New-York tribune., 1889-12-25
CHANGES FOR THE NAVY.
,rpoRMs SUGGESTED BY CHIEF ENGINEER
MELVILLE.
..-rnrsTINe SUGGESTIONS IN HIS ANNUAL RE
MORE ENGINEER OFFICERS NEEDED.
Ipr TKlkohAPH THE rkmuNKl

-.~rTrsTINe SUGGESTIONS IN HIS ANNUAL RE.
poRr-MoRE ENGINEER OFFICERS NEEDED.
fBr rxlkehAPH TO THE TkmUSK.l
washington, Dec. c4.-Annual reports of the
..t. of Bureaus of the Navy Department WERE in
- cases OF greater interest this year than usual
=. as they were little late in getting into type
-, aid rot receive the attention in the newspapers
= rhlch they entitled OF special and general
asi was the report of the Chief Of the Bureau Of
I'm Engineering. The report made some valuable
lamentations with regard TO the Improvement of
S.ehinery and boilers but more especially looking
:. a material improvement of the personnel of the
.,rps. both of the engineers and enlisted men.
+, recognized what has been recognized in England
"A other countries that the Engineer Corps has be-
,cue one of the most important departments in the
e.r.I service. The Bureau has been constantly
'.Asrrassed to find a sufficient number OF engineer
.srs TO perform dnty. The number allot
=, N vessels IN commission has been reduced as
:. ss prudence would permit and in some even
xsr than circumstances would to justify, owing
,he INADEQUATE training and the insufficient number
. nachinsts and other petty officers, which throws
~,th of the work that is supposed TO be done by
am upon the commissioned officers Then
.ss with their new types of machinery. require a
,-ater number Of engineer officers, who must be ex-
~, as well practical. technical and scientific, and
..ueated designers and builders The officers have
o frequently TO be taken from their regular duties
Ar steam trials and other purposes with attendant
a,ay in that duty in all cases, thus not only inter
,ng with the prompt departure Of seagoing vessels
An, in the cases of officers shore duty, requiring
,su 10 work long after hours and Sundays TO keep
ne current business from falling behind.
Ergneer-in- Chief Melville that when all Of
a, new vessels now appropriated for in com
rsson il Will be impossible TO officer them properly
n the engineer department. and carry on the other
sOrs Of the corps with the number allowed by law
Ne recommends that the number of engineer officers
y increased to at least 300 dt is little more
ean 200 only. But even with the increased mum
her he says IL will be found insufficient for the new
.,tns unless the officers are assisted by sufficient
,pmber of intelligent and skilled artncers and well
tssned fremen. who not readily obtained eS-
,ecialy at this time when the ship and engine build
hr Industry being revived and when better pay and
,Aces are offered mechanics on shore than by the
navy Department.
He calls attention to the fact that under the provi
sons act of Congress passed less than two years
,so there is now a one-year course at the Naval
Academy for training naval cadets to become assistant
engneers. This system has been severely criticised
ty many technical engineers in this country and else
where. Marine engineering is specially in which
progress and changes constantly taking place, and
no nan in the opinion of Chief Engineer Melville can
obtain the training needed TO become thoroughly
competent engineer in one year. or less than four
nssoned as engineers in the Navy mp to few years
sgo were of high standard and equal TO any in the
world. They were men who, besides an education III
some technical school, served apprenticeship in the
machine shop. the boiler shop the blacksmith shop
The pattern shop and the draughtingrO room, and then
underwent an examination lasting from ten TO fifteen
tays before technical board before they were quail
fed 10 receive their commissions. To keep thoroughly
posted and proficient requires study and acquaintance
with the latest developments and inventions, which
under many Of the circumstances of ordinary duty, Is
almost impossible. An engineer must know how to
design, construct and take care OF every piece OF
machinery on board ship.
Chief Engineer Melville also recommends the repeal
Of the law limiting appointments to the Engineer
Corps from among the graduates of the Naval Academy
and return to the former system of instruction for
cadet engineers theoretical and technical engineer
ing and recommends further that provision be made
by Congress for the admission of certain number
Of young men from the technical schools OF the
country, who shall prove upon examination to have
the proper in the elements of mechanical
engineering. They TO serve two years at the
Academy as cadet engineers and then be subject u
, competitive examination for commissions as
,snsers course of higher instruction in engineer
g SIMILAR TO that for line officers at the War College
and T0pedo station, is recommended, which all OF
the young engineers should be obliged and the older
ones permitted to attend. .
Commodore Melville thinks greater distinction
should be made between the petty officers and the
other enlisted men, the petty officers should be pro
stead Of hammOcks and cloths on the deck. These
not only require 10 have special training, but
sre also required to study much of the time to keep
trained in handling strong formed pins and quick
steaning boilers 4 trainn, school or training ship
s recommended for the drilling Of this class.