Rensselaer Republican, Volume 15, Number 8, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 2 November 1882 — ORDNANCE BUREAU. [ARTICLE]

ORDNANCE BUREAU.

Chief Benet’s Report of Its Operations. Gen 8 V. Benet, Chief of Ordnance of the United States army, in a report for the year ending June 36,1882, gives the fiscal resources of the year, $2,783,622; expenditures. $1,669, .76. A chapter Ls devoted to the subject of the armament of fortifications, in wlii'-h G<‘n. Benet says: “With a very pressing need for seaport armament constantly beiore 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 | rodi ice rifled guns of a moderate power, even from cast-iron, provided ti e cast iron be suitably strengthened wiih Bteel hoops, or, better, with hoops on the exterior and s'eel tubes on the Interior.” Gen. Benet also says it Is believed that, with proper encouragement, field guns can be made 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 matcriam 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 otir m litia. The mi itia shou d, therefore, be kept In tjtie best condition p 'ssibie for actual sei vice. Volunteer orcaniza ions in every State and Territory should lie encouraged, and every effort ma e to pr mote their t fflciexuy in d. ill und discipline, and make tbem skiibul in the use of their arms. It is the b st way and the only way to ender them a sure and safe leliance on the broaklnc out of a war. and before a lit'le cami aiening ha-Inured them to hard saivice and disciplined them into old soldi, era ’’ Here lies me and mvjhree daughters, Brought here by tfWng Bcidiitz waters; If we had stuck to Epsom salts, We wouldn't have been in these here vaults.