Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-11-30
COMMODORE MELvILLE'S REPORT.
Progress Made on the Machinery for the New
Cruisers,

Cruisers.
Commodore Melville, chief Of the bureau Of
steam engineering, in his annual report to the
Secretary of the Navy says that such excellent
progress has been made in the construction of
the machinery for the new cruisers Cincinnati
and Raleigh that it will be ready for the vessels
when the hulls are completed. In quality Of
workmanship and cost this work is said to COM
pare favorably with that done in any private
establishment
with the new type Of machinery in the
navy the facilities possessed by this bureau else
where will soon be found insufficient and in
case OF an emergency entirely inadequate. 1t
is proposed to add to them by completing tho
shops In the League Island yard. because of
AL places on the Atlantic coas. the Delaware
river Is the best adapted for iron and steel ship
building. and board after board appointed to
select place for naval establishment has
chosen League Island the best site
Attention is also called to the climatic and
other advantages of the Norf folk navy yard, and
IL il said:
The yard already possesses a ship-building
plant capable OF turning out iron and steel YES
sells OF any size. but The shops and tools under
cognizance of this bureau are not well adapted
for the construction OF modern marine engines
and boilers. though most repair work can be
done. being specially deficient III modern boiler
making tools and facilities for moving heavy
weights. To place the yard in proper condl-
tion for this work will require the erection of
an erecting shop into which the heavier tools,
together with some new ones, can be placed
and an overhead travelling crane fitted; n conf
plete set of powerful modern boiler-making
tools and overhead cranes in the boiler shop.
To carry ont the above will require an appro-
prlatOn of at least $40 1876
As to the personnel of the engineer corps he
says: 1t is with regret that l am again conf
PEELED to report that the number of engineer
officers is insufficient for the proper perform
ance of the duties belonging to them, and to
emphasize the fact that unless measures are at
once taken to remedy this condition and to
stop the steady decrease in numbers we shall
before long have a painful awakening by a
serious breakdown or accident on some of our
vessels. There Is a limit to even naval engi-
neers endurance; aud while the officers of the
engineer corps will do their best to make
all needed repairs and keep in efficient condi-
ton the magnificent machinery of the new
vessels. from which the country Justly expects
so much and in which it takes proper pride.
they can go no further than the limit OF their
physical strength. When this has been reached
the machinery must take care of itself
The report points out at length the different
conditions that exist in the navy as a result of
the substitution of modern steel vessels for the
old wooden ships, with their simple machinery.
1t shows how collisions and other accidents have
resulted from Insufficient engineer force on
vessels and how the pressing demands of the
service have caused the abandonment of other
work of great value to the country-accom-
plished through the detail Of engineer officers
as Instructors in technical schools and col
leges.
Commodore Melville says: 1.-THE number of
engineer officers should be ut least 800. and
even this number will be inadequate unless
supplemented by a sufficient number of intelli-
gent and skilled artitcers and well-trained fire.
men. The divisions into grades should be in
accordance with the duty to be performed. and,
as far as practicable. arranged SO as to give
reasonable promotion in order TO keep the ablest
young men in the corps. AT present we are
constantly losing bright and promising young
men by reason of slow promotion and over
work.
lie would also draw upon the technical
schools of the country for half of the young
engineers TO take two years practical post
graduate course at sea- The increase should
Ii is stated. be made gradually: at the rate of
twenty per year. special course OF engineer
ing Is recommended to be provided for at the
Naval Academy, with the requirement that
only such cadets as show special aptitud. for
mechanics shall be admitted. 1t is also deemed
desirable that an advanced school of instruc-
ton for engineer officers lie Droyided