[Footnote 15: Addressed to the heads of the Executive Departments, etc.]
EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, April 2, 1883_.
Under the provisions of section I of the "act making appropriations
for the naval service for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1884, and for
other purposes," approved March 3, 1883, the following-named officers of
the Army and Navy will constitute a board for the purpose of examining
and reporting to Congress which of the navy-yards or arsenals owned by
the Government has the best location and is best adapted for the
establishment of a Government foundry, or what other method, if any,
should be adopted for the manufacture of heavy ordnance adapted to
modern warfare, for the use of the Army and Navy of the United States,
the cost of all buildings, tools, and implements necessary to be used
in the manufacture thereof, including the cost of a steam hammer or
apparatus of sufficient size for the manufacture of the heaviest guns:
Commodore Edward Simpson, United States Navy; Captain Edmund O.
Matthews, United States Navy; Colonel Thomas G. Baylor, Ordnance
Department, United States Army; Lieutenant-Colonel Henry L. Abbot,
Engineer Corps, United States Army; Major Samuel S. Elder, Second
Artillery, United States Army; Lieutenant William H. Jacques, United
States Navy.