New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-12-07
TIE CHIEF ENGINEERS REPORT
4 GRATIFYING suowINC-THE LIYE ND STAFF
CONTROVERSY.

toNIkoNfk !.
Washincton Dec g (,rcciaD.- Thu lat Of the annual
reports Of bureau cllcs 70 The Secretary of th" Navy
that Of the Enelnccrln chlcf was made pldr tod1y.
The report Is careful resume Of the lat year,
progress I'm the work " rchabliiaung much 81 tn
Navy relates To engines and boilers and the plans
AT shore stations necessary for their construction.
As Is the with the published reports Of ali other
buicau chiefs In the Navy Department for this year,
CHEF Fngluccr Nclvc's indicates a gratifying show
Ing In the amount and quality OF puilc work com
plclcd and contemplated and reflects further credit
upon the wise ard energetic stewardship OF secretary
Tracy. The report calls attention 10 the dangerously
low limit Of weight Of naval machinery approached by
modern designers. the tendency being TO sacrifice
weight and with II safety, for the sakc OF secnrn;
greater speed and the American practice Of making
stronger, heavier machinery than that made abroad
/, approved a. the wise,t statement niica,.ns
The detailed work done by the bureau on the ma
chincry Of vessel, In and out ol commission. 10
rcthcr with the cost OF this work, aud outfits and
stores for vessels. forms part of the report.
In his last annual report the Eneinccrn Chief called
attention TO the defects In the machinery plants at
all Navy Yards In his present report II appears that
while much has been done TO meet modern require
ments in this respect, there l. stu room Tor I'M
provement The New-York Yard. however. is an tx
ccptGn and il IS referred 10 AS being aS Well pro
pared as any private concern In the country to under
tako the Manufacture Of heavy marine engines ana
boilers, ana the most III
The Department IS urged to put the plants Of two
or more yards upon better footing In order that the
Government may In time Of war, b. independent OF
private shp-bulding companies ON account Of Its
admirable stmtcglcal location, the number ot skilled
laLorcrs and the iron and coal II, and the fact
that the surrounding IT is fresh, the Philadelphia
Yard is looked upon second only 10 New York In
importance. The OF liquid fuel as substitute
for coal on board topedOvesscs and steamaunches Is
regarded as probably practicable; but to determine
definitely It's advantages further experiments
commended.
The conditions and requirements OF officers and
OF engineer corps referred TO At great length
In the report Indeed this feature judged by tho space
used and the temper displayed, Is the most important
one Of the many discussed. In general the remarks
plea for improvement In the status Of officers
and men, "a presentation Of the arguments and data
IN support Of the claims Of engineer officers for actual
rank and limited command, ana detailed reply TO
arguments advanced against these claims. This part
OF the report VIII doubt attract widespread
tentiOn I'm naval circles and further Increase the cX
istng differences OF opinion I'm the Navy upon this
subject. Officers Of the line Of the Navy, particu-
arly will contest the position assumed by Tie engineer
corps. Indeed. the report may be regarded the
signal for further war among officers,