Democratic Sentinel, Volume 6, Number 40, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 3 November 1882 — ORDNANCE. [ARTICLE]

ORDNANCE.

Report of Chief Benet. Gen 8. V. Benet, Chief of Ordnance of the United States army, in a report for the year ending June 30,1882, gives the fiscal resources of the year, $2,733,622; expenditures, $1,669,876. A chapter is devoted to the subject of the armammt of fortifications, in which Gen. Benet says: “With a very pressing need for seaport armament constantly before us, it should seem expedient to take every advantage of our own resources to help provide for our wants. It will doubtless be practicable for us to ] roduce rifled guns of a m"derata power, »ven from cast-iron, provi led tbe cast iron be suitably strengthened with steel hoops, or, better, with hoops on the exte:ior and steel tubes on the interior.” Gen. Benet also says it is be ieved that, with Ser encouragement, field guns can be e here without the necessity of going abroad for the steeL Recommendation is made that the immediate publication of the results of tests of iron and steel and other materia's for industrial purposes be authorized by C ngress. In the chapter on the militia, the Chief of Ordnance says: “ Our outstanding army is a small one. For the defense of the country our main dependence is on our militia. The militia shou’d, therefore, be kept in the bftst condition possible for actual service. Volunteer organizations in every State and Territory should be encouraged, and every effort made to promote their efficiency in di ill and discipline, and make them skillful in the use of their arms. It is the best way and the only way to render them a sure and safe reliance on the breaking out of a war, and before a little campaigning has inured them to hard service and disciplined them into old 601diers.”