New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-15
WAR SHIPS AND ORDNANCE.

result OF any newly formed resolutions of the
President and his Cabinet is certain.
WAR SHIPS AND ORDNANCE.
REPORTS OF VARIOUS BUREAUS OF THE NAVY DE-
PARrMENT-NTEREsTING SUGGESTIONS ABOUT
GENERAL PRESS DIsPATCH.I
WASHINGTON, Nov. 14.-COmmOdore Shufeldt
repors 10 Secretary Thompson that during the past
sxtyhree vessels have been either wholly par
TALLY equipped at the several Navy Yards, at
diture Of S7I7OIO SO, as follows: For labor, S142,
2O5 d; for material from stock hand $4s7675 S1
tor material purchased during the year. SS7,
l29 81 The coal purchased during the year amounted
10 $50 tons costing, including freight S2sS222 o.
OF MANILA and hemp, 2s0,530 pounds have been pur-
chased costing S23.s57 "a. During the year an IRON
fongm has been established at the Washington Navy
Yard costing 953 %. This mill will roll all the iron
required for tho Navy Yards, and will utilize the
accumulated wrOughtrOn scraps at the several yards,
and furnish material az reduced COST Tho Conduct
Reports 10 the bureau exhibit marked Improvement
in the conduct OF the enlisted men, Five hundred and
twentythree boys have been enlisted during the past
year. There arc remaining on the traiuing-sh1ps
l40 boys, who are advancing the tone and
morals Of the service With the training sys-
tenn on q permanent basis, the manning Of our
ships by uative-born seamen will soon follow.
fit is the intention Of the department TO continue the
present system Of trainingshps, Commodore shufcdt
recommends that the sailing vessels Constitution, Sara
toga aud Portsmouth be retained for that purpose.
These vessels among the las. Of the sailing vessels
Of the American Navy. and peculiarly adapted TO
the purposes OF training During the Summer these
vessels should combine for @ cruise and exercise In
American waters The Chief Of the bureau coumends to
his successor the apprentice boys OF the Navy.
Commodor r. L. Law, Chief Of the Bureau OF Yards
ana Docks in bis report says appropriation for the
improvement Of Navy Yards was made for 1S7S-79
except the small Of $4,000 for con-
AFaRa and TlVxyn nrlr
This sum viii be nearly all expended next month
The work Is Of such nature that delay in fin
ishing it will add greatly to the expense. The
Chief hopes for Congressional appropriation that
will avert an utter of the work by the CIV
ing way OF coferdams The following estimates for
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1850, are gwen:
eSnsT maintenance Of yards and docks
support Of Naval Asylum G0so9
ReRTs 9na ~ NTS al ay 1850
Civil establishment ShsOo
Total ......S946'495
Commodore Jeffers Chief Of the Bureau OF Ordnance
tubts the following estimates for the next fiscal
Labor tools material incl usedn fitting ships for
service. and preservation Of ordnance and ord. am
pSSaTs to buildings magazines wharves gun ports
tugs. lighters and boats 10000
Mseeisneous Items freight kilograms postage ad
cva estSSsS1on at Navy Yards 1855
Total. S2Ss,SS6
These estimates are simply based upon the necessities
Of the current service and do not admit Of any
gress IN supplying new and improved ordnance. Great
the power OF artillery rendering the superior
TO the defence. and detracting very much from the
SS SSs OF cam So PIERCED by ed guns
of the moderate cabre Of Twelve inches Al these I'M
she has her whole artillery TO reconstruct The;bureau
prepared whenever az ens n Se S
it nOuce The stock OF powder has fallen very low
and special appropriation should DE made for the puT
chase Of 1000 barrels. Tue new powder cannot be
manufactured in haste nor 70 ADVANTAGE IN the Winter
season. that stock should be kept on hand 20 meet
emergencies. Several machine guns have been pre-
sented for trial. but they possess no particular value
The torpedo station under the command of Captain X.
r. Breese has graduated the usual number OF oleers
has practically Investigated the subject OF electric
ngatlng as 70 and RE ceSr
ing of torpedoes CAPTAIN John Ericsson has been
iof some months engaged the construction Of vessel
which bds fair "a be new step in advance in offensive
warfare. the vessel is near completion, and IL
revolver cannon ordered by the bureau two years
has been received The special advantages OF this gun
high velocity IL pointed from the shoulder, thus
abling yertabo elG-pece TO be fired with 81 the ae-
curacy OF the ried small arm and much greater ra
pdty. It's ealiore is one and bali Inches has hyc
with from thirty TO forty shots IL penetrates at
the Thorncroft. and. after passing through. the ag
ments sufficient force 70 penetrate the waer-tight
bukheads IL would appear then, mat we nave IN TINS
arm an absolute defence against surface torpedo boats,
and except In the darkness no such torpedo
boat can approach within 1000 yards OF vessel pro
sided with these guns The gun Will also DC extremely
valuable for the purpose OF firing into the open ports OF
ships or for clearing psrnpets of barbette guns The
Chief the Bureau, therefore, recommends an sppr0pr
the purchase Of number for actual trial In
service.
wv Easily, Chief OF the Bureau OF Construction and
Repairs again makes In his annual report the suggestion
the proproy Of Kidding the yards OF ships not worth
repairing or completing but WHICH are constant
OF expenses either by selling them at auction or
BY breaking them up.
THE POI YGAMY CASES