Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1891-12-04
Uncle Sans War Ships.

WASHINGTON, Dec 1-Commodore
Wilson, chief of the bureau of construct
ion, in his annual report recommends
the Galena be sold, as she is useless to
the government and 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 within five or six
| years have been mustered out. Con-
/ cernirg~ Few construction, the report
speaks OF the usefulness of torpedo
cruisers, such as engaged and sunk the
Blanco Encalado in the Chilean war,
After recounting the fact that the de-
partment is unable to secure bids for
the construction of such vessels within
the time of the appropriation OF the last
congress, he recommends that the ap-
preparation be limited to 1861, 600. At
this price a vessel of $50 tons may be
obtained capable of running twenty
three knots per hour and keeping at sea.
Stress is laid on the significance of the
contract made for the construction Of
torpedo boat No. 2 with the Iowa iron
works, as indicates the possibility Of
building these valuable crafts at separ-
ate points.
The report states contracts have al
ready been made for 1910 tons Of the
l5,945 tons of armor required for vessels
now building. Attention is called to
the fact that with the advent of modern
steel vessels comes to pressing necessity
for a large increase in machine depart
ments of the navy yard to make un
avoidable repairs. To this end appro-
priations are recommended as follows
Twenty-Five thousand dollars for the
Portsmouth navy yard, S15O,OOO at the
New York; $4,000 at Long Island;
| $48, 900 at Norfolk and 100000 at Mare
Island.
Selling the opportunity afforded by
the unfortunate experience of our steel
cruisers in ChiIian waters the report
treats at length of the necessity for
sheltering the bottom of steel vessels.
1t says the importance of the preserva-
T.: ~ l. e. ctool ,,acsala
corrosion and fouling can hardly be
! over-estimated and is continually en-
phasized by reports of loss of speed and
the increased consumption of coal re-
ceived from our new unsheathed steel
vessels now in commission. Unless we
are willing to admit that the role of our
cruisers in time of war shall We be en-
tirely confined to cruises OF short dura-
ton in the neighborhood of our own
ports, it would appear they are deficient
in most important quarter. namely,
ability to maintain high speed at sea
for long period of time.
Reference is made to value date bear
ing on this subject collected by Naval
/ Constructor Hichborn, and an earnest
/ recommendation is made that Congress
adopt his conclusions, summarized as
/ follows:
! First-All cruising vessels intended
for general service in foreign waters
/ be sheathed, if above 1000 tons displace-
ment.
! Second-Vessels. less than 1000 tons
/ displacement intended for general ser
vice as cruising vessels, etc, should be
of composite construction, viz: With
steel framing, wood inside, planking and
copper sheating. Figures are given to
show that Great Britain has adopted
these ideas in new construction, that
seventy eight 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
periods without docking.