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Show TfatlilDgton Soles. Washisotox. Nov. 12. A statement state-ment showing tbe amount of gold coin and bullion in the treasury anu Eold certificates outstanding for the i't ten days, tho period ending to day, shows: Total told In treasury $23,51 4,150; gold certificates in tbe treasury, $39,437,550; gold certificates certifi-cates in circulation, 3133,003,780; act gold in treasury, coin and bullion, bul-lion, 3157,550,SS1. GENERAL. EENETS BETOI1T. The annual report of Genera Benet, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance, shows that the bureau expended ex-pended during the last fiscal year 2,2S9.4S4. On tbe subject of smokeless smoke-less powder, General Benet says, though some astonishing result-, have been obtained in experiments abroad, it cannot jet be r-Ud with certainty that these new explosives will eventually succeed the present powder. Tbe performances of the Maxim (American) and the Wetter-son Wetter-son (Belgian) powders are fairly comparable with those claimed to be obtained abroad, and it Is hoped that one of these can be developed in time Into a thoroughly satisfactory satisfac-tory small arms powder. With reference to tbe procurement procure-ment of modern small-bore rifles for the army. General Benet says a lack of sufficient quantity of suitaMf smokeless powder delays the perfecting per-fecting of the 30-caliber barrel, nut It will be complete by the time a suitable magazine mechanism Is selected. It seems peculiarly necessary, neces-sary, now that a change In the caliber Is contemplated, that the present Springfield single-loading system should be replaced, if possible, possi-ble, by an equally eflective miga-zlne miga-zlne system. A board should be convened con-vened to select a suitable magazine mechanism, after a full competition among all the best existing systems. |