Monster Guns

The large Rodmau gun which was recently cast in Boston is, with two exceptions, the largest piece of orclnanee evei made in the United States. Ninety tons of metal were naelted in tlio three furnaces in which the monster was cast. The tube wliich is to be placed within tlio bore is about 232 inches long and IS inches in diameter. It will be reeeived from England at au eaiiy day. The diameter at the widest part will be 55 inohes, and the casing will be 20 iuehes for a depth of 232 inches ; it the innzzle the esternal diameter will be 29 inches ; the length of tie gun will be 263 inches, or about 22 feet ; it will carry a 700pound conieal ball ; the ordinary charge of powder will be 100 pounds, and the weight of the ordnance will be about 15 tons. The special feature of this gun is a brass ring wliieh, when the piece i discharged, expands igainst the bore oJ the gun and prevente any injury from the passage of gas. This gun, big as it is, is a toy in comparison with the wrought-iron and enst-steel ordnance which has rccently been manufactureil abroad. The 81-ton Fraser gun, with which the British engineers have been experimenting at Shoeburyness, takes a charge of 370 pounds of powder and a projectile of 1,700 pounds. The caststeel breeoh-loader which Herr Krupp is now making will weigh 80 tons ; the weight of the projectile will be 1,650 pounds, and the Armstrong gun manufactured lor the Itnlian navy weighs 100 tons. Tlie big Krupp gun whicli was shown at Philadelphia a year ago, and which has reeently been purchasod by the Kussian (iovernment, weighs 56 tons.