The New York herald., 1879-11-30
THE BROOKLYN NAVY YARD.

MENTs OF VESSELS.
The views Of Engineer-n Chief W. H. Shock Chief
of the Bureau Of Steam Engineering of the Navy De-
partment. in relation to abolishing the machinist
system of the and reassGning the engineers to
duties in the engine room, instead OF being su.
officers now set forth in his annual
report to the Secretary of the Navy, seem to meet
with approval among the ranking officers of the
Engineer Corps The following are the condensed
views of those engineer officers Of the navy who
have expressed themselves the subject. The many
mishaps which have occurred during the past few
years the machinery of naval vessels and the re-
cent unfortunate occurrence on tho Alaska have
been incident to the desired change from the ma
chinis system to that Of the immediate supervision
of the steam department by tho engineers in regular
watches. The present organization Of the personnel
of the steam department Of the naval vessels is
sidered greatly deficient. 1t is not only inferior
the excellent organization Of previous years which
it superseded by the machnist system. but is much
inferior. by the introduction Of that system to the
merchant marine. In time of absolute peace, with
but q nominal duty to be performed. this inferior
organization has not demanded the attention which
1t Inevitably would 1t to come to the real test
of war service, the consequences Of which would
not be found Of q nature which could be measured
by Q money loss.
EFFICIENCY IN THE PAST.
In the organization which preceded the machinist
department. on board Of naval vessels consisted
Of sufficient number of engineers belonging to the
cHrps = .S tSr yh and
were appointed. and promoted from grade to grade
after passing most rigorous examination by thor
oughly competent board of engineer ofhcers. en-
bracing not only the practical but the highest sci
entiic developments Of their profession. Their
standing in the corps rested in their character ex-
perence length Of SERVICE their record the Navy
Department and intellectual attainments. The
corps noted as IL s to-day, for the highest pro-
khnla nal
machinery Of our naval steam vessels was not only
made to perform all that was possible. but great
maintained in the highest degree of practical
efficiency. The subordinatcs attached TO the steam
Observation-Disclosures, fremen OF different grades and
coalpassers-p the regular manual labor.
Tho engineers personally kept the regular watches
and superintended and made on the foreign stations
all the necessary adjustments and repairs to the
machinery that could be done with such tools as
could be carried board Of the vessels Under this
system there was never any complaint or cause for
ineficiency and no questions OF doubt as to re.
sponsibty that both the pride and the interests
OF the engineers were stimulated to maintain the
The economy of coal and other stores, for the
reasons. was narrowly watched. and the expen::
to the lowest limit that could be judiciously
reached. corps of thoroughly practical. scientific
and competent engineers was thus established and
with and specially adapted to the naval service Dur
ing the recent war they performed invaluable SER
lie attention. like military I schisvements % though
these last could not have been accomplished without
its aid OF the engineer corps of the navy. also those
volunteered for the period Of the war.
among its members could always be
branches t Of their profession. such as Designing
machinery, experimenting with it, determining its
relative value defects and merits and the old or
garzation, including the hremen, oilers and coal
heavers. who in excellent discipline and be-
skilul in their respective occupations and
mained in the service for lifetime reshipping
re0u1arlv aa the OF their euliRtment exDirod.
was admitted by the officers of all foreign navies
coming in contact with our vessels to be the best in
the world.
INEFFIcIENCY OF THE NEW ORGANIZATION.
The new organization is quito az inefficient % the
competent engineers to take charge the watches
being detailed on board OF each vessel only one
two placed there's and the absence OF the others
is sought to be compensated by the presence Of .
number of incompetent persons shipped under the
OF machinists. but who rarely II have the
right to such title. Many Of these men are wholly
ignorant OF the profession of which they become
members, and in conjunction with the one or two
engineers on board vessel make larger detail for
the steam department than required under
the old organization and the attempt to substitute
machinists for engineers has proved failure, be-
of the qualifications which they not pos
sessed Of and because of the greater number
quired. Nor Is the cost Of the organization In
tho $500 psr
the paid to tho third assistant engineers and
their number is greater, while the value OF their
services is incomparably inferior. The comparison
of salaries does not show the real money cost.
the money loss to the government in permanent in
jury to its expensive and complicated machinery
OF new pattern, of which the machinists are not
thoroughly conversan and in the daily waste of fuel
and stores: due to incSmpetent IN, management Is
ton, while the decreased efficiency Of the vessels
with machinery under such handling involves losses
not to be reckoned. excepting far as It affects
tonal reputation Tho incessant change of personnel
which IL inevitable under tho machinist system.
in o% hS
delicate machinery becomes corroded and ruined;
expensive boilers are burned out; the consumption
of coal is increased the speed Of the vessel s not
maintained; there is an unnecessary loss of the
use Of the vessel by detention for repairs
rance and all tending to an inevitable increasc in
the cost per annum of maintaining vessel in
commission. The reason for this IL that the ma.
chinists, being uneducated mon shipped for the
cruise, without responsibility for the
qucnccs of their conduct, receiving neither reward
their interest passion prompts. and. avoiding all
labor, which In their would be unapprecisted,
naturally care only TO draw their pay for the least
turn.
The duties OF machinists board ship are the
same those Of competent engineers under the old
system-vix., to stand the watches. keep the logs
and make the repairs. under the supervision Of the
one or two engineers nc on Spsr ms
physical impossibility for one or two engineers to
remain on duty the twenty-four hours through. and
it is possible that tho most costly engine boiler
may be ruined In fve minutes. That the system has
worked ut all s due to tho untring efforts OF the
gtnccrs themselves, VINO nave done their utmost To
meet the wishes of the Navy Department. and as the
naval regulations declare "machinists and other
engine petty ohhccrs are to be given charge OF
the watches In the engine and fire rooms under the
supervision of the engineer officers, when the num-
bcr OF engineers graduated cadets is not suncient
for that duty" the engines and boilers OF naval
vessels always under the charge Of the machin-
lists; tho engineers wholly relieved from respon
sibility for the machinery not under their manage
mcnt. and cannot be held accountable for any In
jurics or deficiencies.
Il was INTENDED that the United statos frisate
Tennessee which is to be the flagship OF the North
Atlantic squadron, and to which the officers of the
Powhatau are to be transferred, should 10 into
mis- sion on Friday, but the inclomcnt weather has
caused delay of few days, aud the officers
tlered on board tomorrow. Tho engineers OF tho
Tennessee have completed the steam trial of the en-
gincs at the dock and everything has been found TO
work satisfactorily.
The training ship Minnesota has gone to the
Navy Yard from the foot of Twcnty-third street.
North River. and is ordered into winter quarters at
New London, to which place she will proceed next
week.
The Marion is lying at Cob Dock. and crow