In an 1889 Secretary of War Report to Congress there is a claim that smokeless powder was an American invention, but was developed and accepted in Europe. The report shows some dissatisfaction that no American powder producers had submitted a smokeless powder recipe. The report also stated that a .30 caliber/rod bayonet Springfield rifle was "in progress of construction in anticipation of the final acquisition of the much-needed powder, so that no time may be lost in presenting for trial both single-loading and magazine small caliber rifles."

The section in the report is titled "Small caliber rifle and magazine arm, rifle practice, etc." starting on page 6.

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Here is the Navy's dealings with developing a smokeless powder. Starts on page 12 in the last section. Click on the tab at the right scroll bar near the bottom.

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