Morning journal and courier., 1881-07-16
THE NATIONAL CAPITAL.

l Our Navy-The Advisory Board i'm Coun- 1 cil-Studying the Problem of the Ves- 1 sells.
 l WASHINGTON, July 15.-The Naval Advis- l ory Board, convened by order of the Secre- tary of the Navy to prepare plan for the re- 1 organization and increase of the navy to be recommended for adoption by Congress at it's next session, has been holding daily sessions at the Navy department all the week, and be- | gan its work in good earnest. It is con- ! prised of distinguished officers, and gives promise of fruitful result in the form of a i carefully prepared plan of reorganization. | Its first work was to thoroughly examine the condition of every vessel on our navy list in l order to see how much dependence can be place on existing material. The records of the Bureaus of Construction and Steam En- gineering were examined, and the facts as to the utility and lifetime of existing vessels were collected. Attention thus far has been given mostly to the requirements of the country calling for the unarmored fleet. The board has discussed the general requirements, fixing upon the size, classification, general interests of speed, armament and equipment, l number and cost of vessels to be built within
 
 ready for service within the prescribed time Next, the board will divide int o number of subcommittee for the examination and get | tling of details, for which duty the board is well constituted, among it's members are recognized experts in construction, steam engineering, ordnance and equipment All the designs for new vessels in possession of the Navy department and such as may be submitted by the private steamship yards will be carefully examined. The board is required to advise the department upon the following subjects: The number of vessels, the class, size and displacement the mater ial, wood, iron or steel the nature and size of engine and machinery; the arma- ment for each class; the proper equip ment and rigging; the internal ar engagements, and such other details as the cost of each vessel ready for sea- The first weeks labor has consisted of prelimi- nary discussion or a survey of the whole work. On Monday next the board will ad- journ until October first when it will 1eas- semble to receive the esub-committees reports and make up its final report to Congress. To day and tomorrow will be devoted to pre- hminary discussion of iron-clad ships harbor defence and torpedo duty. The materials to be used for batteries ble-bottomed water tight compartments and similar sub- jects have already had pre- iminary discussion. While nothing has been positively decided the discussion upon certain important points has brought out the feeling of members. so freely that the ulti- mate decision on certain matters is clearly foreseen. It is practically decided that all the new vessels will be built wholly of iron and steel, except those of the very smallest class, which need to be built of wood, and no composite vessels of any kind or purpose will be recommended. When this matter gets be- fore Congress it will bring up debate as to whether the new iron and steel vessels shall be built by the government at it's navy yards or at private yards on government account, as is done by the English government. The argument is that our government cannot build iron or steel vessels without purchasing new and e1- pensive plans in at least three of it's navy yards, the present equipment being adapted to wooden shipbuilding only, and employing new sets of workmen, while private yards are already provided with the appliances and skilled workmen The question will receive a careful consideration both by the board and Congress. The board feels confident of fin ishing it's work within the limit of the time allowed November 4th.
 Ex-Senator Conkling spent the day driving in the suburbs, and did not return to his lodgings until evening. He will probably re- turn to New York tomorrow.