The record-union., 1891-12-02
Commodore Wilson's Report on the
Condition of the Navy.
USEFULNESS OF TORPEDO CRUISERS
ADVANCED.
Struggle for the Spealxershfp of the
House-Mil1s Believed to Hold the
Winning Card, Though the Other
Candidates Are HopefuI-Numerous
Candidates for Other Offices In the
EOuSR.
special to the REcoRp-uN1oN.

~ Wy AsA@SOANAC
WASHINGTON. Dec. L. Commodore
Wilson, Chief of the Bureau of Construc-
ton, in his annual report recommends
| that the Galena be sold as useless to the
Government and a source of expense.
Touching the old wooden navy the re-
port says: These vessels are rapidly dis
appearing from active service. Only
twelve are now available for cruising
purposes, and they will within five or
six years be mustered out.
Concerning new construction the report
speaks of the usefulness of torpedo cruis-
ers, such as engaged and sunk the Blanco
Encalada in the Chilean war, and after
recounting the fact that the department
was unable to secure bids for the con-
structlon of such vessels within the limits
of the appropriation of the last Congress,
recommends that the appropriation be
limited to S512, 900. At this price vessel of
750 tons may be obtained, capable of run
ming % knots per hour and keeping it up
at sea.
Stress is laid upon the significance of
the contract made for the construction of
torpedo boat No. with the Iowa Iron
Works, as it indicates the possibility of
building these valuable craft at safe in
land points
The report states that contracts have
already been made for IL ,2l0 tons of the
l5,945 tons of armor required for the YES
sells now building.
Attention is called to the fact that with
the advent of modern steel vessels comes
the pressing necessity for a large increase
III the machine departments of the navy
yards to make unavoidable repairs. To
this end appropriations are recommended
as follows: $4,000 for the Portsmouth
Navy-yard, Sl50,000 for New York, $44,-
900 for League Island, S4S, ,0GO for Norfolk.
and 100000 for Mare Island
Selling the opportunity afforded by the
unfortunate experience of our steel cruis-
ers in Chilean waters, the report treats at
length of the necessity for sheathing the
bottoms of steel vessels. It says the inn
portance of the preservation of the bot
toms of steel vessels from corrosion and
fouling can hardly be overestimated, and
is continually emphasized by the reports
of loss of speed and increased consump-
ton of coal received from our new un-
sheathed steel vessels now in commission.
Unless we are willing to admit that the
role OF our cruisers in time of war shall
be entirely confined to cruises of short
duration in the neighborhood of our own
ports, 1t would appear they are deficient
IN most important quality, namely,
ability to maintain high speed at sea for
long periods of time.
Reference is made to valuable data
bearing on this subject collected by Naval
Constructor Hichborn, and an earnest
recommendation made that Congress
adopt his conclusions, summarized as
follows: All cruising vessels intended
for general service in foreign waters
should be Sheathed, if above LOCO tons
displacement. Second, vessels less than
2,O90 tons displacement, intended for gen
eral service as cruising gunboats. ETC.,
should be of composite construction, viz,
with steel framing, wood inside, plank
ing and copper sheathing. Figures are
given to show that Great Britain has
adopted these ideas in the new construc-
ton; that 78 per cent. of it is to be
sheathed, and that all the gunboats built
since 1886 are Of composite construction.
enabling them to keep at sea for long pc
riodS without docking