
 The workman who maneuvers the hammer is placed on a platform on 
 one of the legs about 3 metres above the floor. He is here protected 
 from the heat reflected from the mass of metal during the operation of 
 forging. 
 
 Terre loire. The " Compagnie des Fonderies et Forges de Terre 
 Noire, La Voulte et Besse'ges" is one of the important steel producers of 
 France ; and, though its metal has not as yet been received for tubes 
 for large cannon, it has been largely used in the production of shells 
 and hoops. The company claims a specialty in producing cast steel 
 without blow-holes, which requires no subsequent working under the 
 hammer. The mode of manufacture is known as the Terre-Noire Pro- 
 cess, and is the result of many years of gradual development. The 
 value of the product has been so far appreciated by the Government as 
 to justify its use for small guns and hoops, and even for trunnion-bauds, 
 while the manufacture of steel projectiles is a large item in the yield of 
 the works. The Terre Noire metal is produced in the Siemens furnace, 
 and possesses in the cast state all the necessary qualities for ordinary 
 industrial purposes ; it is soft and malleable and is said to be as strong 
 as ordinary steel of the same grade after rolling or hammering. It is 
 claimed that its density is always as high as, and sometimes higher 
 than, that of ordinary forged steel. These statements are supported 
 by facts shown in numerous experiments. 
 
 The persevering efforts of the Terre Noire Company to develop this 
 manufacture and the expense attending years of experiment prove 
 their confidence in the principle involved, and the encouragement given 
 during the past two years by the Government shows an appreciation of 
 its merit; further experience may justify the use of the metal more gen- 
 erally in the construction of cannon, and, if it can be riiade hard enough 
 
FRANCE. 29 
 
 for the purpose, it may be used for tubes. It will require exhaustive ex- 
 periments to induce artillerists to accept in all cases the simply cast 
 metal as a substitute for that forged under a hammer or press ; but if a 
 perfect demonstration shall be made of its ability to endure all tests it 
 will open a way to a great economy in manufacture. 
 
 In general terms, as stated by Mr. Holley, the object of greatest im- 
 portance in this process is to keep down oxidation in the bath from the 
 commencement of the operation. For this purpose the furnace must be 
 kept as hot as possible, with a good solid body of flame, but there must 
 be only just enough air admitted to promote thorough combustion. 
 
 The process requires an initial bath of pig-iron containing from 6 to 
 8 per cent, of manganese. Spiegeleisen is the most convenient form for 
 introducing it; but as a spiegel with precisely this percentage may not 
 be at hand, the bath may be formed by taking a richer spiegel and dilut- 
 ing it with a proper proportion of ordinary pig containing no manganese. 
 The greater part of the bath should be made ot pig poor in carbon, 
 particularly when highly carbonized materials are to be dissolved. The 
 weight of the initial bath should generally be about 11 per cent, of the 
 whole. 
 
 When the bath is completely melted the refining materials are success- 
 ively added in small quantities. These are preheated and dropped at 
 the deepest part of the hearth in front of the doors. Preheating is em- 
 ployed not only to keep the furnace hot, but to save oxidation. The 
 materials used at this period of the operation are chosen with reference 
 to the quality required in the finished product. For projectiles, the 
 Terre Noire Company generally use Bessemer ingot and rail ends, with 
 sinking-heads from previous projectile charges. These are all high in 
 carbon, and contain some manganese. The proportion of refining ma- 
 terials to the whole charge averages 78 per cent. As soon as one charge 
 is melted another is added, until all are fused, when a series of tests 
 commences. The study of these specimen tests is kept up until the 
 bath is in a condition to receive the final additions. These consist of a 
 special pig (11 per cent, of the whole charge) containing 4J per cent, of 
 silicon and 3J of manganese, and also a little ferro-mangauese contain- 
 ing 50 or 60 per cent, of the latter. A part of these ingredients is taken 
 up by reactions which prevent the formation of blow-holes; the re- 
 mainder is left in the metal to impart to it the physical qualities re- 
 quired. 
 
 The special pig is charged hot. While it is melting a marked change 
 takes place in the bath, which up to that time has bubbled about as 
 much as in the ordinary pig and scrap operation; it becomes gradually 
 more and more quiet, until its surface is smooth and scarcely broken by 
 small and widely-scattered bubbles. When the special pig is nearly all 
 melted the ferro manganese is thrown in hot. The casting takes place 
 immediately. The metal runs into the moulds without any splashing 
 and no escape of gas is noticed during the casting operation. 
 
 Spiegeleiseu is used for the initial bath because the manganese it con- 
 tains, being the most oxidizable of all the materials present, will remove 
 oxygen that may be present in the bath, and will intercept oxygen that 
 tends to enter it, so that the more manganese there is in the slag the 
 less oxygen there will be in the metal below. By testing the slag fre- 
 quently there is constantly present a delicate test of the oxidation of 
 the bath. If this precaution were not taken, and the oxygen were al- 
 lowed to go on accumulating in the bath, it would be impossible to tell 
 how much there is of it present when the final additions of silicon and 
 manganese are made, and how much of these substances would be re- 
 
30 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 moved in taking up this oxygen. Therefore oxygen must be kept out, 
 so that the whole of the ingredients finally added shall be left to per- 
 form their work. 
 
 The success that has thus far attended the development of this man- 
 ufacture indicates a useful and important future for the process. 
 
 PRESENT CONDITION OF FRENCH ARTILLERY. 
 
 The artillery of the army is under the control of the director of ar- 
 tillery in the war department. All guns for the field and for purposes 
 of siege and position are fabricated under instructions from this office. 
 
 The list of guns under these heads, now actually in use, comprises a 
 large number of models and varied constructions. This is the result of 
 the hurried manner in which, before the end of the last war, guns of all 
 available descriptions were collected by the Government. During late 
 years, while the re-arming of the country has been progressing, a system- 
 atic method of armament has been adopted ; but this has not, up to this 
 time, so far advanced as to justify the exclusion of the old guns from 
 the list of those in actual use. As the number of the new guns, how- 
 ever, shall increase they will be substituted for the old; consequently, 
 in presenting the present condition of the artillery of the army, the old 
 are alluded to only in a general way. 
 
 Omitting mention, then, of the bronze smooth-bore and bronze and 
 cast-iron rifled pieces of old date, the following may be stated as the 
 present armament of the artillery of the army : 
 
 Kilos. 
 
 80-inillimetre (piece de montagne), weighing 105 
 
 80-millimetre (piece de campagne), weighing 425 
 
 90-millimetre, weighing 530 
 
 95-millimetre, weighing 710 
 
 120-millimetre (piece de siege et position), weighing 1,200 
 
 155-millimetre (piece de siege et position), weighing 2,527 
 
 190-millimetre (piece de siege et position), weighing 8,000 
 
 240-millimetre, weighing 17,000 
 
 220-millimetre (steel rifled mortar). 
 Revolving cannon (model of 1879), Hotchkiss. 
 
 These guns, with the exception of the revolving cannon last named, 
 are all constructed on the system of Colonel de Bange, late of the army. 
 In addition to them, the army gun factories are employed in the manu- 
 facture of a large number of 24-centimetre guns which have a cast-iron 
 body tubed and hooped with steel. They are made to assist in arming 
 the coast. They are also much more economical than all-steel guns. 
 
 The ordnance of the navy is attached to a department in the ministry 
 of marine, called the u Direction of Material." The bureau of the artil- 
 lery of the navy is one of several bureaus under this " Direction," and 
 is presided over by an officer, " charge du service technique," who is 
 virtually the chief of naval artillery. This position is filled at present 
 by General Dard, an officer of great eminence in the marine artillery 
 of France. 
 
 The list of guns of the marine artillery comprises a large number of 
 calibers ; and the variety in their construction shows the growth and de- 
 velopment of the idea which has finally resulted in an armament for 
 the navy of guns constructed entirely of steel, including the following 
 calibers!, viz : 65 and 90 millimetres, 14, 16, 19, 24, 27, 32, 34, 37, and 42 
 centimetres. The Hotchkiss revolving cannon also forms an important 
 element in this armament. 
 
 Many of these guns, including some of 32 centimetres, are models of 
 
FRANCE. 3 L 
 
 previous years cast-iron bodies hooped with steel; cast-iron bodies 
 with half tubes of steel and hooped ; cast-iron bodies with steel tube 
 extending the whole length of the bore and hooped with steel all indi- 
 cating the persistent effort that has been heretofore made to utilize cast 
 iron. The other guns mentioned above are entirely of steel. 
 
 The marine artillery is engaged in the construction of a modification 
 of the 27-centimetre and 32-centimetre guns of model 1870, to be called 
 the model 1870-'81. They are to be of cast iron, tubed and hooped with 
 steel ; their length will be increased to fire heavier charges than the 
 model 1870, giving a velocity of 530 metres; < j ight 27-centimetre and 
 twenty-six 32-ceutimetre guns of this pattern are under construction. 
 
 The 37-centimetre and 42-centimetre guns were in hand when Gen- 
 eral Dard came into his present office, and will be completed. Their 
 weights, respectively, are 72 and 75 tons, and their construction is the 
 same. 
 
 Eight 42-centimetre guus are in process of construction, assigned to 
 the following turreted ships, viz: Indomptable, Requin, Terrible, Caiman. 
 
 One gun weighing 100 tons has been built by the marine artillery at 
 Euelle, but it is of 42-centimetre caliber, with the same sized tube as 
 that in the 75-ton gun. It is, in fact, the 42-centimetre gun, with a body 
 of cast iron instead of steel. Being constructed for the purpose of de- 
 ciding all the ballistic particulars of the 75-ton gun, cast-iron was em- 
 ployed for economic considerations. 
 
 The following are accepted by the bureau of marine artillery for the 
 future armaments of the navy, and will be entirely of steel, viz : 
 
 65-millimetre 
 
 90-millimetre 
 
 10-centimetre 
 
 Length in calibers. 
 
 14-centimetre shell gun 30 
 
 16-eentimetre (light), with one row of hoops 28 
 
 16-centimetre (heavy), with two rows of hoops 28 
 
 24-centimetre 28 
 
 27-centimetre 28-J 
 
 34-centiemtre, 44 tons weight 18 
 
 34-centimetre, 48 tons weight 21 
 
 34-centimetre, 49 tons weight 25 
 
 34-centimetre, 52 tons weight 28-J 
 
 Material. Although the gun factories of the army and marine 
 artillery are engaged in the fabrication of guns with cast-iron bodies, 
 and though Colonel de Bange. advocates puddled steel for hoops, the 
 effort to perpetuate the use of cast iron is now definitely abandoned as 
 far as the navy is concerned, and the employment of forged cast-steel 
 will be generally accepted. 
 
 Construction. The army guns are fabricated on the system of 
 Colonel de Bange. This construction requires an oil-tempered and an- 
 nealed steel tube with hoops shrunk on in such numbers and in as many 
 layers as are necessary to resist the strain brought on them by the 
 charge. The hoops are made of puddled steel, coiled and welded. This 
 construction is carried to the 240-millimetre gun, of which there are 
 very few in the service. 
 
 There is a serious effort on the part of the officers of the artillery to 
 introduce a change in the method of construction so as to have the hoops 
 made of forged steel, and it is thought that this may result in intro- 
 ducing a modification so far as to have the rear hoop, in which the 
 breech mechanism is seated, and the trunnion hoop made of forged 
 steel, while the coiled, puddled steel will be retained for the other parts. 
 
32 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 There are two constructions of the 34 centimetre gun of 21 calibers ; 
 one has a thick tube, with two rows of hoops ; in the other, a thin tube 
 is covered its entire length with a jacket of the same thickness as the 
 tube, and two tiers of hoops. These guns are intended to give an 
 initial velocity of 600 metres. 
 
 General Dard is experimenting in the direction of a larger caliber, and 
 has under construction a gun of 37 centimetres, of the following dimen- 
 sions, viz : 
 
 Diameter of bore centimetres . . 37 
 
 Diameter of chamber millimetres.. 3&5 
 
 Thickness of tube do 140 
 
 Thickness of jacket do 142. 5 
 
 Thickness of hoops (1st row) do 107.5 
 
 Thickness of hoops (2d row) do 132. 5 
 
 Total diameter do 1,430 
 
 Total length do.... 11,185 
 
 Length of bore do 10,545 
 
 Length of breech mechanism do 640 
 
 Weight of gtm tons.. 72 
 
 Weight of tube do 14.7 
 
 Weight of jacket do.... 16.4 
 
 Weight of ingot for tube do 20 
 
 This gun is entirely of steel and the tube is in one piece. From its 
 great length it is evident that a large charge of powder can be con- 
 sumed in it, but the proposed weight of charge and projectile is not 
 known. 
 
 The construction of the 37 and 42-centimetre guns consists of an in- 
 ner tube in one piece, on the rear end of which is screwed a short tube 
 accommodating the breech mechanism. The tube is enveloped in a 
 jacket, composed of two pieces hooked together forward of the trunn- 
 ions and inclosed by two layers of hoops. 
 
 The above presents, in a condensed form, the present condition of 
 construction in France. Particulars of most of these guns are pub- 
 lished and can be referred to at pleasure. The only new guns to be de- 
 veloped are those of General Dard and Colonel de Bauge, both of whom 
 propose a 34-centiinetre gun. Some particulars of the Dard gun have 
 been given above. 
 
 The de Bange gun is made up of an interior tube and three rows of 
 hoops, and the following are some of the particulars : 
 
 Caliber . centimetres . . 34 
 
 Weight tons . . 37 
 
 Charge of powder kilogrammes.. 180 
 
 Weight of projectile... do 450 
 
 Calculated velocity metres.. 610 
 
 Outside diameter at breech millimetres . . 940 
 
 Rows of hoops at breech do 3 
 
 Rows of hoops at muzzle do 3 
 
 Energy expected to be developed per ton of gun metre tons. . 230 
 
 Weight of carriage tons . . 24 
 
 Weight of Slide do.... 30 
 
 The high velocity and great energy claimed are said to be due to some 
 peculiarity of the cartridge. The novel feature, however, in the gun 
 lies in the manner in which it is proposed to insure longitudinal strength 
 by the grip of the hoops on the tube and on each other. The outer 
 surface of the tube presents a series of conical undulations; the inte- 
 rior surface of the first row of hoops corresponds with the form of that 
 portion of the tube which they envelop, and a similar form is carried 
 to the exterior of the hoop, thus continuing the same adjustment of 
 parts to the third layer, the outer surfaces of which are shaped to suit 
 the ordinary form of a gun. 
 

 FRANCE. 33 
 
 In this system each layer is made to break joint with that below and 
 above it. The inventor is erecting a special tool of his own invention, 
 said to be capable of such modifications as will enable it to perform all 
 the operations of boring, turning, slotting, rifling, &c., for which in or- 
 dinary manufacture several tools are required. The developments from 
 this experiment may prove very instructive, and will certainly be very 
 interesting. 
 
 Breech Ferineture. All the French guns are breech-loading 
 and are fitted with the interrupted screw system as modified by Colonel 
 de Bange to suit his gas-check. 
 
 Gas-Cheek. The de Bange gas-check is universally employed, the 
 tete -mobile of which is made of crucible steel supplied by Thomas 
 Firth & Sons of Sheffield, England. 
 
 Rifling*. The rifling is polygroove and parabolic in development. 
 The number of grooves is equal to twice the caliber of gun, expressed 
 in centimeters. 
 
 Rotating Rings. A single rotating ring of copper is used for all 
 calibers. Its exact position has been determined by extensive series of 
 experiments. 
 
 Wire Construction. The exponent of the system of wire- 
 wrapping for cannon in France is the Schultz gun. A 34-centimetre 
 gun made on the plan of Captain Schultz was built up as follows : A 
 steel tube was wrapped circumferentially with steel wire and inclosed 
 in a wrought-iron jacket ; the longitudinal strain and the effort to blow 
 out the breech was resisted by twelve longitudinal bars of steel set up at 
 as equal a tension as possible between two bands shrunk on over the 
 jacket, the forward carrying the trunnions and the rear inclosing the 
 breech mechanism. The gun was made at the works of the Compagnie 
 de Fives-Lille, under the supervision of Captain Schultz, and was sent 
 to Gavre to be fired. Owing to the unequal tension of the longitudinal 
 bars the gun failed at the first fire. The cause of the failure can be 
 thus distinctly asserted as the sound of the successive ruptures of the 
 bars was recognized by those who assisted at the experiment. 
 
 Previous to its trial, and in anticipation of success, four cast-iron guns 
 of 24 centimetres were sent to Fives- Lille to be converted on the same 
 principle. They are tubed with steel as far as the trunnions, and are 
 wrapped with wire. The longitudinal bars are yet to be adjusted, after 
 which they will be subjected to trial, with but faint hopes of success, 
 as the failure of the original gun seems to have indicated very posi- 
 tively the mechanical impossibility of securing an equal strain on the 
 longitudinal bars. The contract, however, having been made for the 
 conversion of the four guns above named, it will be carried on to its 
 completion. 
 
 For future construction, however, the system of taking up the longi- 
 tudinal effort with bars is abandoned, and the 34-centimetre gun now 
 at Gavre is to be returned to Fives-Lille* for reconstruction. This will 
 consist in replacing the bars with a jacket shrunk on over the wire 
 wrappings, and which, at its forward end, will hook over the band al- 
 ready shrunk on the gun, and at its rear end be notched into the band 
 containing the breech mechanism. 
 
 A gun of 10 centimetres built upon this system is now being experi- 
 mented with at Gavre, and the results have been sufficiently satisfac- 
 tory to justify enlarging the chamber for the purpose of testing the gun 
 with increased charges. 
 
 The above exhibits the present condition of this problem in France. 
 
 H. Ex. 97 3 
 
34 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 GERMANY. 
 
 Among the places that the Board desired to visit in Europe was in- 
 cluded the famous establishment of Mr. Fried. Krupp, at Essen, in 
 Westphalia; and, as in all cases where it was proposed to visit private 
 works, a letter was addressed to Mr. Krupp, through his agent in 
 London, requesting the necessary permission. 
 
 The permission was refused. The correspondence relating to this sub- 
 ject will be found in the files attached to the record of proceedings and 
 in Appendices O, P, Q, E, S, T, U, V, of this report. 
 
 From the above statement it will be seen that the Board is unable to 
 submit any information founded upon personal observation. For the 
 general purposes, however, of this report the following statements will 
 be appropriate : 
 
 With the exception of the small gun factory at Spaudau, near Berlin r 
 where a limited number of cannon up to 15 centimetres and some 
 rifled mortars are fabricated, the source from which the armaments of 
 Germany are supplied is the establishment of Mr. Fried.. Krupp. 
 The Government has no control over the works, consequently the prin- 
 cipal dependence is on this private company. Owing to the great en- 
 terprise exhibited in the management, and to the support of the Gov- 
 ernment, the establishment has, for many years, enjoyed a monopoly of 
 the manufacture of cannon for Germany and it has been enabled to 
 furnish guns to many other powers, notably to Eussia. 
 
 As to the condition of the steel manufacture as relates to cannon, it 
 is known that it was the practice to cast gun ingots exclusively of steel 
 prepared in crucibles ; ingots of the weight of 80 tons have been cast 
 from crucibles more than 12 years ago. The Board is not able to state 
 whether gun ingots are now cast exclusively from crucibles or whether 
 they are now made from open-hearth furnaces. 
 
 The following is the present condition of the German artillery, taken 
 from official sources : 
 
 Calibers. 
 
 8-centimetre pivot-canDon 
 
 8.4-centimetre-field-gun 25. 6 
 
 8.7-centimetre 50 
 
 10.5-centimetre 
 
 10.5-centimetre 35 
 
 10.7-centimetre pivot-cannon 
 
 12-centimetre, navy and coast, light 25 
 
 12-centimetre 30 
 
 15-centimetre pivot-cannon 
 
 15-centimetre siege-gun 
 
 15-centimetre, navy and coast 25 
 
 15-centimetre 30 
 
 15- centimetre, navy and coast 35 
 
 21-centimetre , 30 
 
 21-centimetre mortar - 
 
 24-centimetre, 19 tons 30 
 
 24-centimetre, 21 tons 35 
 
 26-centimetre 35 
 
 28-centimetre 35 
 
 30.5-centimetre, light, 32 tons 25 
 
 30.5-centimetre, heavy 25 
 
 30.5-centimetre, 43 tons 30 
 
 30.5-centimetre, navy and coast, 48 tons 35 
 
 35. 5- centimetre, 51 tons 25 
 
 35.5-centimetre, 68 tons 30 
 
 35.5-centimetre, 76 tons 35 
 
 40-centimetre, 72 tons 25 
 
 40-centimetre, 97 tons 30 
 
 40-centimetre, 109 tons 35 
 
GERMANY. 35 
 
 The power of the Krupp gun is best illustrated by the reports of 
 firings that took place at Meppen in 1879 and subsequently. These 
 reports are available for reference. 
 
 The material used in the construction of the Krupp guns is steel. 
 
 The system of construction is that of a built-up gun, with tube and 
 hoops. In the larger guns of latest design the first hoop shrunk on 
 the rear of the tube is lengthened, resembling the jacket of the Vavas- 
 seur design. 
 
 The fermeture is the cylindro-prismatic wedge, modified from the orig- 
 inal invention of Mr. Broad well, and adopted by Mr. Krupp. The gas- 
 check is also the invention of Mr. Broad well and bears his name. 
 
 The Board can give no information upon the subject of wire-construc- 
 tion in Germany. 
 
 The essential point to be observed in this short notice is that the main 
 supply of the artillery of Germany is drawn from one private firm. In 
 this respect the method differs froin that followed either in England or 
 in France. It goes without saying that the Government pays a high 
 price for the manufactured article. 
 
 RUSSIA. 
 
 SOURCES FROM WHICH THE ARMAMENT OF RUSSIA IS SUPPLIED, 
 
 The Government of Kussia has been an extensive purchaser of can- 
 non from Mr. Krupp, at Essen ; but, after adopting the Krupp gun for 
 its armament, it proceeded to manufacture on that system for its own 
 uses. 
 
 The course pursued to produce a supply from home manufacture was 
 that of joint action between the Government and a private firm. The 
 large steel works of Aboukhoff, near St. Petersburg, was the establish- 
 ment with which the Government entered into partnership, becoming 
 the owner of one-third of the stock. The Government is represented in 
 the board of directors, the works are in the hands of the Minister of 
 Marine and Admiral Kolokoltzoff is the chief administrator or superin- 
 tendent. At the commencement of the joint action, the Government 
 contributed largely to increase the plant by providing tools suitable for 
 its work, and very substantial aid has been provided from time to time. 
 
 The substance of this statement was collected from parties with whom 
 intercourse was held, who did not, in distinct words, condemn the prac- 
 tice under which the Government has been acting since it commenced 
 to manufacture its own guns, but they evidently held the idea that the 
 condition of affairs would be much improved if the Government had 
 absolute control of the works. In order to achieve this object it was 
 understood that the Government is soon to acquire such additional 
 stock as will make it owner of about two-thirds of the whole. When 
 this shall be accomplished it is thought that the Government will be 
 able to produce its guns at less expense than is now incurred. 
 
 It was freely admitted that the material produced under this system 
 of joint action has been at great cost, but the Government has recon- 
 ciled itself by the conviction that the product was of first-class quality 
 and better than could be procured from other sources at less expense. 
 The ground is taken that, in a matter so important as armament, high 
 price is not to be considered an obstacle to the possession of the best guns 
 
36 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 that can be produced, and the authorities believe they have attained 
 this object in their manufacture. 
 
 This experience of the Russian Government in its joint action with 
 the Aboukhoff Steel Works bears directly upon one of the most impor- 
 tant points that the Board is required to consider, viz, "any other 
 method " apart from a Government foundry, pure and simple, by which 
 cannon can be provided ; and the results above cited demonstrate that 
 in this combination in Russia, as in that between the English Govern- 
 ment and the Els^ick Ordnance Company, the Government must always 
 expect to bear the loss 
 
 The acquisition of additional stock may give the Government such 
 control in the direction of the business of the works as to smooth the 
 way to its possession of the whole. This seems to be the natural con- 
 clusion of the process now in operation, and its consummation would be 
 a declaration of the practical failure of the plan inaugurated at the com- 
 mencement. The experience of joint action between the Government 
 and a private firm in Russia does not encourage the experiment in our 
 own country. 
 
 Nearly the entire production of steel for cannon is distributed be- 
 tween the Aboukhoff Steel Works and the Kama, near Perm (in the Ural 
 Mountains), but the product of the former is the more considerable. 
 Among others, the Izuoskof and Alexandroff private steel works (both 
 near St. Petersburg) manufacture projectiles, and as the Government 
 diminishes its contracts abroad they will develop their plants to meet 
 the demands for gun material. 
 
 Russian Artillery-Gun Factory. Although the amount of 
 field artillery and siege pieces in the possession of the Government is 
 very large the work of manufacture is actively progressing, and the 
 Russian Artillery Gun-Factory in St. Petersburg is constantly occu- 
 pied in the construction of guns up to and including the 8-inch, and rifled 
 mortars of 9-inch caliber. This factory is well supplied with tools, has 
 a capacity to turn out 70 field guns per month and is rapidly replacing 
 the older models on hand ; but its plant is not equal to all the work de- 
 manded of it. The deficiencies are supplemented by the Aboukhoff 
 Works. 
 
 A hou k hof I* \Vorks. The Aboukhoff Works, which include the 
 manufacture of steel on a large scale and the fabrication of cannon 
 of all calibers, both for the army and the navy, are situated in the al- 
 luvial basin of the ^S"eva River, where good foundations are to be had 
 only at great expense. The excavation for the 50-ton hammer was car- 
 ried down 50 feet before moderately hard bottom (gravel) was reached. 
 This cause has added largely to the general'cost of construction of the 
 works. 
 
 The shops are extensive and numerous, but as they have been erected 
 as needed, without regard to any general plan, they furnish no guide for 
 constructing a new establishment. The largest gun shop is 700 feet 
 long and 70 feet wide, with the tools disposed longitudinally. The sever- 
 ity of the climate has rendered it necessary to seal overhead with wood, 
 and from this cause the shop is not so well lighted as is usual in Eu- 
 rope. The plant is of good quality and is being extensively developed. 
 In the foundry advantage has been taken of the undulations of the 
 ground to place the forge at a lower level than the furnaces, thus con- 
 veniently providing for the transportation of the hot ingots by railway 
 direct from the bottom of the casting pit to the hammers. The capacity 
 for casting reaches from 40 to 50 tons, requiring 1,200 crucibles. 
 
RUSSIA. 37 
 
 CONDITION OF STEEL MANUFACTURE. 
 
 There can be no question as to the character of the ore from which 
 the metal used for cannon in Russia is produced. The Russian mines, 
 from which much of it is obtained, are situated in the Ural Mountains 
 on the border of Siberia. The ore is smelted with charcoal, and the 
 iron is fully equal to the famed iron of Sweden. It is received at the 
 Aboukhoff Works in the form of cast and wrought iron. Use is also 
 made of the best Swedish and Spanish iron. 
 
 The puddled steel, which is the basis of the Russian gun-metal, is 
 prepared at Perm and at the Aboukhoff Works, The steel for casting 
 all gun tubes, jackets and large hoops, is prepared in crucibles. A por- 
 tion of the magnetic ore, which is found in the Ural, is one of the ele- 
 ments introduced into the crucibles and is said to have a beneficial 
 effect upon the mixture. 
 
 Hoops for some small guns are made of Bessemer steel, the charge 
 being selected from the best Ural and Swedish ores. The Siemens- 
 Martin Process is restricted to the manufacture of small ingots, being 
 regarded with much less favor than crucible castings. 
 
 The most important improvement which has recently been introduced 
 is Sir Joseph Whitworth's system of liquid compression. The advan- 
 tages of this press have been alluded to in a former part of this report 
 and need not be again recited. At the Aboukhoff Works, the effect of 
 liquid compression is considered as very beneficial, and the impression 
 was received that the system of forging by the press would also have 
 been adopted if there had not already been established at the works 
 one of the largest and most expensive hammers in the world, the tup 
 of which weighs 50 tons, with a fall of 12 feet. 
 
 PRESENT CONDITION OF RUSSIAN ARTILLERY. 
 
 Russia has adopted the Krupp breech-loading system with slight 
 modifications for all calibers, but a few guns fitted with the French in- 
 terrupted screw were noted. Steel alone is used for new fabrications. 
 
 The heavy ordnance for naval and sea coast defense is designed to 
 give velocities from 1,700 to 1,800 feet; but experiments to gain an in- 
 crease, by lengthening the bore, are in progress. The following are the 
 principal calibers: 
 
 12-inch 40-ton guns, 20 calibers long, are adapted for arming the 
 "Peter the Great" and the u Popoff" one, 30 calibers in length, weigh- 
 ing 50 tons, and burning 390 pounds of powder, is now under trial. 
 
 11-inch 27-ton guns, 22 calibers long, are used in several turret ships 
 and in sea-coast batteries. The tube requires a 30- ton ingot. 
 
 There are also many naval 9 inch, 8 inch, and 6 inch guns about 22 
 calibers long, in service; but the models will soon be modified by in- 
 creasing the length. For laud fortresses the 6 inch gun is the prevail- 
 ing type. Most siege guns on hand are of bronze, but a new steel pat- 
 tern will be adopted for future fabrication. 
 
 A recent accident gave a severe test to the system of construction 
 adopted for Russian artillery. In experimenting with gun-cotton for 
 use in shells, one of the latter, containing 40 pounds, exploded in the 
 chamber of an 11-inch gun when the charge of gunpowder (128 pounds) 
 was fired. The rear part of the breech was blown off at the weak point 
 of the Krupp system. The trunnion-baud was broken, throwing off 
 a fragment j and the diameter of the chamber was enlarged 1 inch. The 
 
38 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 admirable quality of the metal, and the good adjustment of the strength 
 of the several parts is evident from this statement. 
 
 In testing steel no value is attached to the ultimate breaking stress 
 or percentage of elongation ; and the computations are all based on the 
 elastic limit which is determined by noting where the increasing stresses 
 and elongations cease to be proportional. This must never occur be- 
 low 2,400 atmospheres (16 tons per square inch). 
 
 'oii*t ruction. All field guns are of steel, and are mounted on a 
 carriage fitted with rubber buffers to reduce the shock. 
 
 The special novelty of the Eussian ordnance is a thin steel lining tube, 
 designed to receive the wear in firing and to be renewed when needful, 
 without the expense and difficulty of re-tubing. This system is adopted 
 for all calibers from the smallest up to the 12-ruch gun, inclusive. The 
 operation of inserting one of these lining tubes . in a field gun was 
 witnessed at Aboukhoff. The difference of their diameters was very 
 small. The fitting of the slightly conical surfaces by measurement be- 
 fore insertion was done with precision. 
 
 When ready for insertion the lining tube was lubricated and intro- 
 duced by hand. It was forced by hand levers until the end was nearly 
 flush with the breech ; hydraulic power then applied by a hand-pump 
 was gradually increased to a pressure of 180 atmospheres, although no 
 motion was apparent after it had reached 100 atmospheres. The rear 
 end of the lining tube forms the recess for the Broad well ring. 
 
 The Kussian officers claim that these tubes can be renewed in the field, 
 and cited instances of two 9-inch mortars, weighing 5J tons each, needed 
 for use on the Danube during the late war. Being too heavy for the 
 available means of transportation they were forwarded in three pieces 
 a tube, a breech -jacket and a muzzle-jacket. The two latter were 
 screwed together, and the tube was inserted by a jack on the spot ; both 
 mortars did excellent service. 
 
 Sheets of recent unpublished experiments were exhibited, showing the 
 locus of the varying pressure in the bore of a long 4.2-inch gun. These 
 pressures were measured by Eodman gauges in the usual way, special 
 care being taken to place the part acted upon by the gas nearly flush 
 with the bore. The results thus far have proved quite accordant and 
 very interesting, indicating that as the distance from the bottom of the 
 bore increases the pressures at first decrease a little, and then rapidly 
 increase to a maximum at a point slightly in rear of that originally oc- 
 cupied by the front band of the projectile. Here the pressure is nearly 
 double that at the bottom of the bore, and evidently is increased by the 
 reaction from the shot at the instant of taking the grooves. This investi- 
 gation has much importance in connection with the problem of the best 
 form and dimensions for the powder chamber. The experiments are to 
 be continued with a 16-inch 80-ton steel gun made at Aboukhoff and 
 fitted for this purpose. It is 22 calibers long and constructed in the fol- 
 lowing manner, viz.: tube in one piece ; jacket in three parts extending 
 to muzzle ; four layers of hoops and a fifth hoop over the breech. It is 
 pierced at various points to receive the gauges. 
 
 An experimental 11-inch 47-ton all-steel gun, 35 calibers long, consist- 
 ing of tube, jacket in two parts extending to muzzle, and three layers of 
 tapering hoops, was ready for trial. 
 
 Rotating* Ring'*. Projectiles are fitted with two copper bands, 
 the front one to give a uniform bearing and the rear to take the rifling. 
 Both are made of rods hammered into place by hand, because this is 
 supposed to give a better hold than can be had by machinery. 
 
 The experiments with Russian artillery are made at the Polygon at 
 
THE UNITED STATES. 39 
 
 Ochta, near St. Petersburg. The grounds afford a range of about 7 
 miles, and the establishment of the navy, under Admiral Kouprianoff, 
 and of the army, under General Erme, are side by side, so that each 
 service can always witness what is done by the other. A 12-inch 50-ton 
 rifle, an 11-inch and several smaller guns were in position at our visit. 
 
 THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 SOURCES FROM WHICH THE ARMANENT OF THE UNITED STATES IS 
 
 SUPPLIED. 
 
 Previous to and during the civil war the armaments of the United 
 States were supplied from 
 
 The Cold Spring Foundry, West Point, K Y. 
 
 The South Boston Iron Works, Boston, Mass. 
 
 The Fort Pitt Foundry, Pittsburgh, Pa, 
 
 The Eeading Iron Works, Eeading, Pa. 
 
 The Builders' Iron Foundry, Providence, E. I. 
 
 The Phcenix Iron Company, Phcenixville, Pa. 
 
 The Ames Manufacturing Company, Chicopee, Mass. 
 
 Since the termination of the war the Fort Pitt Foundry has ceased 
 to exist. The South Boston Iron Works Company has manufactured 
 a few experimental guns, and with the West Point Foundry has executed 
 some small orders of the Government iu the conversion of cast-iron 
 smooth-bores into rifle guns by inserting and rifling a coiled wrought 
 iron tube. 
 
 None of the companies mentioned above have ever made steel guns, 
 and virtually the United States is destitute of a source from which such 
 an armament as the age demands can be supplied. 
 
 CONDITION OF STEEL MANUFACTURE. 
 
 With a view to such experiments as their appropriations would justify, 
 the Ordnance Bureaus of the War and Navy Departments have from 
 time to time addressed the steel manufacturers of the country on the 
 subject of furnishing steel for cannon, but thus far have met with only 
 a partial success. 
 
 The reasons for this will be noticed farther on in this report, but the 
 fact is here stated to emphasize the conclusion that the immense steel 
 works of the United States, from lack of demand for this special mate- 
 rial, have not the necessary plant for forging, and are in no condition at 
 present to manufacture steel for cannon in such quantities and in such 
 sizes as are essential for a suitable armament for the country. 
 
 PRESENT CONDITION OF THE ARTILLERY OF THE UNITED STATES. 
 
 To recite under this heading the present armament of the country is 
 unnecessary. Before the introduction of rifled cannon and the use of 
 steel as the material for their construction, the United States boasted 
 of her Dahlgren and Eodman cast-iron guns, which were the models 
 for imitation and the standards for comparison of all nations. 
 
 While the rest of the world has advanced with the progress of the 
 age, the artillery of the United States has made no step forwards. Its 
 present condition of inferiority is only the natural result of such want 
 of action. 
 
40 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 COST OF PLANT FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF GUNS. 
 
 From information gained in its investigations and from consultation 
 with the managers of those large establishments abroad where gun 
 tools are made, the Board submits the following estimates. 
 
 As it will recommend that " for the manufacture of heavy ordnance 
 adapted to modern warfare," the steel should be produced by private 
 companies and the guns fabricated in Government shops, these estimates 
 will be made under three heads, viz : 
 
 Machines and tools for steel plant. 
 
 Machines and tools for gun factory. 
 
 Buildings. 
 
 MACHINES A1D TOOLS FOR STEEL PLANT. 
 
 On the matter of plant for casting and forging the Board obtained 
 information chiefly from Sir Joseph Whitworth &.Co., of Manchester, 
 and from Messrs. Tannett, Walker & Co., of Leeds, England. 
 
 The following is an approximate cost of plant for casting and forging 
 ingots up to 100 tons, submited by Tannett, Walker & Co. : 
 
 Sixteen groups (4 each) gas producers. 
 
 Ten 12-ton Siemens furnaces. 
 
 Two large reheating furnaces. 
 
 Five 24-ton hydraulic center-casting cranes. 
 
 Six 5-ton ingot cranes. 
 
 Two 170-ton and two 30-ton power traveling cranes, 50 feet span, with engines. 
 
 Two 24 feet by 19 feet hydraulic accumulators. 
 
 Two pairs pumping engines; either 18 inches by 24 inches (single), or 15 inches by 
 28 inches by 24 inches (compound). 
 
 One overhead tank. 
 
 Pipes for above hydraulic cranes. 
 
 One 3,000-ton hydraulic press. 
 
 One pair pumping engines for working press. 
 
 Total cost, exclusive of buildings, about $300,000. 
 
 This estimate does not include tools for rough boring or turning, nor 
 appliances for tempering. 
 
 The additional cost of these tools and appliances should be added as 
 forming part of the expenses properly belonging to the foundry. As 
 will appear hereafter, the cost of a complete plant for rough boring and 
 turning, including all guns up to 100 tons, will be about $210,000; the 
 tempering pit, furnaces, &c., will cost about $50,000 ; which, exclusive 
 of buildings, would, upon the estimate of Tannett, Walker & Co., make 
 the total cost of a plant capable of casting, forging, rough boring, rough 
 turning and tempering the parts of guns up to 100 tons, about $560,000. 
 
 The following is an estimate from another source, for a 100-ton ingot 
 steel plant, confined exclusively to the process of casting: 
 
 Eight 15-ton Siemens furnaces, with platform and producers complete. 
 
 Two ordinary travelers for ingot-pit. 
 
 Eight 15-ton'ladles. 
 
 Railway metal and laying. 
 
 Hydraulic cranes. 
 
 Cost, exclusive of buildings, about $215,000. 
 
 The following is an approximate price of a plant for casting and forg- 
 ing 72- ton ingots: 
 
 Ten groups (4 each) gas producers. 
 
 Six 12-ton Siemens furnaces. 
 
 Two large reheating furnaces. 
 
 Three 24-ton hydraulic center- casting cranes. 
 
MACHINES AND TOOLS. 41 
 
 Pipes for hydraulic cranes. 
 
 Four 5-ton ingot cranes. 
 
 Two 100-ton and two 30-ton power traveling cranes, 50 feet span, with engines. 
 
 Two 18-feet by 19 feet hydraulic accumulators. 
 
 Two pairs pumping engines, either 18 inches by 24 inches (single), or 15 inches by 
 
 28 inches by 24 inches (compound). 
 One overhead tank. 
 One 3,000-ton hydraulic press. 
 One pair pumping engines for working press. 
 Cost, exclusive oi' buildings, about $205,000. 
 
 The following is an estimate submitted by Sir Joseph Whitworth for 
 a plant for casting 60 ton ingots: 
 
 Three 20-ton melting furnaces, including all steel and iron work, all silica and fire- 
 bricks, valves, levers, stages, ladles, apparatus for making clay used in the moulds 
 and ladles, the iron work and all lire-bricks for gas producers* a competent man ta 
 superintend erection, but exclusive of all common bricks, brick-setting, excavating, 
 &c., $70,000. 
 
 This plant, if supplied with a sufficient number of re-heating furnaces 
 and kept in full work, would be capable of turning out 150 to 200 tons 
 of large gun material per week. 
 
 The following are estimates submitted by Sir Joseph Whitworth for 
 forging presses : 
 
 A 34-inch hydraulic forging press, complete with its engines, pumps, boilers, two 
 hydraulic traveling cranes, two re-heating furnaces with hydraulic apparatus for raising 
 the doors. An assortment of steel chucks, mandrels, draw-bars, porter bars, swage 
 and other blocks for enlarging and reducing hoops, &c., apparatus for withdrawing 
 mandrels, &c., $200.000. 
 
 A 24-inch hydraulic forging press, complete in all details, as in the case of the large 
 one already cited, will cost about $140,000. 
 
 The forging press, though not a new idea, has been but little used j 
 in fact, to this time, it has been adopted in but one large establishment 
 in the world ; consequently its manufacture is costly. Its general adop- 
 tion is now a matter of certainty, and its cost will no doubt be reduced f 
 hence, it is probable that a 36-inch forging press with cranes, engines, 
 pumps, accumulators, &c., exclusive of buildings, may be obtained for 
 $150,000. 
 
 If the system of liquid compression should be adopted, the additional 
 cost of a hydraulic casting press, complete, including steel mould boxes, 
 overhead hydraulic traveling cranes to lift 100 tons, including columns- 
 and girders, and complete in every respect, except masonry and brick- 
 work, would be $175,000. 
 
 The following is an estimate of the cost of tools for rough boring and 
 turning the parts of guns for all calibers up to 16 inches : 
 
 One rough-turning lathe for tubes and jackets up to 12-inch caliber. 
 
 Three rough-boring lathes for same. 
 
 One rough-turning lathe for tubes and jackets up to 16-inch caliber. 
 
 Two rough-boring lathes for same. 
 
 One 100-ton power traveling crane. 
 
 One 20-ton power traveling crane. 
 
 Tools for the above, including: 
 
 Assorted tools for rough-turning lathes. 
 
 Forged cast-steel boring bars with head and steel cutters for boring tubes out of the 
 solid. 
 
 Forged cast-steel bars for boring jackets. 
 
 Sets of tools for each of the hoop and trunnion lathes, and for the slotting ma- 
 chines. 
 
 The total cost will be about $210,000. 
 
 If a complete set of trepanning tools were to be furnished for the 
 work of rough boring, the additional cost will be about $50,000. The 
 first cost of these tools is very great, as they are made from very large 
 
42 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 ingots of cast steel, oil tempered, which have to be bored and turned 
 almost entirely away. 
 
 The above estimates respond to the call of the act of Congress so far 
 a,s relates to cost of a steel plant for the manufacture of the heaviest 
 guns, and will answer some of the inquiries of, and serve as a guide for, 
 th*ose of our steel manufacturers who shall undertake to supply the 
 Government with the required material for modern artillery. 
 
 As the greater includes the less, it may be taken for granted that no 
 plant for smaller work can equal the above estimate. The scale of 
 diminution in proportion to the weight of metal and capacity of cranes, 
 presses, &c., may be approximated, and the following list of weight of 
 forgings required for different calibers in the English service will assist 
 the calculation : 
 
 Particulars of forgings for English gun tubes. 
 
 Weight- and caliber of gun. 
 
 Weight of ingot cast. 
 
 Weight of forging for : Model 
 
 LllDG. 
 
 
 
 
 
 110 tons 
 
 About 100 tons 
 
 70 tons . . . 
 
 New. 
 
 100 tons 17 inches .. . 
 
 C Breech part, 27 tons 
 
 21 tons, 2 cwt ? 
 
 Old. 
 
 80 tons 16 inches . . . . . ... 
 
 } Muzzle part, 15 tons . . . 
 21 tons 
 
 12 tons, 11 cwt > 
 17 tons 7 cwt 
 
 Old. 
 
 
 35 tons 
 
 27 tons 17 cwt 
 
 New. 
 
 43 tons 12 inches 
 
 27 tons 
 
 21 tons . 
 
 New. 
 
 26 tons 10.2 inches . . 
 
 14 tons 
 
 11 tons, 10 cwt 
 
 New. 
 
 18 tons 9 2 inches 
 
 12^ tons 
 
 10 tons 5 cwt 
 
 New. 
 
 11J tons 8 inches 
 
 10i tons 
 
 8 tons 
 
 New. 
 
 60 cwt 6 inches 
 
 
 3 tons 12| cwt 
 
 
 38 cwt 50-pounder 
 
 2^ tons 
 
 1 ton 18icwt 
 
 
 22 cwt 4-po under ... . . 
 
 1 ton 
 
 1 ton, 2J cwt 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The forging for the 100-ton gun cited above is that which was sup- 
 plied for the Armstrong gun furnished the Italian Government, the tube 
 for which was made in two parts. That for the 110-ton gun now to be 
 made for the English Government will be in one forging. 
 
 If the cost per ton be fixed for the smaller guns, and an increasing 
 ratio be established per ton as the caliber increases, the approximate 
 cost of the forgings for guns of like pattern can be determined. 
 
 From an inspection of the table given above it will be seen that it is 
 within the resources of many of our own steel works to supply castings 
 for a large number of the different calibers. These works, however, 
 are deficient in forging apparatus. 
 
 In the above estimates the cost of a steam hamine.r is not given, as the 
 Board unanimously approves the adoption of the press ; but it will be 
 pertinent to add that, in order to produce a given amount of work, the 
 hammer is the more expensive tool. 
 
 MACHINES AND TOOLS FOR GUN FACTORY. 
 
 On the matter of plant for gun factory the Board obtained informa- 
 tion from the principal gun facories of England, France and Russia, 
 where machines and tools are in operation, and from the largest estab- 
 lishments where such tools are made, but chiefly from Messrs. Green- 
 wood &Batley, of Leeds, Mr. Hulze& Co., of Manchester, and Messrs. 
 Yarrell, Elwell & Middleton, of Paris. 
 
 In considering this part of the subject it was decided that there were 
 three classes into which guns could be advantageously divided in ref- 
 erence to tools suitable for their fabrication, viz : 
 
 (I.) Guns of 6-iuch and all below that caliber. 
 
 (II.) Guns from 6-inch to 12 -inch caliber. 
 
 (III.) Guns of caliber greater than 12 inches. 
 
MACHINES AND TOOLS. 43 
 
 It was necessary to adopt a tool as a unit on which to base the calcu- 
 lation that should determine the number of tools required under the 
 above classes. The rifling machine was the unit adopted. The object 
 was to so proportion the numbers of each tool as to keep the rifling ma- 
 chine constantly employed. 
 
 In the solution of this problem the Board has had the advantage of 
 the able assistance of the firm of Greenwood & Batley, of Leeds, Eng- 
 land, whose tools were seen in all the large gun factories visited, in 
 Europe. They have speut much time and incurred much expense in pro- 
 viding plans and estimates and have communicated most valuable con- 
 fidential information. The following estimates, stated in a general way, 
 are the results, and the Board is confident of the essential accuracy. 
 
 (I.) COST OF GUN FACTORY PLANT UP TO G-INCH CALIBER. 
 
 This plant does not include rough boring and turning lathes for tabes, 
 jackets, and hoops ; these parts are supposed to be supplied ready for 
 finishing. It includes : 
 
 Two finish turning lathes. 
 
 Three finish boring lathes. 
 
 One lathe to chamber, cut breech-screws, &c. 
 
 One rifling machine. 
 
 One milling and drilling machine. 
 
 One 10-ton power traveling crane. 
 
 Tools for above, including 
 
 A set of turning tools for each finish turning lathe. 
 
 One boring bar with head and cast-steel tools for boring lathes. 
 
 OUQ chambering bar with cutting tools. 
 
 One steel bar and cutting tools for screw-nutting and shaping out spaces. 
 
 One hollow rifling bar with cutter, adjustment, and catting tools. 
 
 Milling cutters and mortice drills for milling and drilling machines. 
 
 The total cost will be about $50,000. 
 
 This plant is capable of producing one 6-inch gun per week, or a pro- 
 portionally larger number of smaller calibers. 
 
 ,,, 
 
 (II.) COST OF GUN FACTORY PLANT UP TO 12-iNCH CALIBER. 
 
 This plant does not include rough boring and turning; the parts are 
 supposed to be supplied ready for finishing. It includes: 
 
 One finish turning lathe. 
 
 Three finish boring, turning, and chambering lathes. 
 
 One machine to cut breech-screw, &c. 
 
 One rifling machine. 
 
 One milling and drilling machine. 
 
 Four combined boring and turning face lathes for hoops. 
 
 One combined boring and turning face lathe for trunnion hoops. 
 
 One combined boring and turning lathe for trunnions. 
 
 One slotting machine for trunnion hoops. 
 
 One 40-ton power traveling crane. 
 
 Tools for the above, including 
 
 Cast-iron tubes with steel head and cutter for finish boring tubes. 
 
 Cast-iron tube with steel head and cutters for finish boring jackets. 
 
 One chambering bar. 
 
 Fifty assorted turning tools for finisli turning lathes and machine for cutting breech 
 screw and spaces. 
 
 Cast-iron hollow rifling bar with cutter head, adjustments, steel tube for actuating 
 tool, and cutting tools. 
 
 Four milling cutters and mortise drills for milling and drilling machine. 
 
 The total cost will be about f 150,000. 
 
 This plant is capable of producing one 12-inch gun every three weeks, 
 or a proportionally larger number of smaller calibers. 
 
44 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 (III.) COST OF GUN FACTORY PLANT UP TO 16 -INCH CALIBER. 
 
 This plant does not include rough-boring and turning; the parts are 
 supposed to be supplied ready for finishing. It includes : 
 
 Two finish turning lathes. 
 
 Three finish boring, turning, and chambering lathes. 
 
 One machine to cut breech- screw, &c. 
 
 One rifling machine. 
 
 One milling and drilling machine. 
 
 Four combined boring and turning face lathes for hoops. 
 
 Four combined boring and turning face lathes for trunnion hoops. 
 
 One combined boring and turning lathe for trunnions. 
 
 One slotting machine for trunnion hoops. 
 
 One 100-ton power traveling crane. 
 
 Tools for the above, including 
 
 Two cast-iron tubes with steel boring head and cutters for finish boring tubes. 
 
 One cast-iron tube with steel boring head and cutters for finish boring jackets. 
 
 One steel chambering bar. 
 
 Fifty assorted turning tools for finish turning lathes and machine for cutting breech- 
 screw and spaces. 
 
 One cast-iron hollow rifling bar with cutter head, adjustments, steel tube for actu- 
 ating tool, and cutting tools. 
 
 Four milling cutters and mortise drills for the milling and drilling machines. 
 
 The total cost will be about $350,000. 
 
 This plant will produce one 16-inch gun per 'month, or a proportion- 
 ally larger number of smaller calibers. In the room allotted to shrink- 
 ing on the jackets and hoops, there will be required an additional travel- 
 ing crane capable of handling guns of the heaviest weight, which will 
 cost about $17,500. 
 
 From these estimates, the cost of equipping a gun factory capable of 
 producing guns from the lowest caliber up to 16 inches, will be about 
 $570,000. 
 
 If the tools mentioned above are to be made in the United States, 
 these estimates would have to be largely increased, because there has 
 been tio demand to especially direct the attention of our manufacturers 
 to them; from this want of experience great delay and expense would 
 result in the preparation of plans, specifications and patterns. 
 
 A wise policy would seem to demand that the tools required in this 
 first plant should be purchased from those parties abroad who have had 
 the most valuable experience in their manufacture. 
 
 Building's. At most of the establishments visited by the Board, 
 the buildings have been constructed successively to meet increasing de- 
 mands for space; and they therefore do not exhibit that systematic study 
 which naturally would be demanded in planning a new gun factory. 
 In such a problem the first step would be to decide upon the tools to be 
 ordered, and their most convenient arrangement, and then the architect 
 would be able to design the most suitable buildings. 
 
 As the Board will recommend that the manufacture of the metal and 
 the fabrication of the guns shall be separately considered, and that the 
 work shall be done at different localities, it has regarded the proposi- 
 tion of detailed plans for the buildings as inexpedient, not only because 
 there would be little probability of their final adoption, but also because 
 the time required for the estimates would materially delay the comple- 
 tion of the report. The subject, therefore, will be treated in a general 
 manner. The following are the most important points developed by ex- 
 perience in Europe : 
 
 1st. Substantial foundations. 
 
 2d. Strong, but economical, superstructures secure against destruc- 
 tion by fire. 
 
BUILDINGS. 45 
 
 3d. Carefully considered lighting arrangements. 
 
 4th. Dimensions suited to the most convenient use of the tools, but 
 which avoid waste space under cover. 
 
 Two distiuctarrangements are in use abroad. In one, best illustrated 
 by the new shops of Sir Joseph Whitworth, at Manchester (intended for 
 general work), all the operations are performed under a single roof, a 
 plan which has the merit of bringing all the workmen under the eye of 
 the superintendent. The building has ten bays, each 50 feet wide, and 
 at present 575 feet loug, but it is proposed to extend this length 200 feet. 
 Six bays are devoted to the foundry proper where the steel is manufact- 
 ured and forged, and the remaining four to the tools used in fabricating 
 the finished products. A gallery 25 feet wide extends along one side 
 of the building forming a second story where small tools are made. 
 Overhead cranes are provided, where necessary, to run the whole length 
 of a bay, and the larger machines are disposed longitudinally under 
 them. The height of the run-ways of these cranes is 22J feet above the 
 floor. Each bay is covered by a roof of 50 feet span and 18 feet rise. 
 These roofs unite in valleys 8 feet above the run-ways, to afford room 
 for the cranes; and light is supplied by continuous windows, which, on 
 the south side form the middle third, and on the north side the 
 two-thirds of the roofs. The outer walls are brick. The bays are sepa- 
 rated by rows of cast-iron columns capped with wrought iron trusses, on 
 which rest the iron roofs. 
 
 These magnificent shops, constructed very recently, after Sir Joseph's 
 long experience in such work, cost per running 50 feet of each bay : 
 
 Irou work of supports $>!, 250 
 
 Roof plating, glazing, glass, lead, &c 2, 000 
 
 Floors, plates, &c 1, 190 
 
 Contingencies 560 
 
 Total per square 50 feet, about 5, 000 
 
 Estimated upon this basis, given by one of the engineers, the total 
 cost must have been at least $600,000. 
 
 In the other general arrangement of shops which prevailed at most 
 of the establishments visited, different buildings are provided for differ- 
 ent classes of work, with ample space between them for railway tracks, 
 storage of metal, &c. Experience seems to have suggested the impor- 
 tance of the following points : 
 
 The run-ways of the large cranes should be supported quijte inde- 
 pendently of the buildings. As their spans vary from 40 to 64 feet, 
 generally about 50 feet, this is an important matter. There is no econ- 
 omy in constructing the walls to bear strains thrown upon them by 
 powerful machinery. The true function of the building is simply to 
 cover the tools against the weather. 
 
 The problem of reducing the cost of roof trusses is an important one. 
 For smaller machines, an economical and convenient arrangement was 
 noted at the army establishment at Bourges. The building was about 
 260 feet long and 150 feet wide. Advantage was taken of the lesser 
 height required for this class of work to dispense with roof trusses en- 
 tirely. Cast-iron columns, about 17 or 18 feet apart, divided the whole 
 interior into squares and furnished supports for the roof at so many 
 points as to effect this object. The tools were disposed across the shop, 
 and hand cranes overhead and medial railway tracks for cars sup- 
 plied every facility for convenient handling. For the larger tools, how- 
 ever, the spans are necessarily so great that it seems expedient to in- 
 crease their width so as to dispose the machines across the bays. This 
 
46 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 enables the arrangements to be very compact and enough is saved in 
 length of shop to compensate for wide trusses. Thus, in the two new 
 shops at Kuelle, which are good models, the span of the principal roof 
 trusses are about 50 feet and 82 feet respectively, the total width of 
 the buildings being extended by parallel and lower roofs to 98 feet and 
 130 feet, 
 
 Koof-lighting of gun-shops is general throughout Europe. Some- 
 times, as in Sir Joseph Whitworth's establishment, the ridge-pole is 
 placed centrally between bearings, and one-third of the south and two- 
 thirds of the north surface is glazed. At other places, as at the shop 
 at Bourges just described, the ridge-pole is nearer the north side, and 
 the short and steep side of the roof only is glazed. Another plan is the 
 common device of a ventilator cap over the ridge-pole, with vertical 
 lighting. As a rule all available space at the sides and ends of the 
 buildings are given up to windows. No gun-shops of more than one 
 story were noted. 
 
 The Board would recommend the erection of fire-proof structures of 
 a single story, designed solely to cover and protect the tools. Their 
 style of architecture should be neat, but not extravagant ; convenience 
 of arrangements and facilities for lighting should receive careful study. 
 It is believed that the cost of such buildings as are required can be 
 safely estimated at $5,000 per square of 50 feet. 
 
 GENERAL SUMMARY. 
 
 The foregoing presents the chief points of information that have been 
 gained by the investigations of the Board. 
 
 As examples of a practical partnership between a Government and a 
 private company in working towards anational object the experiences 
 in England and in Kussia are very instructive, and warn against the 
 adoption of such a system. In England, the Government, in addition 
 to paying, during several years, very high prices for articles delivered, 
 was forced to pay 65,000 to close an agreement ; while the company, 
 besides the profits on manufacture, came into possession of a complete 
 working plant at a mere nominal valuation. 
 
 In Bussia the Government finds itself involved with a stock com- 
 pany, paying excessive prices for what it receives, and discovers no way 
 of relief, except by buying up shares and operating the establishment 
 as a Government foundry. 
 
 As an example of depending almost entirely on private works Ger- 
 many is a perfect instance. The works of Mr. Krupp are practically 
 the sole source of supply of the German artillery. In such a case the 
 Government must be the slave of the corporation, and subject to its 
 whims, caprices, and conveniences. It needs no argument to show the 
 dependent condition of the Government under such a rule ; it might 
 prove a source of the greatest embarrassment. The Board is well in- 
 formed that some ten or eleven years ago the artillery officers were very 
 restive under this load and were making strenuous efforts to be relieved 
 from it, but without success. It is hardly to be supposed that time has 
 quieted the feeling of dissatisfaction. 
 
 As an example of depending alone on Government works France was 
 a perfect instance before the Franco-German war. During the period re- 
 ferred to the Government foundries were the sole source of supply of the 
 armament of the country j the officers charged with the work formed a close 
 corporation ; their action was never exposed to the public ; their ideas were 
 
GENERAL SUMMARY. 47 
 
 never subjected to criticism ; the in genuity and inventive talent of thecouu- 
 try were ignored and resisted, and no precaution was thought necessary 
 to provide a supply in case of need of re-armament. The result is well 
 known; a great crisis came; the Government works were inadequate to 
 meet the additional demands made upon them, and the patriotic efforts of 
 private establishments were inadequate to produce all the material that 
 was needed. How entirely France has now altered her system is shown 
 in a previous part of this report ; her present practice is theoretically per- 
 fect, and it has proved to be practically efficient. Her Government estab- 
 lishments are still retained, but as gun factories simply, in which the 
 parts are machined and assembled, but for foundry work she depends 
 upon the private industries of the country, and many of these works- 
 have found it to their profit to establish gun factories which supplement 
 the Government factories to a great extent. 
 
 The conclusions of the Board on this subject accord with the plain 
 teachings of these historical instances. It accepts the system now pur- 
 sued in France as the proper standard for imitation, and recommends 
 that in inaugurating the manufacture of war material in our own country 
 a conformity as close as circumstances will admit to the plans which 
 have proved so successful in France should be observed. 
 
 Having reached this conclusion, the Board is now prepared to dis- 
 pose of the propositions into which, as stated on the seventh page of this 
 report, the second interrogatory in the act of Congress was divided. 
 The first proposition was thus presented, viz: 
 
 That the Government should supplement the plants of some of the steel workers of 
 the country with such additional tools and implements as would enable them to turn 
 out finished steel cannon. 
 
 The adoption of this proposition would involve the Government in 
 the embarrassments which now exist in Russia, and which we have seen 
 were so costly to the English Government in its partnership with the 
 Elswick Ordnance Company. 
 
 The Board does not approve of such joint action. 
 
 The second proposition was thus presented, viz : 
 
 That the Government should give contracts of sufficient magnitude to enable the 
 steel workers of the country to supply the finished guns without its direct aid. 
 
 This proposition, if adopted without any qualification, would make 
 the Government dependent entirely upon the private industries of the 
 country, which might combine to the detriment of the public service. 
 The Government would have no guard against extortion and would be 
 powerless against a combination. An actual instance of such a combi- 
 nation is cited in a previous portion of this report as having taken place 
 in France, but the independent position of the Government made the 
 effort futile. 
 
 The Board does not approve of this proposition taken by itself. 
 
 The third proposition was thus presented, viz : 
 
 That the Government should establish on its own territory a plant for the fabrica- 
 tion of cannon, and should contract with private parties to such amounts as would 
 enable them to supply from the private industries of the country the forged and tem- 
 pered material. 
 
 This proposition is approved by the Board and is regarded as the foun- 
 dation upon which our system of manufacture should be built up. If 
 this be done, and the Government made secure by the possession of 
 works of its own, there is every reason to adopt in addition the idea em- 
 bodied in the second proposition in order to supplement the Government 
 establishments. 
 
48 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 A state, with any pretensions to military power, should provide itself 
 with factory facilities on a sufficient scale to perform the work of estab- 
 lishing standards, making experimental guns and fabricating cannon 
 on a moderate scale; but it is not considered judicious to concentrate 
 in the Government establishments all the work of fabrication or to in- 
 clude within their operations the preparation of such material as can be 
 provided by the private industries of the country. In the case under 
 consideration the purchase of the steel required for cannon will stimu- 
 late our own manufacturers and interest them in the operations of the 
 Oovernment. 
 
 The Board is thus led to the conclusion that it is not advisable to 
 embark in the establishment of a gun foundry, properly so called, but 
 that it is more judicious to establish gun factories, and to purchase the 
 material from our manufacturers. 
 
 At present the steel manufacturers of our country are not prepared 
 to produce the material required for the larger calibers, and the im- 
 portant question arises, what means shall be adopted to induce them 
 to study the subject and embark in the manufacture on a large scale. 
 They cannot be expected to do this at a sacrifice of their own interests. 
 This object can only be achieved by holding out a fair prospect of ulti- 
 mate remuneration for the expenditures necessary to undertake the 
 work, and this can only be done by the action of Congress. 
 
 If, then, Congress shall conclude to arm the country it will be neces- 
 sary that a sum of money shall be fixed as a permanent yearly appro- 
 priation to be expended for this purpose, the amount to be assigned 
 proportionally between the War and Navy Departments. With such 
 a guarantee against loss the Board is satisfied that the required ma- 
 terial for cannon will be forthcoming from our own steel works. 
 
 It would not be necessary for the Government to be associated with 
 a large number of firms for the supply of its material, for it is probable 
 that the private establishments that would take up the subject would 
 only be those with large available funds which they would be willing 
 to put into a special plant, and for remuneration on which they would 
 be willing to wait a reasonable time. The permanent appropriation 
 would give them surety of ultimate profit, the only condition being suc- 
 cess in providing the material that would be indicated in their contracts. 
 From personal intercourse with some of the leading manufacturers the 
 Board is led to believe that the plan will have the effect of guiding the 
 private industries of the country to the aid of the Government in de- 
 veloping this work of national importance. * 
 
 It may be added that although the manufacture of armor plates for 
 ships and fortifications was not referred to this Board for investigation, 
 the erection of plant for providing modern cannon would go far towards 
 reducing the outlay requisite to enable our great steel manufacturers to 
 meet another pressing want of the Government. 
 
 The chief expense to be considered by private parties is that of the 
 forge, but by the substitution of the hydraulic press for the hammer 
 economy will be consulted and better results obtained. The Board is 
 unanimous in approving the use of the press for all forging purposes; 
 and recommends it to all who may embark in the manufacture of gun 
 metal for the Government. 
 
 . * This conclusion is fully sustained by letters, Appendices H, J, and by a communi- 
 cation received from the Cambria Iron Company on February 8, 1884, after the com- 
 pletion of this report. It is marked Appendix N. 
 
GENERAL SUMMARY. 49 
 
 In conclusion the Board submits its replies to the three interrogatories 
 contained in the act of Congress: 
 
 (1.) Which of the navy-yards or arsenals owned by the Government has the best 
 location, and is best adapted for the establishment of a Government foundry ? 
 
 The Board does not recommend the establishment of a Government 
 foundry, properly so called, which shall provide for the manufacture of 
 steel and the fabrication of cannon. It considers that every inducement 
 should be offered to attract the private industries of the country to the 
 aid of the Government in providing ordnance for the Army and Navy, 
 and that the steel manufacturers should be called upon to provide the 
 material. 
 
 The Board recommends the establishment of two gun factories under 
 the control of the Government and selects the 
 
 Watervliet Arsenal, West Troy, N. Y., as the site for the Army, and the 
 
 Washington navy-yard, District of Columbia, as the site for the Navy. 
 
 The Board is unanimous in recommending that the Army and the 
 Navy should be provided with separate establishments. This has al- 
 ways been the custom in France, producing good results ; the reverse 
 has been the practice in England, producing bad results. Dissatisfac- 
 tion from this cause has existed for many years in the English Navy, 
 and the Admiralty has recently brought about a revolution in the system 
 so far as the supply of gun-carriages is concerned, by obtaining from 
 Parliament a separate and distinct appropriation with which it is pro- 
 viding the English Navy with the Yavasseur gun-carriage in opposition 
 to the will of Woolwich. 
 
 In the administration of the War and Navy Departments of the United 
 States, each service has charge and direction of its own distinct system 
 of artillery, hence if but one gun factory be provided, its control must 
 be placed in the hands of a mixed commission. This must lead to con- 
 flict of authority and to embarrassments of all kinds, in which the heads 
 of Departments must necessarily become involved. A close scrutiny of 
 the practical difficulties that would arise in conducting the affairs of a 
 gun factory in such mixed interests develops obstacles that would be 
 insuperable even with the most harmonious intent. 
 
 In the selection of the sites mentioned, it is not intended to convey 
 the idea that they are regarded as in every way adapted for the pur- 
 pose, but, as the scope for choice is limited, they are considered the most 
 advantageous. The Board does not recommend the purchase of new 
 sites, as this would open so wide a field for selection as to embarrass the 
 question by arousing local interests throughout the country. 
 
 (2.) What other method if any (apart from the establishment of a Government 
 foundry), should be adopted for the manufacture of heavy ordnance adapted to modern 
 warfare, for the use of the Army and Navy of the United States. 
 
 With Government gmi factories established for both the Army and the 
 Navy, there will be still needed the hearty co-operation of the private 
 industries of the country. This cannot be aroused unless there is held 
 out to them a fair prospect of remuneration. The Board does not ap- 
 prove of a partnership in business between the Government and private 
 firms. All history warns against such a course. But it does believe that 
 joint, and at the same time independent, action between them can be 
 made to work harmoniously towards the common national purpose. This 
 can only be done by a permanent and liberal appropriation by Congress 
 for the specific purpose of providing the country with modern artillery; 
 
 H. Ex, 97 4 
 
50 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 which appropriation shall be a guarantee against loss to the companies 
 who elect to undertake the work. 
 
 This is entirely consistent with the action of Congress in providing 
 for the supply of arms to the militia. The act authorizing this practice 
 was passed in 1808 and since that time the yearly disbursement has 
 been made from the Treasury without interruption. A similar act pro- 
 viding for the supply of heavy ordnance for the regular services will be 
 but a farther development of the same idea. 
 
 (3.) The cost of all buildings, tools and implements, necessary to be used in the 
 manufacture thereof, including the cost of a steam hammer or apparatus of sufficient 
 size for the manufacture of the heaviest guns ? 
 
 In reply to this question the Board presents an abstract of the informa- 
 tion already given, arranged in a convenient form for reference. 
 
 Approximate cost of plant for producing the tempered parts of guns 
 up to 100 tons, ready for delivery at gun factory : 
 
 Casting ? $250,000 
 
 Forging (hydraulic press) 150,000 
 
 Rough boring and turning 210,000 
 
 Tempering , 50,000 
 
 Total 660,000 
 
 Additional cost if liquid compression be adopted 175, 000 
 
 Approximate cost of plant for gun factories: 
 
 Guns up to 6-inch caliber _ 50, 000 
 
 Guns from 6-inch to 12-inch caliber 150, 000 
 
 Guns from 12-inch to 16-inch caliber 350, 000 
 
 Buildings and shrinking pit 350, 000 
 
 Total 900,000 
 
 Three years will be required to complete the tools, construct the shops 
 and establish the plant. Such a factory will be able to turn out per year 
 fifty 6-iuch, seventeen 12-inch and twelve 16-inch guns, or a propor- 
 tionally larger number of smaller calibers, at a yearly expense of about 
 $2,000,000. The figures cannot be pronounced exact, but the Board is 
 confident that they closely approximate accuracy. The calculations 
 are based upon estimates obtained abroad, and do not include ocean 
 freight and customs dues. 
 
 Though the act of Congress replied to in the above report is one of 
 inquiry, the Board desires to emphasize the necessity of a proper en- 
 couragement to the private steel manufacturers, which shall insure the 
 supply of gun material without loss to the Government or private com- 
 panies; and is of opinion if Congress shall be pleased to appropriate an 
 adequate sum for providing modern artillery for the Army and Navy, 
 to be held in the Treasury to be expended under the authority of the 
 President, that (with such a prospect of remuneration) there are steel 
 manufacturers in the United States who will undertake the production 
 of gun-metal on a large scale, on the sole condition that their steel shall 
 meet the required tests. Unless such action be taken, the Government 
 will be compelled to purchase its gun-metal abroad, for it will be un- 
 reasonable to expect private parties to invest over half a million dollars 
 in plant without a definite prospect for its employment. 
 
 The facts that the United States is destitute of the means of fabri- 
 cating the modern guns so urgently needed for national defense, and 
 that at least three years will be required to complete the tools, construct 
 
GENERAL SUMMARY. 51 
 
 the shops and establish the plant, would seem to demand an immedi- 
 ate appropriation of the amount ($1,800,000) estimated for the estab- 
 lishment of the proposed gun factories. 
 
 E. SIMPSON, 
 
 Rear-Admiral, United States Navy, President of the Board. 
 
 E. O. MATTHEWS, 
 
 Captain, United States Navy. 
 T. G. BAYLOR, 
 Colonel of Ordnance, United States Army. 
 
 HENRY L. ABBOT, 
 Lieutenant- Colonel of Engineers, 
 Brevet Brigadier- General, United States Army. 
 
 SAM'L S. ELDER, 
 Major. Second Artillery, United States Army. 
 
 W. H. JAQUES, 
 Lieutenant, United States^Navy, 
 Member and Secretary of the Board. 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 53 
 
APPENDICES. 
 
 APPENDIX A. 
 
 [Copj r of circular letter to steel manufacturers.] 
 
 COMMANDANT'S OFFICE, NAVY-YARD, LEAGUE ISLAND, 
 
 Philadelphia, May 1, 1883. 
 
 GENTLEMEN : I forward herewith a copy of a precept issued by the President of the 
 United States, under the provisions of an act of Congress, appointing a Board charged 
 with the duties mentioned in the order. Besides the consideration of the establish- 
 ment of a Government foundry pure and simple, and the determination of the suit- 
 ability for this purpose of any site now the property of the Government, the Board 
 desires to be informed as to the disposition of the steel manufacturers in the country 
 to assist the object to be attained, namely, to enable the Government to produce at 
 home from its own material and manufacture the heaviest ordnance required for mod- 
 ern warfare. 
 
 The Board is informed of the propositions made to the steel manufacturers by the 
 Chiefs of Ordnance under dates of February and April, 1883, in which certain require- 
 ments are presented, but in the calls thus made the size of the castings does not ex- 
 ceed what would be suitable for the tubes of 8-inch guns. 
 
 In considering the subject as now presented by the Board your attention is asked to 
 the fact that its interrogatories are intended to include the manufacture of steel guns 
 up to 100 tons weight. It is further desired that you will carefully consider the methods 
 of manufacturing gun steel now employed in England, France, Germany and Rus- 
 sia, with a view to the selection of any of the methods for its manufacture. 
 
 The Board requests that you will consider the following problem, namely : Given 
 your present plant, what aid would you require from the Government in order so to 
 enlarge it as to be able to manufacture the heaviest ordnance, the work to include the 
 entire process of manufacture from the casting of the ingots to the finishing of the 
 gun. The Board would require an itemized statement of buildings, tools, hammers 
 or apparatus, with estimates of cost. 
 
 Whether you conclude to consider this proposition or not, the Board requests a reply 
 to its communication, and will be glad to answer any question you may be pleased to 
 present. 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 E. SIMPSON, 
 Commodore, United States Navy, President of the Board. 
 
 APPENDIX B. 
 
 [Circular letter to South Boston Iron Company and to Paulding, Kemble & Co.] 
 
 COMMANDANT'S OFFICE, NAVY- YARD, LEAGUE ISLAND, 
 
 Philadelphia, May 1, 1883. 
 
 GENTLEMEN : Referring to your communications of December 15, 1882, and January, 
 1882, to the honorable the Secretary of the Navy, and the Chief of Ordnance, War De- 
 partment, in relation to the establishment of a plant capable of manufacturing the 
 heaviest ordnance required for modern warfare, the Board asks your attention to the 
 inclosed copy of a precept issued by the President of the United States in accordance 
 with an act of Congress. 
 
 Your consideration is also requested of the inclosed copy of a communication ad- 
 dressed by the Board, constituted by the above-mentioned act, tojthe steel manufact- 
 urers of the United States. 
 
 55 
 
56 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 The act of Congress under which the present Board is organized is in the direction 
 pointed out by your communications above referred to, and the Board will be glad if 
 you will revise your proposition and so modify it as to reply to the interrogatory sub- 
 mitted as a problem in the inclosed letter to the steel manufacturers, as follows : 
 " Given your present plant, what aid would you require from the Government in order 
 so to enlarge it as to be able to manufacture the heaviest ordnance, the work to in- 
 clude the entire process of manufacture from the casting of the ingots to the finishing 
 of the gun." 
 
 Respectfully, 
 
 E. SIMPSON, 
 Commodore, United States Navy, President of the Board. 
 
 APPE N DIX C. 
 
 6 OLIVER STREET, 
 
 Boston, May 8, 1883. 
 
 SIR: We have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your circular letter dated 
 the 1st instant, addressed to us, and also one of similar tenor addressed to the Nor- 
 way Iron Works. 
 
 In reply to the same we regret to be obliged to say that, owing to contemplated 
 changes at our works, we cannot at present hold out any prospect of being able to 
 furnish the Government with steel guns such as are mentioned in your letter. Should 
 we, at a later date, be in a position to supply them, we shall then be happy to take 
 up the matter and furnish the board with estimates. 
 We are, sir, very respectfully, yours, 
 
 NAYLOR & CO. 
 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President of the Foundry Board, Navy- Yard, League Island, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 APPENDIX D. 
 
 WEST POINT FOUNDRY, 
 
 Cold Spring, May 10, 1883. 
 
 SIR: We beg leave to acknowledge the receipt of your communication of May 1. 
 The problem proposed to us is a difficult one, and we would inquire how much time 
 you can allow us to look into the matter. 
 
 We would also ask you if you are correct in assuming that guns will be required 
 from 6-inch to about 16-inch caliber, and if you 'can give some idea of the number of 
 each kind which such an ordnance establishment should produce in the course of a 
 year to meet the wants of the Government. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servants, 
 
 PAULDING, KEMBLE & CO. 
 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President of Board, Navy -Yard, League Island. 
 
 APPENDIX E. 
 
 PARK, BROTHER & Co., 
 
 Pittsburgh, Pa., May 10, 1883. 
 
 DEAR SIR : We are in receipt of your esteemed favor of 1st instant, and carefully 
 note contents. We will take the matter into consideration, and write you further on 
 the subject in a few days. 
 Yours, truly, 
 
 PARK, BROTHER & CO. 
 
 E. SIMPSON, Esq., 
 
 Commodore, United States Navy, President of Foundry Board, Washington, D. C. 
 
APPENDICES. 5T 
 
 APPENDIX F. 
 
 OFFICE OF THE SOUTH BOSTON IRON WORKS, 
 
 70 Water Street, Boston, May 12, 1883. 
 
 SIR : I have the honor to acknowledge receipt of your communication of 1st instant 
 with inclosures named. I have given much consideration to the suhject concerning 
 which you make inquiry, and realize its great importance. I propose to thoroughly 
 study the question and obtain expert assistance in making such investigation, and in 
 preparing such estimates and plans in detail as will enable me to present to your 
 Board the design of a practicable plant for the manufacture of heavy ordnance adapted 
 to modern warfare, including a steam hammer or apparatus of sufficient size for the 
 manufacture of the heaviest guns. 
 
 It will be three or four months before I shall have completed this work, as I con- 
 template a visit to the important establishments in Europe for consultation and obser- 
 vation. 
 
 Meanwhile, remain very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 WM. P. HUNT, 
 
 President South Boston Iron Works. 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President, <^c., Commanding League Island Navy- Yard, Philadelphia. 
 
 APPENDIX G. 
 
 PITTSBURGH, PA., May 22, 1883. 
 
 DEAR SIR: Your favor under date of May 1 is at hand. Replying thereto we beg 
 to say that we fear the expense of altering and adding large additional machinery to 
 our present plant, which is new and improved, would be more than the Board would 
 entertain. Our location in this market we claim is as good, if not better, than that 
 of others for the shipping and hauling of heavy shapes, either by the Ohio River or by 
 rail, and if the extra machinery was added to our plant, the ordnance required could 
 be produced as cheaply and as effectively as at any other point in the country. 
 
 We would not entertain a proposition that would leave us high and dry when the 
 present honorable commission retired, but must be guaranteed or subsidized for at 
 least ten or fifteen years. This would insure safety to ourselves for changing, or 
 allowing to be changed, our present plant, which is already adapted to turning out 
 in the neighborhood of 12,000 tons of steel per annum, and would, we feel, be more 
 satisfactory to the Government. 
 
 If the honorable Board would outline for us the size of plant governed by the num- 
 ber of guns, tonnage, &c., required, and about the sum the Government would limit 
 itself to invest, we could more accurately inform ourselves what would be necessary. 
 We are, sir, yours respectfully, 
 
 PITTSBURGH STEEL WORKS, 
 ANDERSON, DU PUY & CO. 
 Hon. E. SIMPSON, Esq., 
 
 Commodore, United States Navy, 
 
 President Board of Ordnance, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 APPENDIX H. 
 
 THE MID VALE STEEL COMPANY, 
 
 Nicetown, Philadelphia, May 26, 1883. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Your circular letter of May 1, calling the attention of this company to 
 the existence of the Board of which you are president, and to the object for which it 
 has been created, came duly to hand and would have received a more prompt ac- 
 knowledgment had we not been prevented from presenting the matter to the atten- 
 tion of our president, Mr. Wm. Sellers. 
 
 This company has given the subject of the manufacture of steel for ordnance con- 
 siderable attention, and has had some sucess in the production of pieces of a moder- 
 ate size such, for instance, as are required for 6-inch breech-loading guns. 
 
58 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 Our capacities are at present very limited for this sort of work, heavier than the 
 above mentioned ; but, from our past experience, we feel confident that in case we 
 could be insured a sufficient amount of work to make the undertaking remunerative, 
 we could, with proper appliances, produce successfully large masses of steel for ord- 
 nance purposes. 
 
 In considering the matter with a view of answering the Board's inquiry as to what 
 additions would have to be made to our present plant in order to enable us to pro- 
 duce the parts of a 100-ton steel gun, we would now ask the Board to kindly furnish 
 to us the approximate dimensions of the largest masses of steel required in the con- 
 struction of a gun of this weight. We could then consider, more intelligently, the 
 problem in question. 
 
 Awaiting the Board's reply, we remain, 
 Yours, respectfully. 
 
 R. W. DAVENPORT, 
 
 Superintendent. 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President Foundry Board, Navy-Yard, Philadelphia. 
 
 APPENDIX I. 
 
 PITTSBURGH, PA., May 24, 1883. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Referring again to your esteemed favor of 1st instant, would say our 
 Mr. William G. Park will probably be in Philadelphia within a week and will then 
 see you and discuss the subject thoroughly. 
 Yours, truly, 
 
 PARK, BROTHER & CO. 
 E. SIMPSON, Esq., 
 
 Commodore, United States Navy, 
 
 President of Foundry Board, League Island, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
 APPENDIX J. 
 
 SPRINGFIELD, ILL,, June 2, 1883. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Your letter of May 1, in regard to the establishment of works for the 
 manufacture of heavy steel guns was duly received and has been considered. In re- 
 ply, I have to say that this company has a plant consisting of three "Peruot" open- 
 hearth steel furnaces, so arranged that we can readily cast ingots weighing say 40 
 gross tons. We could also easily arrange to increase the weight to 50 tons, and by the 
 addition of one or two furnaces to 75 or even as high as 90 tons. I am not very fa 
 miliar with the nature of the tools and other appliances which would be necessary 
 to finish the different parts of the gun from the ingot ; but suppose we have but lit- 
 tle, if anything, in our plant that would apply. For this same reason I am not pre- 
 pared to furnish an estimate of the amount of aid which we would require to enable 
 us to prepare ourselves for the undertaking which you have in view. I can say, 
 however, that we would be glad to co-operate with the Government in establishing a 
 plant of the kind wanted, and that we would fit up our works with everything nec- 
 essary upon being satisfied that it would receive a fairly remunerative business by so 
 doing. Or we will, if it is preferred, and time can be given, procure estimates of the 
 cost of whatever may be needed, and allow the Government to furnish the same on 
 any fair understanding as to what compensation we shall receive for the use of what 
 we now have. In this latter case, we would request that you furnish the specifica- 
 tion for an outfit of such a kind as you think will be best adapted to the purpose in 
 view. 
 
 We think that this place affords some advantages for the business in contemplation. 
 It is far enough inland to be at all times safe from interference from a foreign foe. Our 
 transportation facilities are ample. We have an abundance of exceedingly cheap 
 fuel and easy access to the best raw materials to be had in Missouri or on Lake Supe- 
 rior. 
 
 This company has been operating an iron-rail mill and bar mill very successfully for 
 about twelve years, and is just completing a large mill for rolling steel plates of any 
 thickness, and up to 110 inches wide. It is expected that this mill will be fully equal 
 
APPENDICES. 59 
 
 to anything of the kind in the country. It is possible that it may be to the advantage 
 of the Government to take some ship plates from this mill at some future time for use 
 at some of the various navy-yards or on the western interior waters. It is also pos- 
 sible that our bar mill may be of use in furnishing some of the lighter parts to be used 
 in the manufacture of steel guns of moderate weight. 
 Asking the favor of a reply, I am, yours, respectfully, 
 
 C. RIDGELY, 
 
 President. 
 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President Foundry Board, League Island, Philadelphia. 
 
 APPEN DIX K. 
 
 SOUTH BOSTON IRON WORKS, 
 
 Boston, January 16, 1884. 
 
 SIR: Referring to your communication of May 1, 1883, inviting me to revise my 
 proposition of January, 1882, referred to, and so modify it as to state what aid I 
 should require of the Government to enable me to so enlarge our present plant as to be 
 suitable for the manufacture of the heaviest ordnance required for modern warfare 
 from the crude material, I now beg to say I have considered the problem carefully, 
 and conclude that the subject is so important and comprehensive so much depend- 
 ing upon information obtainable only in Europe, and of which I have obtained very 
 little, compared with that in possession of your Board I had better confine my esti- 
 mates in reply to that portion of the proposed plant of Avhich I have some practical 
 knowledge, and so have considered the cost of such additional machinery and tools as 
 would, with our present plant, enable us to machine-finish, from the steel forgings or 
 compressed ingots, modern steel guns at rates as follows : 
 
 Six guns of 16-inch caliber per year. 
 
 Twenty guns of 12-inch caliber per year. 
 
 Twenty guns of 10-inch caliber per year. 
 
 Thirty guns of 8-inch caliber per year. 
 
 Forty guns of 6-inch caliber per year. 
 
 I estimate the amount required to bring our plant up to this capacity would be 
 $800,000, and require two years ; time. 
 
 We desire to make this enlargement as soon as practicable, and ask the Government 
 to advance the necessary money, under proper guards and restrictions, to be reim- 
 bursed to the Treasury when a reserve of 5 per cent, of all the income from said ma- 
 chinery and tools shall amount to a sum sufficient. With a reasonable volume of busi- 
 ness the Government would be repaid in full within ten years. 
 
 Should your Board recommend this method to be adopted for the manufacture of 
 heavy ordnance, but wish to provide for a complete establishment capable of produjc- 
 ing the steel from the casting of the ingots, as well as the machine finishing of guns, 
 I beg to refer you to my letter of January, 1882, referred to, and say I am ready to un- 
 dertake the construction of the complete establishment upon the same terms as pro- 
 posed for the machine department. In that event, I should expect to unite our works 
 with that of the West Point Foundry Association, and move to such locality as would 
 be approved by the Government authorities. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servants, 
 
 SOUTH BOSTON IRON WORKS, 
 By WM. P. HUNT, President. 
 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President Gun Foundry Board, Philadelphia. 
 
60 EEPOET OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 APPE N DIX L. 
 
 WEST POINT FOUNDRY, 
 
 Cold Spring, January 18, 1884, 
 
 SIR : Referring to your communications of May 1, 1883, respecting a plant to manu- 
 facture ordnance, we beg leave to make the following reply, which, in consequence of 
 the questions asked us not being sufficiently definite, is necessarily approximate in 
 its character. 
 
 Our establishment in its present state is capable of finishing a limited number 
 of steel breech-loading guns, but is inadequate to the wants of the Government. 
 We would leave it as it is, using it to the extent of its capacity for ordnance, and 
 making projectiles, gun carriages, &c. (for which it is well adapted), if required. 
 We would then propose to build an entirely new plant, independent of the old one on 
 our property, capable of turning out about 120 guns per year, ranging from 100 tons 
 to 6-inch caliber or less, the necessary steel forgings to be furnished to us. We esti- 
 mate the cost of such a plant, including buildings, engine and boilers, lathes, cranes, 
 and other machinery, about $800,000. 
 
 As it would be impossible for us to procure the means to put up such a plant, the 
 only plan which seems feasible to us is for the Government to advance the necessary 
 amount under such conditions as may be deemed proper, and with a proviso for its 
 ultimate repayment when 5 per cent, of the amount of ordnance business done on 
 said plant shall be equal to the sum advanced, the United States to remain proprietors 
 of the plant until it is paid for as proposed. 
 
 With regard to the making of steel forgings, we understand that your Board has ob- 
 tained in Europe the necessary information, and have more knowledge of the subject 
 than we have been able to procure. We have, therefore, only to say that we should 
 be willing to get up a plant on the terms proposed for the construction plant should 
 it be considered advisable by the United States to locate it on our property or to com- 
 bine it in the same establishment as that in which the ordnance is finished. 
 
 We estimate that it would require about two years to create the construction plant, 
 but we are not prepared to state how long it would take to put up the plant for mak- 
 ing the steel forgings. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servants, 
 
 WEST POINT FOUNDRY ASSOCIATION, 
 G. PAULDING, President. 
 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 Chairman of Gun Foundry Board, Philadelphia. 
 
 APPENDIX M. 
 
 OFFICE OF CAMBRIA IRON COMPANY, 
 
 Philadelphia, January 31, 1884. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Will you kindly advise us when it would be convenient fora representa- 
 tive of our company to appear before your Board in regard to securing such informa- 
 tion as you can furnish us and making answer to your circular letter of May 1, 1883. 
 Awaiting your reply, we are yours, truly, 
 
 POWELL STACKHOUSE, 
 
 Vise- President. 
 
 Commodore EDWARD SIMPSON, 
 
 President Foundry Board, 1727 Pine street, Philadelphia, Pa. 
 
APPENDICES. 61 
 
 APPE N DIX N. 
 
 OFFICE OF CAMBRIA IRON COMPANY, 
 
 Philadelphia, February 7, 1884. 
 
 DEAR SIR : Having received the impression that the Gun Foundry Board would, 
 after its investigations in Europe, be prepared to give us some information that would 
 assist in a reply to its circular letter of May 1, 1883, we have delayed submitting 
 any proposition that would indicate our " disposition to assist the object to be 
 obtained," or an estimate of the manner and amount of "aid" required "from the 
 Government." 
 
 We are now informed by the Board that such information cannot, without injustice 
 to other private interests, be given before the publication of its report. We, there- 
 fore, have the honor to submit the following, suggested by our long and valuable 
 experience in the manufacture of steel, and our investigations upon the subject mat- 
 ter of the Gun Foundry Board's letter of May 1, 1883. 
 
 As requested in that letter, we have (as far as time would permit, and as carefully 
 as possible without making a special visit to Europe) considered "the methods of 
 manufacturing gun steel now employed in England, France, Germany and Russia, 
 with a view to the selection of any of these methods for its manufacture." This 
 careful consideration indorses the statement we have already made in person to your 
 Board, that steel made by the open-hearth process is the most uniform ; and that we 
 believe we have the largest casting plant on this system in the United States, con- 
 ducted by men of great experience. We further are of the opinion that our casting 
 plant will meet the present requirements of the Government for gun metal, and if a 
 sufficiently large contract or other guarantee against loss were given, we could rap- 
 idly develop it to meet increasing demands. 
 
 Like all other steel manufactories in the United States, we have no apparatus capa- 
 ble of forging the large ingots required for modern guns. Before embarking in a 
 forging plant that must require an expenditure of from a quarter to a half million 
 of dollars, we would await the opinion of the Board or the action of the Government 
 in regard to the adoption of a hammer or a hydraulic press. We have been led to this 
 conclusion by the great attention which is now given this question in England and 
 the use of a hydraulic casting press in Russia ; also, by the fact that a large number 
 of shafts for English naval ships and a large quantity of steel furnished the Royal 
 Arsenal and the works of Armstrong, Mitchell & Co., have been manufactured by 
 Sir Joseph Whitworth, who casts and forges the steel for these purposes by hydraulic 
 presses. 
 
 As the forging press is said to be cheaper and its effect equal to or better than the 
 hammer, we would naturally adopt that method of forging, unless the Government 
 in its contracts should require the metal forged with the hammer. 
 
 Our company has received invitations from the Ordnance Departments of both Army 
 and Navy to furnish gun material, the castings for which are well within our capacity 
 to make ; but wanting a suitable apparatus to properly forge such castings, and in the 
 absence of a sufficiently large contract to pay even the cost of small apparatus, and 
 the risks attendant upon the development of a new branch of our industry, we did 
 not deem it wise to undertake a small contract. 
 
 In regard to the problem you submitted, " Given your present plant, what aid would 
 you require from the Government in order so to enlarge it as to be able to manufacture 
 the heaviest ordnance, the work to include the entire process of manufacture from the 
 casting of the ingots to the finishing of the gun," we have to state we have learned 
 that England and France, two of the countries mentioned in your letter, separate the 
 manufacture of the steel from the construction of the guns. As they have had long 
 and valuable experfence upon this subject it would seem that they have adopted this 
 plan because it was the best. 
 
 In view of this fact we submit an approximate estimate of the amount to be ex- 
 pended to put our plant in a condition to supply the required steel for gun construc- 
 tion. 
 
 For the sum of $695,000 we could add to our present plant forging apparatus, tools 
 to rough bore and turn, and appliances for tempering the material of such weight and 
 sizes as we suppose the Government will demand. Of the above-named sum, $143,000 
 we estimate as duty at 45 per cent ad valorem on tools it will be necessary to import 
 from foreign makers experienced in their construction. 
 
 We desire to call the attention of the Board to the following statement of business 
 facts and considerations, that it may judge of the capacity, both financially and 
 technically, of the Cambria Iron Company to undertake the work required of a national 
 foundry. 
 
 The works of the company are located at a sufficient distance from the seaboard to 
 render them absolutely secure from attack by a foreign enemy, while at the same 
 
62 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 time they do not occupy an isolated position so that communication between them 
 and the exposed portions of the country would be either impossible or difficult for our 
 own people. The works are situated directly on the main line of the Pennsylvania 
 Railroad, which affords quick and safe communication between the East and the West, 
 and also brings them within 80 miles of steamboat communication on the Ohio River 
 at Pittsburgh. In addition to these transportation facilities, the works are also in 
 direct rail communication with the Southern seaboard and the South itself by way 
 of the Somerset and Johnstown Railroad, which is a thoroughly-built and well- 
 equipped branch of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad, which has eastern termini at 
 Baltimore and Washington and Southern connections at these and other points; also 
 a third trunk line between the seaboard and West, now under construction, passing a 
 few miles south of Johnstown, and with which there will be direct connection. It 
 may also be added that by way of the Pennsylvania Railroad and its connections at 
 Harrisburg with the Northern Central Railway the works have an additional outlet 
 to Baltimore, Washington, and the South. 
 
 The situation of the works of the Cambria Iron Company at Johnstown is one of 
 great healthfulness, and it is comparatively sheltered from the extremes of both heat 
 and cold, and is wholly free from all malarious influences, so that workmen can prose- 
 cute their various employments in all seasons without danger of interruption from 
 intense heat or cold, or from the prevalence of epidemics. The healthfulness of the 
 situation of the w r orks, the constant employment which has been given to its work- 
 men for twenty-nine years, the cheapness of the necessaries of life, and the facilities 
 which have been aiforded by the company for the acquisition of homes by heads of 
 families, have greatly contributed to the building up at Johnstown and in its imme- 
 diate and dependent suburbs of a steady, sober, intelligent, and moral class of skilled 
 mechanics a fact upon which we desire to place great stress, as an industrial com- 
 munity that is fixed and permanent and attached by home ties and associations to its 
 place of employment is far less likely to engage in contentions and strikes at critical 
 periods than one that is composed of floating and uncertain elements. 
 
 The works have been in existence and in operation for more than thirty years, and 
 in this time an army of skilled workmen has been gathered together that for effi- 
 ciency, fidelity and variety of scientific and mechanical attainments, is believed to 
 be unsurpassed, if equaled, in our whole country. 
 
 The works of the Cambria Iron Company are not merely of a reproductive or 
 finishing character, but they embrace every branch of a complete establishment de- 
 voted to the manufacture of iron and steel. The company owns its own coal mines, 
 including extensive mines in the Connellsville coke region and other mines adjacent 
 to the works at Johnstown ; it owns its own iron-ore mines, some of which are adja- 
 cent to the works, while others are situated in the Lake Superior region and else- 
 where ; it produces its own pig-iron in furnaces that possess all the modern improve- 
 ments ; it has a large Bessemer steel-plant, a large open-hearth steel plant, iron and 
 steel rail and other rolling-mills, puddling and heating furnaces, wire mills, and 
 facilities for the production of miscellaneous steel products. 
 
 The works have a capacity for the production of 300,000 tons of pig-iron and over 
 200,000 tons of steel per annum. 
 
 The company employs at the present time 9,000 workmen. It has its own mining 
 and mechanical engineers, its own draughtsmen, and its own chemists. 
 
 These details are mentioned to show the varied experiences of the employe's and 
 officers of the company ; its perfect control over the raw materials it uses, and con- 
 sequently over the character of all its products, and the facilities generally for the 
 prompt addition to its works for the contemplated national foundry, and the equally 
 prompt and faithful execution of such orders as would be required of it. 
 
 It only requires to be added that the financial ability of the Cambria Iron Company 
 to comply with all its engagements cannot be questioned. * * It owns abso- 
 
 lutely all of its property, without intervening creditors, as it has no bonded nor floating 
 debt ; all its employe's are regularly paid every mouth ; it can always manufacture 
 all the articles it now produces as cheaply as any of its competitors, and hence is in 
 no danger of ever abandoning business as a manufacturer of iron and steel. If finan- 
 cial ability to execute a contract is desirable, then the Cambria Iron Company may 
 truthfully be said to possess that requirement in an eminent degree; and if a reputa- 
 tion for energy, enterprise, conscientiousness, and complete success in the production 
 of iron and steel of the best qualities counts for anything, the Cambria Iron Com- 
 pany, it may also be truthfully said, possesses this reputation and has possessed it for 
 many years. 
 
 In conclusion, we desire to inform the Gun Foundry Board that the Cambria Iron 
 Company may be induced to undertake at once the development of its steel plant to 
 meet the requirements for gun material if the United States Government will make a 
 sufficiently large contract or give other positive guarantee which shall insure the 
 Cambria Company adequate employment or sufficient profit to reimburse this large 
 expenditure, the company on its part undertaking to meet the required tests. 
 
APPENDICES. 63 
 
 If the Government desires to enter into any joint action by furnishing the means for 
 the development of a plant, with a reserve for reimbursement, the foregoing state- 
 ments indicate our ability to undertake such action under the most favorable condi- 
 tions for the faithful execution of the work. 
 All of which is respectfully submitted. 
 
 CAMBRIA IRON COMPANY, 
 By E. Y. TOWNSEND, President. 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President of Foundry Board. 
 
 APPENDIX O. 
 
 BROWN'S HOTEL, DOVER STREET, 
 
 London, England, July 30, 1883. 
 
 SIR : I am requested by the Board appointed by the President, under a late act of 
 the United States Congress, to examine and to report on matters relating to the manu- 
 facture of cannon, to address you on the subject of a visit which we desire to make to 
 the works of Mr. Fried. Krupp, at Essen. 
 
 From our preliminary conversation of this morning I understand your position to 
 be at the outset as follows : That if the examination of the Board be confined to a 
 study of the works for the purpose of gaining information for our Government, with- 
 out holding out any prospect of ultimate advantage to the factory through purchase 
 of material, the request for admission will not be granted. 
 
 In reply to this I desire to state that though this Board is not authorized in any 
 way to commit the United States Government to any course of action, yet the recom- 
 mendations that it may make are entirely at its own discretion. 
 
 The members of the Board are well aware of the great expense necessary before a" 
 gun-foundry establishment can be brought to a state of practical usefulness ; they are 
 also aware of the length of time that must elapse before a plant can be established or 
 satisfactory work produced, and if it should be concluded by the United States Con- 
 gress to supplement the present inquiry by directing that armaments shall be pro- 
 vided at once, it is very probable that the recommendations of this Board would be to 
 purchase abroad. 
 
 In such a case, the information that we might gain by a close examination of the 
 manufacture of steel and the fabrication of guns and ammunition at the works of Mr. 
 Krupp might greatly influence the direction of our recommendations. 
 
 If this view of the case will satisfy the implied condition of ultimate profit to the 
 establishment, I will be glad to hear from you to that effect, and I request that this 
 communication may be received as an official application for permission to visit the 
 works. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 E. SIMPSON, 
 Commodore, United States Navy, President of the Board. 
 
 (Care of B. F. Stevens, United States Dispatch Agent, 4 Trafalgar Square, Charing 
 Cross, London.) 
 
 ALFRED LONGSDON, Esq. 
 
 APPENDIX P. 
 
 [Fried. Krupp's Cast-Steel Works, Essen, Khenish Prussia.] 
 
 9 NEW BROAD STREET, 
 
 London, July 31, 1883. 
 
 SIR : I am duly in receipt of your esteemed favor of the 30th instant, which accu- 
 rately recapitulates the substance of our conversation yesterday. I have now fully 
 laid the matter before my Essen firm, and trust in a few days to write you fully thereon, 
 and trust that a satisfactory solution of the question may be found ; and in mean time, 
 believe me, sir, 
 
 Yours, faithfullv, 
 
 Pr. Pro. FRIED. KRUPP, 
 
 ALFRED LONGSDON. 
 BROWN'S HOTEL, Dover Street, W. 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President of the Gun Foundry Board. 
 
64 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 APPENDIX Q. 
 
 [Fried. Krupp's Cast-Steel Works, Essen, Rhenish Prussia.] 
 
 9 NEW BROAD STREET, 
 
 London, August 13, 1883. 
 
 SIR: I am now enabled to reply to your valued favor of 30th July, which has had the 
 consideration of iny Essen firm, and I beg to submit to you the following : 
 
 As it is presumed that your Commission has for its chief purpose the examination 
 of the ordnance question in its characteristic of artillery efficiency, more than as a 
 system of manufacture, which must be secondary, there does not appear to be so much 
 necessity to see the works at Essen, where no data could be taken as to the value of 
 the Krupp system as pieces of artillery. It would be of much higher consequence to 
 you to examine the question of efficiency by a course of practice at the artillery prac- 
 tice ground at Meppen, where guns of different calibers could be fired for all the es- 
 sential ballistic properties attaching to them. 
 
 It is therefore proposed to place at your disposal the practice-ground at Meppen, 
 and to fire there the different guns on the ground for range, accuracy, and general 
 efficiency, and I shall be very glad if this meets with your acceptance. It is, how- 
 ever, of consequence that this should be decided without loss of time, because we are 
 not allowed to fire after September I till October 15, on account of the harvest in the 
 neighborhood. It will, therefore, be essential that the trials take place this month, 
 and if you will kindly give me your decision a programme shall be drawn up for, 
 say, the last days of the month. You may be sure that everything shall be done at 
 Meppen to give you every information upon the superiority of our system of artillery. 
 I shall be glad to have a telegram from you as early as possible, stating your decision, 
 as I am leaving for Essen on Thursday morning. 
 
 The works at Essen cannot be seen, as these are closed to all but those who have 
 special business of inspection of war material on order. 
 I am, sir, yours, obediently, 
 
 Pr. Pro. FRIED. KRUPP, 
 
 ALFRED LONGSDON. 
 
 Commodore EDWARD SIMPSON, 
 
 President of the American Artillery Commission. 
 
 APPENDIX R. 
 
 [Telegram.] 
 
 NEWCASTLE-ON-TYNE, ENGLAND, 
 
 August 14, 1883. 
 ALFRED LONGSDON, 
 
 9 New Broad Street, London, E. C. : 
 
 The Board regrets that it will be unable to accept the offer contained in yours of 
 13th instant. Letter by mail. 
 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, 
 
 County Hotel, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
 
 APPENDIX S. 
 
 THE COUNTY HOTEL, 
 Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, August 15, 1883. 
 
 SIR : On the part of the United States Gun Foundry Board, I have the honor to ac- 
 knowledge the receipt of your favor of the 13th instant, in which I am informed that 
 "the works at Essen cannot be seen, as these are closed to all but those who have 
 special business of inspection of war material on order." 
 
 As the application of the Board was for permission to visit the works at Essen, your 
 reply is therefore a notification that the request is refused. 
 
 The members of the Board appreciate your courtesy in placing at their disposal the 
 practice-ground at Meppen, and your offer to exhibit the firing of guns for range, ac- 
 
APPENDICES. 65 
 
 curacy, and general efficiency ; but notwithstanding the great interest that would be 
 taken iu such experiments by the members of the Board, it is considered that the ob- 
 ject of their mission would not be furthered thereby. With many thanks, therefore, 
 for your considerate offer to view the efficiency of the Krupp manufacture by means 
 of a course of practice, we regret our inability to accept it. 
 
 You will allow me to demur to your conclusion that " your Commission has for its 
 chief purpose the examination of the ordnance question in its characteristics of artil- 
 lery efficiency." On the contrary, it has for its object more the "system of manufact- 
 ure," and I refer you to my letter of July 30, in which this view is presented. 
 Very respectfullv, 
 
 E. SIMPSON, 
 
 Commodore, United States Navy, President of the Board. 
 FRIED. KRUPP'S CAST-STEEL WORKS, ESSEN, RHENISH PRUSSIA, 
 
 9 New Broad Street, London, E. C. 
 
 APPEN DIX T. 
 
 [Fried. Krupp's Cast-Steel Works, Essen, Rhenish Prussia.] 
 
 9 NEW BROAD STREET, 
 
 London, August 16, 1883. 
 
 SIR : I beg to acknowledge your esteemed favor of yesterday, which has been for- 
 warded to Mr. Lougsdon, who has gone to Essen. 
 
 I have the honor to be, sir, your obedient servant. 
 
 For FRIED. KRUPP, 
 
 WALTER COWAN. 
 Commodore E. SIMPSON, U. S. N., 
 
 President of the Gun Foundry Board, 
 
 The County Hotel, Newcastle-on-Tyne. 
 
 APPEN DIX U. 
 
 ESSEN, RHENISH PRUSSIA, 
 
 September I, 1883. 
 
 SIR : Your favor of 15th ultimo has been forwarded to me here, and I very much 
 regret that you have not accepted my desire to be of such service to you as I could, 
 if not in all the objects of your mission to Europe, still to make yourself acquainted 
 by personal observation of the efficiency and general characteristics of my artillery, 
 for I had conceived that at least this would have formed the first necessity, and that 
 the process of the manufacture of a gun would have been second to the conviction 
 as to which is really the most efficient system of artillery. 
 
 If you recollect during our conversation iu London I endeavored to clearly point 
 out to you that it was hardly to be expected that the process of manufacturing artil- 
 lery upon my system could be shown to you, a process only arrived at by an immense 
 expenditure of time and money, while on your side no compensation would be guar- 
 anteed, and that we should thus be upon unequal terras ; and from your favor of 15th 
 ultimo I can now gather that a simple walk through the Essen shops would even not 
 be all that you would require, but that the system of construction should be made 
 clear to you an amount of information scarcely to be expected. 
 
 I was sincerely desirous of giving you every means of examining my gun as a piece 
 of effective ordnance, and I inclose you a programme I had proposed to myself should 
 be followed, and I tMnk you will be assured that I had every desire of being thus far 
 of service to you. The outlay for such a programme would be 500 at least, so that 
 I was fully prepared to sacrifice this in your interest, and if you can visit the practice- 
 ground at Meppen after 15th October, I will do my utmost still to show you all the 
 courtesy and attention lean in this direction. 
 
 Should you desire to have a series of reports of trials with my guns of various cali- 
 bers, showing their capabilities, I shall be happy to have a collection of them made for 
 your disposal. 
 
 I am, sir, yours, very truly, 
 
 Pr. Pro. FRIED KRUPP, 
 
 ALFRED LONGSDON. 
 
 Commodore EDWARD SIMPSON, 
 
 U. S. N., President of the Chin Foundry Board, London. 
 
 H. Ex. 97 5 
 
66 
 
 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 Draft of programme for United States Commission. 
 
 Caliber. 
 
 Numbers and kind of pro- 
 jectiles. 
 
 Pauses for 
 
 Space of 
 time. 
 
 40-centimetre gun 
 
 2 common shells 
 
 
 Minutes. 
 
 
 5 armor-piercin" 1 shells 
 
 Change of position of frames. . 
 
 15 
 
 
 5 common shells 
 
 
 25 
 
 15i-centimetre gun 
 
 5 common shells 
 
 Change of position of frames. . 
 
 15 
 
 on 
 
 
 
 Advance 
 
 15 
 
 15-centimetre mortar 
 
 5 common shells 
 
 
 1*> 
 
 
 5 shrapnels 
 
 
 25 
 
 8.7-centiraetre gun 
 
 5 shells, 5 shrapnels ....... 
 
 Rest, including advance 
 
 120 
 40 
 
 Light 7.5-ceutimetre gun 
 
 5 shells 5 shrapnels 
 
 
 30 
 
 7.5-centimetre mountain gun... 
 
 5 shells, 5 shrapnels .... 
 
 
 30 
 
 15.5-centimetre shield gun 
 
 10 shells 
 
 
 20 
 
 15-centimetre pivot gun 
 
 5 shells 
 
 
 20 
 
 
 
 
 ~470 
 
 470 minutes=7 hours 50 minutes. 
 
 APPENDIX V. 
 
 PARIS, FRANCE, September 17, 1883. 
 
 SIR : On my return from an extended tour in France, I find your favor of the 1st 
 instant, which I have laid before the Commission, and to which I hasten to reply. 
 
 The "draft of a programme for the United States Commission," inclosed in your 
 letter, is of a most elaborate character, and very strongly confirms the statement 
 therein that you were desirous of giving the Commission " every means of examining 
 my [your] gun as a piece of effective ordnance," and it is hardly necessary for me to 
 repeat that such an exhibition would be of the greatest interest personally to the 
 members of the Commission. The estimated outlay for such a programme (500) im- 
 presses us with the extent of the sacrifice you were prepared to make in this regard 
 in the interest of the Commission. 
 
 The question of the effectiveness of the Krupp gun as a piece of ordnance, how- 
 ever, is not one which at this day can be disputed. The battle fought at Meppen in 
 1879, though bloodless, &id without an enemy in the field, settled this question most 
 decidedly, and you cannot suppose that the members of this Commission are ignorant 
 of the results that have ensued. It is to be regretted that no representatives from 
 the United States assisted at those experiments ; but the results are known through- 
 out the world. To witness a partial repetition of them would be excessively inter- 
 esting, but it would impart no new information. 
 
 You will thus see that a "personal observation of the efficiency and general char- 
 acteristics of my [your] artillery" was not necessary in order to satisfy us of its power; 
 and as the time at our disposal was limited and our course of investigation indicated, 
 we were forced to suppress personal inclination, and to conclude that time spent as 
 you proposed would not be justified by the especial object of our mission. The 
 courtesy of your proposition was thoroughly recognized, and I trust that our reasons 
 for declining your modification of our request are accepted as a necessity arising out 
 of the circumstances in which we are placed. 
 
 After being notified by you that the "works at Essen cannot be seen, as these are 
 closed to all but those who have special business of inspection of war material on 
 order," the Commission established for itself a programmer-including a visit to the 
 Aboukhoff Works at Alexandrovsky, which will prevent it from entertaining the 
 idea of visiting the practice-ground at Meppen after the 15th of October, as suggested 
 in your favor of the 1st instant, to which this note is a reply. 
 
 In conclusion, I desire to say that this Commission, though organized by act of Con- 
 gress, and with its members appointed by the President of the United States himself, 
 does not presume to question the perfect'right of the authorities of any establishment 
 o exclude it from its premises. Such rights are exercised by Governments, and such 
 
APPENDICES. 67 
 
 action is within the rights of any private corporation, and I deprecate the impression 
 that may be conveyed that the non-attendance of the Commission at Meppen is the 
 result of its exclusion from Essen. 
 
 The Commission is organized as a Gun Foundry Board ; its essential work concerns 
 itself with the arrangement of shops, the selection and position of tools, machines, 
 &c. in a word, with "installation." Matters of manufacture of metal, construc- 
 tion of guns, &c., come in as incidental, and bear much on the special object of its 
 mission ; but gun-practice is a luxury which can only be indulged in when the more 
 essential features of its work do not engage the attention of the Commission. 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 E. SIMPSON, 
 
 Commodore, United States Navy, President of the Board. 
 FRIED. KRUPP, Esq., 
 
 Per Alfred Longsdon, Esq., 
 
 Essen. 
 
RECORD OF PROCEEDINGS. 
 
KECOKD 
 
 OF THE 
 
 CONVENING SESSIONS AND PEOOEEDINGS OF THE GUN 
 
 FOUNDRY BOAED, 
 
 April 10, 1883, to February 8, 1884. 
 
 Gux FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 COMMANDANT'S OFFICE, NAVY- YARD, LEAGUE ISLAND, 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., April 10, 1883. 
 
 The Board met at 10.45 a. m., in accordance with the precept issued by the Presi- 
 dent of the United States (File Book, p. 2), instructions received from the honorable 
 Secretary of the Navy (File Book, p. 1), and order of Commodore Edward Simpson, 
 U. S. N., senior member (Letter-Press Book, p. 3), and organized as follows : 
 
 Commodore Edward Simpson, United States Navy, member, president of the Board. 
 
 Capt. Edmund O. Matthews, United States Navy, member. 
 
 Col. Thomas G. Baylor, Ordnance Department, United States Army, member. 
 
 Lieut. Col. Henry L. Abbot, Engineer Corps, United States Army, member. 
 
 Maj. Samuel S. Elder, Second Artillery, United States Army, member. 
 
 Lieut. William H. Jaques, United States Navy, member, secretary of the Board. 
 
 All members present. 
 
 The precept and instructions were read by the president. 
 
 After discussion, the following were accepted as the principal requisites of location 
 and adaptability of site : 
 
 Defensibility. 
 
 Possibility of expansion. 
 
 Convenience of proving and testing. 
 
 Proximity of iron. 
 
 Proximity of coal. 
 
 Proximity of skilled labor. 
 
 Proximity of water communication. 
 
 Character of foundation. 
 
 Salubrity of climate. 
 
 It was also decided to prepare letters to the Secretaries of War and the Navy ask- 
 ing for any information in their possession relating to the description, capacity, and 
 cost of the equipment of European arsenals and foundries capable of casting and 
 manufacturing the largest guns. Also, for plans of the various navy-yards and ar- 
 senals, said plans to cover the accepted requisites of location and adaptability 
 
 It was further decided to prepare a circular letter to the steel manufacturers and 
 gun factors asking what Government assistance would be necessary to enable them 
 to undertake the casting and manufacture of the largest guns, inclosing copies of 
 Army Ordnance Circular Letter and Army General Order No. 20. To be included in 
 this is the estimate of a steam hammer for or other means of the manufacture of 80 
 and 100 ton guns. 
 
 After further discussion of plan of action, the Board, at 2 p. m., adjourned subject 
 to call of president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 COMMANDANT'S OFFICE, NAVY- YARD, LEAGUE ISLAND, 
 
 Philadelphia, Pa., May 18, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10.45 a. m., in pursuance of the order of its president of May 9, 1883. 
 All members present. 
 
 The record of the last meeting was read and approved. 
 
 The Board then proceeded to read and file communications. (File Book A. Nos. 12, 
 13, 15, 16, 18, 19, 20, >7, 28, 30, 31, 36, 37, 38.) 
 
 71 
 
72 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 Read, considered, and placed on file the following correspondence : From Mr. Thomas 
 S.Kennedy, of Louisville, Ky., offering his homestead ;is a site for the proposed 
 foundry (File Book 6, 7, 8, 9, 33) ; from Senator Mahone, of Petersburg, Va. (File 
 Book 24) ; and from Mr. George F. Tyler, president of the Norfolk and Western Railroad 
 Company (File Book 29) ; and from Morgan, Williams & Co. (File Book 11). 
 
 The Board then proceeded with the discussion of the navy-yards and arsenals to be 
 visited, and, after consideration of their location and adaptability, concluded for the 
 present not to visit the following, viz : Beaufort naval station, S. C. ; Key West naval 
 station, Fla; Mare Island navy-yard, Cal. ; Pensacola navy-yard, Fla.: Augusta 
 Arsenal, Ga. ; Benicia Arsenal, Cal. ; Fort Monroe Arsenal, Old Point Comfort, Va.; 
 Indianapolis Arsenal, Ind. ; Kennebec Arsenal, Augusta, Me. ; New York Arsenal, Gov- 
 ernor's Island, New York Harbor ; and San Antonio Arsenal, Texas, leaving the follow- 
 ing to be visited, viz : Boston navy-\ ard, Mass. ; League Island navy-yard, Philadel- 
 phia, Pa. ; New London naval station. Conn. ; New York navy-yard, N. Y. ; Norfolk 
 navy-yard, Va. ; Portsmouth navy-yard, N. H. ; Washington navy-yard, D. C. ; Alle- 
 gheny Arsenal, Pittsburgh, Pa.; Frankford Arsenal, Philadelphia, Pa.; Springtield 
 Armory, Mass. ; Rock Island Arsenal, 111. ; Watertown Arsenal, Mass. ; and Watervliet 
 Arsenal, West Troy, N. Y. 
 
 On motion, it was voted that the president of the Board be requested to communi- 
 cate with the Secretaries of War and the Navy upon the subject of the advisability of 
 visiting gun foundries in Europe, which, in its opinion, is necessary to gain the desired 
 information. 
 
 After discussion of the course to be pursued in making the designated visits, the 
 Board inspected the navy-} ard, League Island, Philadelphia, and adjourned at 2.30 
 p. m. to meet in Norfolk, Va., on Tuesday, the 29th instant, to examine the Noifolk 
 navy-yard. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Norfolk, Va., May 29, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Visited and examined the Norfolk navy-yard for the purpose of determining the 
 advantages of this location for a Government foundry. After discussion and due 
 consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board as a standard of reference, 
 the Board reserved its decision in the case of this yard until farther informed of the 
 characteristics of other points to be visited in accordance with the President's order. 
 
 Read and filed communications, Pennsylvania Railroad (File Book 40), Anderson 
 Du Puy & Co. (File Book 39), Park Bro. & Co. (File Book 42). 
 
 At 2 p. m. adjourned to meet in Washington, D. C., Wednesday, the 30th instant. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Washington, D. C., May 30, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Visited and examined the Washington navy-yard for the purpose of determining 
 the advantages of this location for a Government foundry. 
 
 After discussion and due consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board 
 as a standard of reference, the Board reserved its decision in the case of this yard 
 until further informed of the characteristics of other points to be visited in accordance 
 with the President's order. The Board also inspected the ordnance work in progress 
 at this yard. 
 
 At 3 p. m. adjourned to meet in Pittsburgh, Pa., Thursday, the 31st instant, at 10 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Pittsburgh, Pa., May 31, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Visited and examined the Allegheny Arsenal, Pittsburgh, Pa., for the purpose of 
 determining the advantages of this location for a Government foundry. 
 
 After discussion and due consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board 
 as a standard of reference, the Board reserved its decision in the case of this arsenal 
 until further informed of the characteristics of other points to be visited in accord- 
 ance with the President's order. 
 
APPENDICES. 73 
 
 The Board also visited the Black Diamond Steel Works of Messrs. Park Brothers, 
 and examined the operation of the seventeen-ton hammer, one of the largest in the 
 United States. An investigation of the manufacture of steel at this establishment 
 showed the metal was entirely produced by the Siemens process, applied not only to 
 the open-hearth method, but also to the furnaces in which the crucible steel is made. 
 
 At 5 p. m. adjourned to meet in Johnstown, Pa., Friday, June 1, at 11 am. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Johnstotvn, Pa., June 1, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Visited the Cambria Iron Works, and witnessed the operation of the production of 
 steel by the Siemens open-hearth rotary furnace, of which there were two in opera- 
 tion, and another in process of construction, of a capacity of about 20 tons each. 
 The Board also inspected the blast furnaces, steel-rail mills, and other works of this 
 large establishment. 
 At 5.50 p. m. adjourned to meet subject to call of the president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Cold Spring, N. Y., June 14, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 1 p. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Visited the Cold Spring Foundry and Gun Factory of Messrs. Paulding, Kemble <fc 
 Co., and examined its site and the capacity and condition of its plant. The Board 
 then proceeded to read and file communications. (File Book 49, 51, 52.) 
 At 4 p. m. adjourned to meet in West Troy, N. Y., Friday, June 15, at 9 a. in. 
 
 WEST TROY, N. Y., June 15, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 9 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Visited arid examined the Watervliet Arsenal, West Troy, N. Y., for the purpose of 
 determining the advantages of this location for a Government foundry. 
 
 After discussion and due consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board 
 as a standard of reference, the Board reserved its decision in the case of this arsenal 
 until further informed of the characteristics of other points to be visited in accord- 
 ance with the President's order. 
 
 At 1 p. m. adjourned to meet in Springfield, Mass., Saturday, June 16, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Springfield, Mass., June 16, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 Visited and examined the National Armory. Springfield, Mass., for the purpose of 
 determining the advantages of this location for a Government foundry. 
 
 After discussion and due consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board 
 as a standard of reference, the Board reserved its decision in the case of this armory, 
 until further irformed of the characteristics of other points to be visited in accord- 
 ance with the President's order. 
 
 Examined also the steam hammer, furnace, and hydraulic anvil erected in the works 
 for the manufacture of the Hitchcock gun. 
 
 At I p. in. adjourned to meet in Boston, Monday, June 18, at 8.30 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Boston, Mass., June 18, 1883. 
 
 Board met pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Discussed the suggested necessity of the employment of a mechanical expert and a 
 
 recorder to accompany the Board during its European inspection, and concluded the 
 
 employment of the latter was not necessary at the present time, and postponed action 
 
 in regard to the former until the necessity of his services might be proved. 
 
 The Board then proceeded to Union Market, Mass., and examined the Watertown 
 
74 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 Arsenal, for the purpose of determining the advantages of this location for a Govern- 
 ment foundry. 
 
 After discussion and due consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board 
 as a standard of reference, the Board reserved its decision in the case of this arsenal 
 until further informed of the charactistics of other points to be visited in accordance 
 with the President's order. 
 
 Examined also the Emory testing machine erected in those works and said to be 
 the most excellent, delicate, and powerful testing machine in the world. 
 
 The Board then proceeded to Charlebtowu, Mass., and examined the Boston navy- 
 yard, for the purpose of determining the advantages of this location for a Govern- 
 ment foundry. 
 
 After discussion and due consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board 
 as a standard of reference, the Board reserved its decision in the case of this navy-yard 
 until further informed of the characteristics of other points to be visited in accord- 
 ance with the President's order. 
 
 At 4 p. in. adjourned to meet at Portsmouth, N. H., Tuesday, June 19, 1883, at 8 
 a. in. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Portsmouth, N. H., June 19, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 8 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Visited and examined the navy-yard for the purpose of determining the advantages 
 of this location for a Government foundry. After discussion and due consideration 
 of the requirements indicated by the Board as a standard of reference, the Board re- 
 served its decision in the case of this navy-yard until further informed of the char- 
 acteristics of other points to be visited in accordance with the President's order. 
 At 11 a. m. adjourned to meet in Boston, Mass., Tuesday, June 19, 1883, at 2 p. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Boston, Mass., June 19, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 2 p. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Visited the South Boston Iron Works and Gun Factory, South Boston, Mass., and 
 examined its site and the capacity and condition of its plant. 
 
 At 5 p. m. adjourned to meet in New London, Conn., Wednesday, June 20, 1883, at 
 10.30 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 New London, Conn , June 20, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 Visited and examined the New London naval station for the purpose of determin- 
 ing the advantages of this location for a Government foundry. After discussion and 
 due consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board as a standard of refer- 
 ence, the Board reserved its decision in the case of this naval station until further 
 informed of the characteristics of other points to be visited in accordance with the 
 President's order. 
 
 At 3.30 p. m. adjourned to meet subject to call of the president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 New YorJc,N. Y.,July 18, 1883. 
 
 Board met on board Cunard royal mail steamer " Servia," and left the United States 
 for England, in accordance with orders of the Secretary of War (File Book A, p. 53) 
 and the Secretary of the Navy (File Book A, p. 45). All members present. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, July 27, 1883. 
 
 Board met pursuant to the order of its president. All members present. 
 The president was requested to communicate with the United States minister to 
 England, and ask his aid in obtaining permission to visit the Government establish- 
 ments. 
 
 The Board then adjourned to meet Monday, the 30th instant, at 10 a.m. 
 
APPENDICES. 75 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Monday, July 30, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m. pursuant to adjournment. All members present except Col- 
 onel Baylor, absent on account of sickness. 
 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 118-120.) 
 
 Received and riled communications. (File Book B, p. 1.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to pay an official call upon the honorable James Russell 
 Lowell, United States minister, and accepted the invitation of Sir Joseph Whit worth, 
 Bart., to call at his London office and inspect his systems of gun construction, pro- 
 jectile manufacture -ind armor plating, with specimens of machines for testing same. 
 
 Adjourned at 4 p. m. to meet at 8 p. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 BROWN'S HOTEL, DOVER STREET, 
 London, England, Monday, July 30, 1883. 
 
 Board met a fc > 8 p. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present except Col- 
 onel Baylor, absent on account of sickness. 
 
 The Board proceeded to discuss plans for future action, and requested the president 
 to communicate with the following-named manufacturers in relation to its proposed 
 visit to their works, viz: Alfred Longsdon, Fried. Krupp's Cast-Steel Works, 9 New 
 Broad street, London; Thomas Firth & Sons, Norfolk Works. Sheffield; Charles Cam- 
 mell &Co., Sheffield; Sir John Brown & Co., Sheffield ; Sir William Armstrong, Mitchell 
 & Co., Elswick, Newcastle-on-Tyne ; Messrs. Vickers, Sons & Co., Sheffield; and Henry 
 Bessemer & Co., Sheffield. 
 
 The president was also requested to address a letter to the honorable L. P. Morton, 
 United States minister to France, asking his kind offices in securing, in advance of 
 the arrival of the Board, permits from the French Government to visit their works at 
 Puteaux, Ruelle, Bourges, Gavre, and Sevran-Livry. 
 
 Sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 123.) 
 
 At 10.30 p. m. adjourned to meet Wednesday, August 1, at 9.30 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Wednesday, August 1, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 9.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present except 
 Colonel Baylor, absent on account of sickness. 
 
 Received from English war office, through Lieutenant-Commander Chadwick, naval 
 attache", and in answer to his request a "list of machinery employed in the construc- 
 tion of steel B. L. guns in the Royal Gun Factory, Woolwich, together with a list of 
 the addresses of the firms from whom the necessary appliances are procurable." 
 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 126-132.) 
 
 Read and filed communication. (File Book B, p. 2.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to the Royal Arsenal at Woolwich and visited the gun 
 factories, after which it adjourned to meet to-morrow, Thursday, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 BROWN'S HOTEL, DOVER STREET, 
 
 Thursday, August 2, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 4,5.) 
 
 Received a visit from Mr. Greenwood, of the firm of Greenwood & Batly, tool man- 
 ufacturers, of Leeds. Discussed with him the subject of tools, particularly as to 
 sizes and number requisite to perform certain work in a certain time. Mr. Greenwood 
 proposed to prepare and submit to the Board a plan of works and an arrangement of 
 shops and tools calculated to accomplish the work proposed by the Board. 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 133, 134.) 
 
 The Board then visited and inspected the London Ordnance Works of Messrs. J. 
 Vavasseur & Co., after which it adjourned to meet to-morrow, Friday, 3d instant, at 
 9.30 a. m. 
 
76 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 London, England, Friday, August 3, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 9.30 a. m., pursuant lo adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 6-10.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to the Woolwich Arsenal, visited the gun, carriage, and 
 projectile factories, the laboratory, and witnessed a trial of the Vavasseur gun-car- 
 riage for 4-inch B. L. rifle. 
 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 135-137.) 
 
 The Board then adjourned, to meet Tuesday, the 7th instant, at 9.30 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Tuesday, August 7, 1883. 
 
 Board met, pursuant to adjournment, at 9.30 a. m. All members present. 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 11-15 and 17.) 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 138-143.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to Woolwich Arsenal and continued its inspection, after 
 which it adjourned, to meet subject to call of its president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Wednesday, August 8, 1883. 
 Board met pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 145.) 
 Read and filed communication (File Book B, p. 16.) 
 
 Accompanied by Mr. J. Vavasseur, of London, and Lieutenant-Commander F. E. 
 Chadwick, naval attache" to the legation, London, the Board proceeded to Sheffield, 
 and adjourned, to meet to-morrow, Thursday, the 9th instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL, 
 Sheffield, England, Thursday, August 9, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The Board proceeded to the Norfolk Iron and Steel Works of Thomas Firth & Sons, 
 Limited; witnessed a casting of crucible steel, and inspected the works. 
 Read and filed communication. (File Book B, p. 18a.) 
 
 Received from Varrall,Elwell & Middleton, constructing machinists, Paris, France, 
 through Lieutenant-Commander Chadwick, tracings and descriptions of gun milling 
 and drilling, breech-screw and planing and rifling machines now at Ruelle, France. 
 At 5.30 p. m. adjourned, to meet to-morrow, Friday, 10th instant, at 10 a. in. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL, 
 Sheffield, England, Friday, August 10, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 146-148.) 
 Read and filed communication. (File Book B, p. 18.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to the Atlas Steel and Iron Works of John Brown & 
 Co., Limited, and witnessed the process of soldering iron and steel plates for armor, 
 the Bessemer process of manufacture, and inspected the works. 
 
 At 3 p. in. the Board proceeded to the Iron and Steel Works of Charles Cammell & 
 Co., Limited, and witnessed the formation of a compound armor plate by the process 
 of a steel casting upon a wrought-iron plate prepared for the purpose. Inspected 
 the Bessemer plant and other parts of the works. 
 
 At 5.30 p. m., adjourned to meet to-morrow, Saturday, the llth instant, at 10a.m. 
 
APPENDICES. 77 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL, 
 Sheffield, England, Saturday, August 11, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Read and filed communication. (File Book B, p. 19.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to the River Don Works of Messrs. Vickers, Sons & Co., 
 Limited, and inspected the forge and machine shops, but were not invited to view 
 the process of steel manufacture. 
 At 1 p. m. adjourned, to meet 011 Monday, the 13th instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUJN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 ROYAL VICTORIA HOTEL, 
 Sheffield, England, Monday, August 13, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Read and filed communication. (File Book B, p. 22.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to the Bessemer Steel Works of Henry Bessemer & Co., 
 Limited ; inspected the works, and witnessed a five-ton casting by the Bessemer pro- 
 cess and mechanical mixer or stirrer. 
 
 The Board then adjourned to meet in Newcastle-on-Tyne, Tuesday, the 14th instant, 
 at 8 p. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 THE COUNTY HOTEL, 
 
 Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, Tuesday, August 14, 1883. 
 Board met pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 23-25.) 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 149-152.) 
 
 The Board requested its president to communicate with the Fried. Krupp Cast- 
 Steel Works, regretting the Board's inability to accept the kind invitation to witness, 
 at Meppen, an exhibition of the general efficiency of the Krupp manufacture. 
 
 The president was also requested to communicate with the United States minister 
 to Russia, and ask his aid in obtaining permission to visit the Government establish- 
 ments there. 
 
 Adjourned to meet to-morrow, Wednesday, the loth instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 THE COUNTY HOTEL, 
 
 Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, Wednesday, August 15, 1883. 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 153.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to the Elswick Works, Sir W. G. Armstrong, Mitchell & 
 Co., and inspected part of the ordnance works. 
 At 2 p. m. adjourned to meet to-morrow, Thursday, the 16th instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 THE COUNTY HOTEL, 
 
 Neuicastle-on-Tyne, England, Thursday, August 16, 1883. 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 155, 156.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to Middlesbrough, and inspected the Cleveland Iron and 
 Steel Works of Bolchow, Vaughan &Co., and witnessed the production of steel by the 
 basic process. 
 
 The Board then returned to Newcastle-on-Tyne, and at 5.30 p. m. adjourned to meet 
 to-morrow, Friday, the 17th instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
78 REPORT OF UUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Neiccastle-on-Tyne, England, Friday, August 17, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. in., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 26, 27.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to a further inspection of the Els wick Works, Sir W. G. 
 Armstrong, Mitchell & Co. 
 
 At 3 p. m. adjourned to continue the inspection of these \vorks to-morrow, Satur- 
 day, the 18th instant, and to meet on Monday, the 20th instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
 AUGUST 18, 1883. 
 By direction of the president, sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 158, 159.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 THE COUNTY HOTEL, 
 
 Newcastle-on-Tyne, England, Monday, August 20, 1883. 
 Board met at 10 a. in., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 28,^9.) 
 
 Received accompanying drawings and descriptions of 4-foot sliding-gap lathe and 
 3-foot screw cutting and sliding lathe from Varrall, Elwell & Middleton, of Paris, 
 France. 
 
 Sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 160.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to make another visit to the Elswick Works, after which 
 it adjourned to meet to-morrow, Tuesday, the 21st instant, at 11 a. m., in Leeds. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 QUEEN'S HOTEL, 
 Leeds, England, Tuesday, August 21, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 The Board proceeded to the offices and works of Messrs. Greenwood & Batey and 
 inspected plans of machinery and tools for the manufacture of guns. 
 
 At 2 p. m. adjourned to meet to-morrow, Wednesday, the 22d instant, at 10 a. m., 
 in Manchester. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 QUEEN'S HOTEL, 
 
 Manchester, England, Wednesday, August 22, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m. pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The Board proceeded to the office and works of Messrs. Hulse & Co., and inspected 
 plans of machinery and tools for the manufacture of guns. 
 At 1 p. in. adjourned to proceed to London, and meet subject to call of its president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 BROWN'S HOTEL, DOVER STREET, 
 London, England, Friday, August 24, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 8 p. m., at its president's call. All members present. 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 30, 31.) 
 Sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 161.) 
 
 After discussion, Board adjourned at 10 p. m., to meet in Paris, France, Wednesday, 
 the 29th instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
APPENDICES. 79 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 THE NORMANDY HOTEL, RUE DE L'ECHELLE, 
 
 Paris, France, Wednesday, August 29, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Received communication. (File Book B, p. 42.) 
 
 The Board then proceeded to pay an official call upon the Hon. L. P. Morton, United 
 States minister to France, and visited the works of the "Socie'te' Anonyme des An- 
 ciens EtabPts Gail," Paris. 
 The Board then adjourned to meet to-morrow, Thursday, the 30th instant, at 11 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 THE NORMANDY HOTEL, 
 Paris, France, Thursday, August 30, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The Board then proceeded, in company with Minister Morton and his first secretary 
 of legation, to call upon the military governor of Paris, in accordance with the re- 
 quest of the French minister of war of August 18th, and left communication (File 
 Book B, p. 43), after which the Board adjourned to meet to-morrow, Friday, the 31st 
 instant, at 9.30 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 THE NORMANDY HOTEL, 
 Paris, France, Friday, August 31, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 9.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Received communication (File Book B, p. 43) from the military governor of Paris, 
 with his indorsement. 
 
 The Board then proceeded to visit the Etablissement d'Artillerie de Puteaux, near 
 Paris; after which the Board adjourned to meet to-morrow, Saturday, September 1, 
 at 11 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 THE NORMANDY HOTEL, 
 Paris, France, Saturday, September 1, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 After discussion, decided to leave Paris Monday, the 3d instant, at 8.45 a.m., for 
 Angoul6rue, Bourges, Lyons, and Le Creusot. 
 
 The Board then proceeded to Sevran-Livry, near Paris, and inspected the ponder 
 factory and butts of Sevran-Livry. 
 
 Received and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 34, 35.) 
 
 The Board then adjourned to meet Monday, the 3d instant, at 8 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Sunday, September 2, 1883. 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 184-187.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Paris, France, Monday, September 3, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 8 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The Board proceeded to Augoul&ne, France, by way of Orleans and Tours, to visit 
 the gun factory of Ruelle. 
 
 Adjourned at 4 p. m. to meet to-morrow, Tuesday, the 4th instant, at 11 a. m. 
 
80 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 GRAND HOTEL DU PALAIS, 
 Angouleme France, Tuesday, September 4, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. in., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Proceeded by carriage (40 minutes' drive) to Ruelle, and inspected the National 
 Gun Foundry. 
 
 At 6 p. m. adjourned to meet to-morrow, Wednesday, the 5th instant, at noon. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Angouleme, France, Wednesday, September 5, 1883. 
 Board met at noon, pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The Board then proceeded to Ruelle, and continued its inspection of the National 
 Gun Foundry there. 
 At 6 p. m. adjourned to meet to-morrow, Thursday, the 6th instant, at 9.30 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Angouleme, France, Thursday, September 6, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 9.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The Board then proceeded, via Tours and Vierzou, to Bourges, where it arrived at 
 8.45 p. m., and adjourned, to meet to-morrow, Friday, the 7th instant, at 9.45 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 GRAND HOTEL DE LA BOULE D'OR, 
 
 Bourges, France, Friday, September 7, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 9.45 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The Board then proceeded to pay an official call, accompanied by Lieutenant-Com- 
 mander Chadwick, naval attache" to the legation, London, upon General Schne"egaiis, 
 commandant of the eighth army corps, and then visited and inspected the gun fac- 
 tory of Bourges ; after which it adjourned, to meet to-morrow, Saturday, the 8th in- 
 stant, at 8 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Bourges, France, Saturday, September 8, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 8 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The Board then proceeded to Lyons, France, via Sauscaize, Moulins, Roanne, and 
 L'Arbresle, and adjourned at 9 p. m., to meet Monday, the 10th instant, at 8.30 a. m. 
 Received communications. (File Book B, pp. 36-38.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 GRAND HOTEL DE LYON, 
 Lyons, France, Sunday, September 9, 1883. 
 By direction of the president, sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 188.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 GRAND HOTEL DE LYON, 
 Lyons, France, Monday, September 10, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 8.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present, except 
 Colonel Baylor, absent on account of sickness. 
 
 The Board proceeded to Terre Noire, inspected the works of the " Compagnie des 
 Fonderies et Forges de Terre Noire, La Voulte et Besseges," and witnessed experi- 
 ments with the Ripley-Hope steel gun of 127 millimetres. 
 
APPENDICES. 81 
 
 The Board then returned to Lyons and adjourned to meet to-morrow, Tuesday, the 
 llth instant, at 9 a. m. 
 
 Received from the War Office, Horse Guards, S. W., London, England, through 
 Lieut. Commander F. E. Chadwick, United States Navy, naval attache", permit to 
 visit the works of fortification at Dover Turret. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Lyons, France, Tuesday, September 11, 1883. 
 
 Board met pursuant to adjournment and proceeded to St.-Chamond. All members 
 present. 
 
 Inspected the works of the " Compagnie des Hauts-Fourneaux, Forges et Aci^ries 
 de la Marine et des Chemins de Fer a St.-Chamond (Loire)," witnessed the rolling 
 of a compound plate (manufactured by the Wilson patent), the casting of a 16-ton 
 ingot, and the forging of an ingot of the same weight under the 80-ton hammer. 
 
 The Board then returned to Lyons, and adjourned to meet to-morrow, Wednesday, 
 the 12th instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
 Received and filed communication. (File Book B, p. 44.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Lyons, France, Wednesday, September 12, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Proceeded to Chagny, France. 
 At 8 p. m. adjourned to meet to-morrow, Thursday, the 13th instant, at 7.30 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 HOTEL DU COMMERCE, 
 
 Chagny, France, Thursday, September 13, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 7.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Proceeded to Le Creusot and inspected a part of the steel works of Henri Schneider 
 & Co. Witnessed the tempering of a 24-centimetre gun tube, and the casting of a 
 45-ton steel ingot. 
 At 5.30 p. m, adjourned to meet to-morrow, Friday, the 14th instant, at 8.30 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 HOTEL RODERIGUE, 
 
 Le Creusot, France, Friday, September 14, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 8.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Continued the inspection of the Creusot steel works and witnessed the forging of 
 a 75-ton ingot under the 100-ton hammer. 
 At 6.45 p. m. adjourned to meet to-morrow, Saturday, the 15th instant, at 8 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Le Creusot, France, Saturday, September 15, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 8 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Proceeded to Paris, via Chagny, Dijon, and Fontainebleau. 
 At 6 p. m. adjourned to meet Monday, the 17th instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 THE NORMANDY HOTEL, 
 Paris, France, Monday, September 17, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 39-41.) 
 
 It was resolved to select a committee to visit St. Petersburg, Russia, to further the 
 work of the Board, and Captain Matthews, United States Navy, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Abbot, United States Army, and Lieutenant Jaques, United States Navy, were ap- 
 pointed members of such committee. 
 
 H. Ex. 97 6 
 
82 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 The following committees were also appointed : 
 
 Colonel Baylor and Major Elder, United States Army, to consult with the tool man- 
 ufacturers of Manchester and Leeds, England, during the absence of the committee 
 in Russia. 
 
 Captain Matthews, United States Navy, and Lieutenant-Colonel Abbot, United States 
 Army, on buildings. 
 
 Colonel Baylor and Major Elder, United States Army, and Lieutenant Jaques, United 
 States Navy, on the number and placing of tools in shops. 
 
 The Board requested the president to communicate with the Hon. W. H. Hunt, 
 United States minister to Russia, in relation to the visit of the committee to Russia; 
 with M. Henri Schneider, of Le Creusot; M. Euverte, director of the Compagnie des 
 Fonderies et Forges de Terre Noire ; M. de Mongolfier, the director of the Compagnie des 
 Hauts-Fourneaux, Forges et Acie"ries de la Marine et des Chemins de Fer a St.-Chamond 
 (Loire); M. de Bange, the director of the Socie'te' Auonymedes Auciens fitablissement 
 Cail a Paris, acknowledging the courteous reception extended by them to the members 
 of the Board; with the Hon. L. P. Morton, United States minister to France, acknowl- 
 edging the assistance rendered by the military and naval authorities of France and 
 his own personal courtesies; and with Fried. Krupp, of Essen, per Alfred Longsdon, 
 acknowledging the receipt of his letter of the 1st instant and expressing the impossi- 
 bility of accepting his modification of the Board's request. 
 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 190, 166.) 
 
 At meridian Board adjourned to meet subject to call of its president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Paris, France, Tuesday, September 18, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 2 p. m., at its president's call. All members present. 
 Accompanied by Minister Morton and his first secretary of legation, paid official 
 calls upon the ministers of war and navy. 
 At 4 p. m. adjourned to meet subject to president's call. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Paris, France, Wednesday, September 19, 1883. 
 By direction of the president, sent communications. (Letber Book, pp. 171-177.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 From September 19 to October 5, 1883. 
 
 Committee of Board appointed to visit Russia engaged in its duties ; other members 
 of the Board occupied in France and England, revisiting the arsenal at Puteaux, col- 
 
 cting 
 
 otch 
 lected. 
 
 , 
 
 lecting information on wire construction in France, inspecting the works of Messrs, 
 Hotchkiss & Co., at St.-Denis, and compiling and arranging the information col- 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Paris, France, Wednesday, September 26, 1883. 
 Sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 180. ) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD COMMITTEE, 
 
 HOTEL DE FRANCE, 
 
 St. Petei-sburg, Russia, Monday, September 24, 1883. 
 Committee met at 10 a. m. All members present. 
 
 Proceeded to pay an official call upon the Hon. William H. Hunt, United States 
 minister to Russia, who accompanied the committee to pay official calls upon the 
 ministers of war and navy. 
 
 The committee then proceeded, in company with an aide-de-camp of General 
 Obroutcheff, to pay an official call upon General Sophiano, chief of artillery, and ad- 
 journed at 3 p. m. to meet to-morrow, Tuesday, the 25th instant, at 9.30 a. m. 
 
APPENDICES. 83 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD COMMITTEE, 
 St. Petersburg, Russia, Tuesday, September 25, 1883. 
 
 Committee met at 9.30 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Accompanied by Minister Hunt, proceeded to pay an official call upon the minis- 
 ter of the navy, Vice-Admiral Shestakoff (Le Vice-Amiral Shestakoff, aide-de-camp 
 G<Su6ral de S. M.). 
 
 The committee, accompanied by Captain Alexandre Von-der-Howen, Garde Artil- 
 lerie (by direction of General Obroutcheff, acting minister of war) then proceeded 
 to the St. Petersburg Arsenal ('* Orondiinoi Fawod ") and inspected the work in hand, 
 the small-arm ammunition shops and laboratory, after which, at 10 p. m., it adjourned 
 to meet Thursday, the 27th instant, at 8 a. m. (Wednesday, the 26th instant, being a 
 holiday). 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD COMMITTEE, 
 St. Petersburg, Russia, Thursday, September 27, 1883. 
 
 Committee met at 8 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Accompanied by Gunnery Lieutenant Raskazoff, Imperial Russian Navy (by direc- 
 tion of Admiral Shestakoff), proceeded in an admiralty steam launch to Oboukhoff, 
 where the committee inspected the Oboukhoff Steel Works and Gun Factory. 
 At 5 p. in. adjourned to meet to-morrow, Friday, September 28, at 8 a. m. 
 Received communication. (File Book B, p. 49.) 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 191, 192.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD COMMITTEE, 
 St. Petersburg, Russia, Friday, September 28, 1883. 
 
 Committee met at 8 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Accompanied by Gunnery Lieutenant Raskazoff and Captain Von-der-Howen, pro- 
 ceeded in the naval yacht Neva, Commander Satine, to Cronstadt, where, accompanied 
 by Lieutenant-General Smaguine (commanding the artillery of Cronstadt) and staff, 
 and Commander Skragin (representing Admiral Kazakewich), proceeded in steam 
 launches to inspect the harbor, Forts Constantine and Milutin, the iron-dads "Peter 
 the Great" and "Vladimir," and the naval torpedo manufactory. 
 
 At 7 p. m. returned to St. Petersburg, and adjourned to meet to-morrow, Saturday, 
 the 29th instant, at 8 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD COMMITTEE, 
 St. Petersburg, Russia, Saturday, September 29, 1883. 
 Board met at 8 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Accompanied by Gunnery Lieutenant Raskazoff, proceeded by carriage to the ex- 
 perimental grounds at Ochta, where, with Admiral Kouprianoff and staff and General 
 Errne and staff, inspected the experimental batteries and armor targets. 
 At 3 p. m. adjourned to meet in London, Friday, October 5, 1883. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD COMMITTEE, 
 
 London, England, Friday, October 5, 1883. 
 
 Committee met at noon, pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 The committee then proceeded to a general meeting of the Board. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Sunday, September 30, 1883. 
 Sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 193.) 
 
84 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 BROWN'S HOTEL, DOVER STREET, 
 London, England, Friday, October 5, 1883. 
 
 Board met at meridian at its president's call. All members present. 
 Adjourned to meet to-morrow, Saturday, October 6, at 11 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Saturday, October 6, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 The Board then proceeded to the London office of Sir Joseph Whitworth, Bart., for 
 the purpose of listening to his explanations relating to his process of the manufacture 
 of steels, guns, and projectiles, after which the Board accepted his invitation to meet 
 him and inspect his works at Openshaw, Manchester, on Tuesday, the 9th instant, at 
 11 a.m. 
 
 Having returned to its room, the Board then received the memorandum notes of the 
 committee, lately returned from Russia, and the record of its proceedings. 
 
 The Board then adjourned to meet Tuesday, October 9, in Manchester, England, at 
 10*. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Manchester, England, Tuesday, Octobei* 9, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 The Board then proceeded to and inspected the steel works of Sir Joseph Whitworth 
 & Co. (Limited), at Openshaw, Manchester, and witnessed the casting, liquid com- 
 pression, and hydraulic forging of steel by the Whitworth methods. 
 
 At 5 p. m. the Board proceeded to RowsUy, where, with Sir Joseph Whitworth, its 
 deliberations were continued until 10 p. m., when the Board adjourned to meet in 
 London, subject to call of its president. 
 
 The committee on number and placing of tools in shops was directed to proceed to 
 Leeds, and upon the completion of its duties there to proceed to London. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Saturday, October 13, 1883. 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 199,200.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 BROWN'S HOTEL, DOVER STREET, 
 London, England, Monday, October 15, 1883. 
 Board met at call of its president. 
 
 After a visit to Woolwich Arsenal, the Board reassembled at 8 p. m. All members 
 present. 
 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book B, pp. 45-57.) 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 202, 203.) 
 
 The committee on tools reported its return from Leeds and Manchester, having 
 completed its duties of inspecting the plans prepared for the information of the Board 
 by Messrs. Greenwood & Batley and Tannett, Walker & Co., of Leeds, and Messrs. 
 Hulse & Co., of Manchester. The Board then proceeded to read and examine various 
 reports, and at 11 p. m. adjourned to meet to-morrow, Tuesday, the 16th instant, at 
 8 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Tuesday, October 16, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 8 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present except Com- 
 modore Simpson, absent on account of sickness. 
 
 The Board proceeded to Shoeburyness and witnessed a programme of practice pre- 
 pared by direction of the director of artillery and stores. 
 
 At 8 p. m. Board adjourned to meet Saturday, the 20th instant, at meridian, on board 
 the Cunard royal mail steamer "Scythia," at Liverpool. 
 
APPENDICES. 85 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 London, England, Thursday, October 18, 1883. 
 By direction of the president, sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 204-212.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 CUNARD ROYAL MAIL STEAMER "SCYTHIA," 
 
 Liverpool, England, Saturday, October 20, 1883. 
 
 Board met at meridian, pursuant to adjournment, and left England for the United 
 States in accordance with orders of the Secretary of War (File Book A, p. 53) and 
 Secretary of the Navy (File Book A, p. 45). All members present. 
 Adjourned to meet subject to the call of its president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 CUNARD ROYAL MAIL STEAMER "SCYTHIA," 
 
 At Sea, Monday, October 29, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m. at the call of its president. All members present. 
 After discussion, the Board decided to proceed on Tuesday, November 6, to inspect 
 the navy-yard, New York, and the arsenals at Frankford, Pa. and Rock Island, 111. 
 At meridian adjourned to meet Tuesday, November 6, at 11.15 a. m. at the navy- 
 yard, New York. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 New York, N. T., Wednesday, October 31, 1883. 
 By direction of the president, sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 214,215.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Navy-yard, N. Y., Tuesday, November 6, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Examined the navy-yard for the purpose of determining the advantages of this lo- 
 cation for a Government foundry. 
 
 After discussion and due consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board 
 as a standard of reference, the Board reserved its decision in the case of this navy- 
 yard until further informed of the characteristics of other points to be visited in ac- 
 cordance with the president's order. 
 
 At 3 p. m. the Board adjourned to meet in Frankford, Pa., Wednesday, November 
 7, at 11 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 Frankford Arsenal, Pennsylvania, Wednesday, November 7, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Examined the arsenal here for the purpose of determining the advantage, of this 
 location for a Government foundry. After discussion and due consideration of the 
 requirements indicated by the Board as a standard of reference, the Board reserved 
 its decision in the case of this arsenal until further informed of the characteristics of 
 other points to be visited in accordance with the President's order. 
 
 At 2 p. m. the Board adjourned to meet at Rock Island, 111., Saturday, November 
 10, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 Bock Island, III, Saturday, November 10, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Visited and examined the Rock Island Arsenal for the purpose of determining 
 the advantages of this location for a Government foundry. After discussion and due 
 
86 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 consideration of the requirements indicated by the Board as a standard of reference, 
 the Board reserved its decision in the case of this arsenal until further informed of the 
 characteristics of other points to be visited, in accordance with the President's order. 
 At 5 p. m. the Board adjourned, to meet Tuesday, November 20, in Philadelphia, 
 Pa., at 11 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Tuesday, November 20, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 11 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present except Capt. 
 E. O. Matthews, United States Navy (absent on account of steamer detained by fog), 
 and Col. T. G. Baylor, United States Army (absent on account of sickness). 
 
 Filed communications. (File Book A, pp. 59-66, and File Book B, pp. 58-60.) 
 
 Sent communication. (Letter Book, p. 117.) 
 
 After discussion the Board adjourned at 4.30 p. m., to meet to-morrow, Wednesday, 
 the 21st instant, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Wednesday, November 21, 1883. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. 
 
 All members present except Colonel Baylor, United States Army (absent on account 
 of sickness). 
 
 The Board then proceeded to read and examine a preliminary draft of its report. 
 
 The following resolutions were adopted : 
 
 It is inexpedient for the Government to undertake the manufacture of the steel for 
 modern cannon. 
 
 It is desirable to provide Government factory facilities on a sufficient scale to per- 
 form the work of establishing standards, of making experimental guns, and of fab- 
 ricating cannon on a moderate scale, looking forward, however, to encouraging private 
 establishments to embark upon this fabrication under the inspection of Government 
 officers, as at present. 
 
 It is inexpedient to provide a single Government factory ; two are essential one 
 for the Army and one for the Navy. 
 
 That on the receipt of price-lists now awaited from abroad, the steel manufacturers 
 shall be notified, as far as practicable, of the probable cost of plant, tools, &c., nec- 
 essary for the manufacture of steel for cannon, including forging and tempering, and 
 for the fabrication of the finished gun j and that they be requested to communicate 
 to the Board what size of contract for guns or gun material will justify them in under- 
 taking the production either of the material alone or of the finished gun. 
 
 The Board then proceeded to consider the selection of two sites to be recommended 
 for Government gun factories, and decided upon the Watervliet Arsenal, West Troy, 
 N. Y., for the purposes of the Army, and the Washington Navy-Yard, D. C., for the 
 purposes of the Navy. 
 
 Received communication. (File Book A, p. 67.) 
 
 The Board at 4 p. m. adjourned to meet subject to the call of its president. 
 
 % GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Tuesday, January 8, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 1 p. m., pursuant to call of its president. All members present except 
 Maj. S. S. Elder, United States Army, absent (steamer detained by ice). 
 
 Received and filed communications. (File Book A, pp. 68-76, and File Book B, pp. 
 61-63). 
 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 228-231.) 
 
 The president of the Board submitted a draft of the report. Engaged revising same 
 until 4 p. m., when adjourned to meet to-morrow, Wednesday, January 9, at 10 a. m. 
 
APPENDICES. 87 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Wednesday, January 9, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 After further consideration of the resolutions adopted November 21, -the Board 
 deemed it inexpedient to furnish, before the publication of its report, the information 
 therein indicated. 
 
 Engaged revising draft of report until 4.30 p. in., when adjournment to meet to- 
 morrow, Thursday, January 10, at 10 a.m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Thursday, January 10, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Received and filed communications. (File Book A, p. 79.) 
 
 Engaged revising draft of report until 4 p. m., when adjourned to meet to-morrow, 
 Friday, January 11, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Friday, January 11, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Received and filed communications. (File Book A, pp. 77-81, and File Book B, pp. 
 64,65.) 
 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 232-238.) 
 
 Col. T. G. Baylor, United States Army, was excused from attendance on account of 
 serious illness in his family. 
 
 Engaged revising draft of report until 5 p. m., when adjourned to meet to-morrow, 
 Saturday, January 12, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Saturday, January 12, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present except Col. 
 T. G. Baylor, United States Army, absent on account of serious illness in his family. 
 Received and tiled communications. (File Book A, pp. 82-84.) 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 239-241.) 
 
 Engaged in revising draft of report until 4.30 p. m., when adjourned to meet Mon- 
 day, January 14, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PJL., 
 
 Monday, January 14, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Messrs. William P. Hunt, G. Paulding, and T. Davis, representing the firms of the 
 South Boston Iron Works and the West Point Foundry Association, appeared before 
 the Board and nubmitted a verbal response to the circular letter addressed them by the 
 Board May 1, 1883. The Board requested that they would submit their proposition in 
 writing, which they agreed to do. 
 
 Engaged revising draft of report until 4.30 p. m., when adjourned to meet to-mor- 
 row, Tuesday, January 15, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Tuesday, January 15, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Received and filed communications. (File Book A, pp. 85, 86.) 
 Engaged revising draft of report until 4.30 p. m., when adjourned to meet to-mor- 
 row, Wednesday, January 16, at 10 a. m. 
 
88 REPORT OF GUN FOUNDRY BOARD. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PJNE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Wednesday, January 16, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Received and filed communication. (File Book A, p. 87.) 
 
 Engaged revising draft of report until 4.30 p. m., when adjourned to meet to-mor- 
 row, Thursday, January 17, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Thursday, January 17, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Engaged revising draft of report until 4 p. m., when adjourned to meet to-morrow, 
 Friday, January 18, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Friday, January 18, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Engaged revising draft of report until 4 p. m., when adjourned to meet subject to 
 call of its president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Saturday, January 19, 1884. 
 
 By direction of president of the Board, sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 
 242,243.) 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Thursday, January 31, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 1 p. m., at the call of its president. All members present. 
 Read and filed communications. (File Book A, pp. 88-91 a .) 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 244 a, b.) 
 
 Engaged revising report until 4.30 p.m., when adjourned to meet to-morrow, Fri- 
 day, February 1, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Friday, February 1, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 
 Received and filed communications. (File Book A, pp. 92, 93. ) 
 
 Sent communication. (Letter-Book, p. 244. ) 
 
 Edward Y. Townsend, president, and Powell Stackhouse, vice-president of the 
 Cambria Iron Company, appeared before the Board to call its attention to the capacity 
 and quality of the Cambria steel casting plant, and to ask the Board for information 
 that would assist in preparing a reply to the Board's interrogatories of May 1, 1883. 
 They were informed that all the information the Board had to communicate would be 
 found embodied in its report soon to be issued, and were requested to submit in writ- 
 ing any statement they wished to make in relation to the Cambria works. 
 
 Engaged revising report until 4.30 p. m., when adjourned to meet to-morrow, Sat- 
 urday, February 2, at 10 a. m. 
 
APPENDICES. 89 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINK STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Saturday, February 2, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. in., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Received and filed communication, (file Book A, p. 94.) 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 245,246.) 
 
 Engaged revising report until 3 p. in., when adjourned to meet subject to the call of 
 its president. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA., 
 
 Thursday, February 7, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 1.30 p. in., at the call of its president. All members present. 
 Received communications. (File Book A, p. 95.) 
 
 Engaged revising report until 4.15 p. in., when adjourned to meet to-morrow, Fri- 
 day, February 8, at 10 a. m. 
 
 GUN FOUNDRY BOARD, 
 1727 PINE STREET, PHILADELPHIA, 
 
 Friday, February 8, 1884. 
 
 Board met at 10 a. m., pursuant to adjournment. All members present. 
 Received communications. (File Book A, pp. 96, 97.) 
 Sent communications. (Letter Book, pp. 247 a, b, c, h.) 
 
 Considered the advantages of the site owned by the Government at Harper's Ferry, 
 Va., formerly occupied as an armory. 
 
 Engaged revising report until 2.30 p. m., when it was adopted and the Board ad- 
 journed sine die. 
 
 NAVY DEPARTMENT, 
 
 Washington, D. C., Saturday, February 9, 1884. 
 
 By direction of the president of the Board filed communications (File Book A, p. 
 98), and sent communications (Letter Book, pp. 247 d, e). 
 
 NAVY DEPARTMENT, 
 
 Washington, D. C., Tuesday, February 12, 1884. 
 
 By direction of tlie president of the Board filed communications (File Book A, p. 
 99), and sent communications (Letter Book, pp. 247 f, g). 
 
 NAVY DEPARTMENT, 
 
 Washington, D. C., Saturday, February 16, 1884. 
 
 By direction of the president of the Board sent communication (Letter Book, p. 
 2471), and delivered report and communications (Letter Book, pp. 261 a, b) to the hon- 
 orable Secretary of the Navy for transmission to the President. 
 
 Lieutenant W. H. JAQUES, 
 United States Navy, Member and Secretary of the Board. 
 
 11. Ex. 97 
 
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