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Barringer rifle sight.-In August, 1917, Mr. D. M. Barringer submitted several sporting rifles fitted with sights of his invention, which were forwarded to the Infantry School of Arms, Fort Sill, Okla., for test. The tests conducted were not conclusive as to the value of the sight, and recommendation was made that Barringer sights be fitted to two service rifles and resubmitted for test. An allotment of $150 was made on April 5, 1918, to cover the cost of supplying for test two rifles fitted with sights which Mr. Barringer has furnished. The work of fitting the sights to the rifles is now in progress under the direction of the Ordnance Department and will shortly be completed.

Bommarito semiautomatic rifle.-On April 5, 1918, an allotment of $2,500 was made for the development of a semiautomatic shoulder rifle invented by Mr. Giuseppe Bommarito. Some alterations and changes have been made in the original design, and a model is now being constructed under the supervision of the Ordnance Department.

Ogden 30-cartridge magazine for Colt automatic pistol.-During the early part of 1918 a model of a 30-cartridge magazine for use with the standard Colt automatic pistol was submitted by Mr. Jehu Ogden, and was tested under the direction of the commanding officer, Fort Myer, Va. Certain defects in construction were noted in the course of the test, and recommendation was made that additional magazines, with the objectionable features eliminated, be constructed and submitted for further test. On May 3, 1918, an allotment of $250 was made to the Chief of Ordnance for the construction of three magazines of the improved Ogden type. This work is nearing completion.

Gilbert fuze plunger.—An allotment of $300 was made on June 7, 1918, for the purpose of testing at the Frankford Arsenal a centrifugal fuze plunger invented by Mr. E. R. Gilbert. The details of this test had not been worked out at the close of the fiscal year.

Confidential investigations.-During the year the board allotted a total of $71,500 for the conduct of various investigations of a confidential nature. Some of these are still in progress, while others have resulted in the acquirement of military data of material value.

ESTIMATES.

In view of the fact that, judging from the expenditures of recent years, the available balance of the funds heretofore appropriated for the conduct of the operations of the board, together with the prospective appropriation for the fiscal year 1919 will be sufficient for its use during the fiscal years 1919 and 1920, no estimate for the fiscal year 1920 will be submitted.

FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

On July 1, 1917, there was available a balance of $277,847.55. There was revoked from prior allotments $653.25, making a total of $278,500.80 available. The allotments during the year amounted to $113,125, a balance of $165,375.80 remaining at the close of the fiscal year covered by this report. An additional sum of $593.39 appropriated under the act of August 18, 1890, is available for purchases abroad only.

Statement of appropriations made for experimental work of the Board of Ordnance and Fortification since its organization.

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1888. 1889.

$505,000 $5,000 for expenses.

231,000

155,000

150,000
210,000

$15,000 for torpedo howitzers; $1,000 for expenses of selection of site for proving ground; $40,000 for counterpoise battery; $50,000 for movable submarine torpedoes; $125,000 for test of experimental guns.

$100,000 for purchases abroad; $5,000 for expenses; $50,000 for pneumatic gun carriages, segmental guns, and high explosives.

$5,000 was carried in the sundry civil bill to pay salary of the civilian member. 125,000 $130,000 of amounts appropriated in prior years set aside for Emery gun carriage. 150,000 $50,000 for pneumatic disappearing gun carriage. 100,000

250,000 $50,000 for Howell carriage; $10,000 for Emery loading apparatus; $40,000 for Gatling cast-steel gun.

140,000 $40,000 for Emery carriage.

1890.

1891. 1892.

1893.

1894.

1895.

1896.

1897.

150,000

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1900.

1901.

100,000

1902.

100,000

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