Evening star., 1885-11-16
BUILDING UP THE NAVY.
and Suggestions Of the Chief
Naval Constructor.

Naval Constructor T. ID. Wilson, chief of the
bureau of construction and repair. in his annual
report to the Secretary of t Ie Navy, recon-
mends that the salaries of the chief clerk of the
bureau and of the draughtsinan in charge OK
the drawing room be increased to So $50 each,
and that the salary of the assistant draughts-
man be increased. The employment of three
additional draughtsmen is also recommended.
He submits the following estimates for the
completion of the four double-turreted moni-
tors: Puritan, S955.342; Terror, S627, 7,2SS; AM
phitrite, $639.5SI; Monadnock, S1O1, ,442.
Total. S2,923,656
Under the estimates for increase in the
navy" he asks $4,000, 900 for building the hulls
of new steel vessels and $150,OUO for extra tools
at the navy yards.
THE NEW STEEL VESSELS.
1t is recommended that the new steel vessels
contemplated consist of one of 1000 tons, one
Of 9, 400 tons, one of $500 tons, one of 5000
tons one of 1900 tons, and two of 500 tons
displacement
The 7.5OO-ton steel ship should have length
feet, with a speed of 161a knots, and armed
with rified guns and torpcdoes. The proposed
breadth 8! feet, and mean draught 21 feet
inches. She should have a speed of 17Ia
knots: The 3,6O0-ton cruiser should be
a mean draught Is feet inches and the speed
to be 3 knots. The 2,4OO-ton cruiser should
be $50 feet long and AZ feet wide, with a
knots. The 2,OOO-ton cruiser should be 2I5
feet long, 40 feet wide with a draught of 16
feet. She should have single screw and make
Ia knots. The two S00-ton ships should be los
feet long, 80 feet wide and have draught of II
feet, have single screw and make II knots.
THE DOUBLE-TURRETED MONITORS, ETC.
He strongly urges the completion of the four
double-turreted monitors, at an estimated cost of
S2.923,656, as when completed we will have
five splendid coast and harbor defense iron
clads that are able to go to distant points.
The Saratoga, jamestown and Portsmouth
will soon require larger expenditures than the
law allows, and that We may have suitable
training ships he recommends the construction
placement, designed expressly for training boys.
He describes the condition of the vessels at the
different navy yards, and gives the amounts
and time necessary to complete them.
THE NAVY YARDS.
He recommends that one large navy yard be
maintained at League Island, Pa, combining
the advantages of all the others. The Brook
lyn yard is now in condition to commence the
building of steel ships. The other yards should
be put in like condition soon as possible. If
appropriations for more steel ships are made,
it Is hoped that at least one-half the ships will
be built in our own navy yards. One great
drawback is the need of better docking facili-
ties
MISCELLANEOUS RECOMMENDATIONS.
1t is recommended that the Ticonderoga,
now at Brooklyn yard, be converted into a
school ship for the naval academy. He recon-
mends a change in the system of educating
and appointing assistant naval constructors to
follow that in vogue in England, combining
theory and experience. the former preceding
the latter, and every shipwrght apprentice
having before him the possibility of rising to
the highest position in the construction corps.
Attendance upon dock yard schools is required
ana ilmited numbers OF the most promising
are selected for the advanced course at Green
Wich.