Evening star., 1895-11-09
N VAL M ACHIN ERY
Engineer-in-O -Ohief Melville Reports the Con-
ditisn of the Cruisers.
An Interesting Account of the En-
cheering Operations During the
Past Year - Money Needed.

The annual report Of Engireer-in-Chief
Melville gives an interesting account of the
engineering operations Of the navy during
the past fiscal year, and contains several
suggestions for improvements in that inn
portant branch of naval construction. The
total expenditures on account of steam
machinery during the year were $66s,562,
leaving an unexpended balance of $6, 431 On
hand July 1 last Considerable work was
accomplished during the year in the prepa-
ration of plans and specifications for tor
pedo boats, two tugs and two battle snlps.
Work on the machinery Of the Chicago has
been continued at the navy yaro, new
York, and fair progress has been mace,
Notwithstanding delays In the receipt OF
material.
LIQUID Fuel Tests.
A series of tests to determine the value
of LIQUID fuel for small boats Is now In
progress at the navy yard. New York. one
of the torpedo toats of the Maine being
used for that purpose The trials are to he
exhaustive, ard 1t is believed by Commo-
dore Melville that much valuable fnforma-
tion will be derived from them. He says
that one of the gunboats now bulinins az
Newport News would be an admiraoie YES
sci for testing the merits or Hquid Iuei ior
naval purposes.
Water Tube Boilers.
The necessity for a type Of boiler lighter
than the Scotch or cylindrical fre-tuoe
pattern has directed increased attention to
the merits and possibilities of the water
tube variety. Many patents have been
taken out by ingenious and able inventors
in the hope of producing boiler that Will
contain all the good points demanded Dy
the marine engineer. Commodore Melville
says that no single type has yet male It's
ed as an altogether satisfactory SUBSTITUTE
for the Scotch pattern, and for TINS reason
the bureau has not recommended tneir use
in the larger and more important Vesseis
believing it better. for the present at least,
to confine them to torpedo boats, gunpoats
and the smaller cruisers. conservative as
this bureau may he regarded on tnis sun
iect" says Commodore Melville, ut fas
been In advance of every marine engineer
ing establishment in America; FOR Wnlle
private firms refused to guarantee water
tube boiler for naval purposes. the bureau
insisted upon their installation as part OF
the power in the coast-defense monitor
Monterey.
New Machinery for the Atlanta.
The engine of the cruiser Atlanta is re-
ported to be of an obsolete type and un-
necessarily heavy. and it is argued that II
would be false economy to continue II IN
use with new boilers. Commodore melville
says the hull of this vessel is in excellent
condition and well worth new machinery,
and he recommends that an appropriation OF
$50. 900 be made Immediately available. to
commence the construction of new machin-
cry for this vessel and that alterations be
| made to her hull so as to allow the fitting
of twin screws. He says that the boilers OF
| the Boston. sister ship, can probably be
made to last one more cruise, and that sim
| liar changes in hull and machinery should
| then be made to her.
During the year slight repairs were made
| at the Washington navy yard TO the ma
| chinery or steam plant of the Gushing, Dale,
Dolphin, Fern and Triton. The expendi-
| lures during the year at this yard on this
| and other accounts were $4334.
Not Enough Cadets.
Commodore Melville calls attention to the
| fact that the number of naval cadets in the
engineer division now being graduated by
| the Naval Academy is not sufficient to sup.
ply the vacancies in the corps by deaths
| retir' ments and designations. IF some
| means cannot be devised whereby the en-
gineer division at the academy can be in
creased" he says. recourse must be had
| to the technical schools and colleges OF the
country to fill the vacancies. as the mum
| ber of engineer officers is now less than al
| lowed by law, and very much less than the
| needs of the service require
| The report contains statement OF the
| condition of the machinery of all the YES
| sells in the United States navy. from which
| it appears that all vessels in commission are
| IN good or fair cOndluOn, with the eXcep
tion of the machinery of the Atlanta
Dolphin, Fern, Nipsic, Omaha, Pinta ant
| Wabash.
| Estimates for Next Year.
Among the estimates for the bureau fo
the next fiscal year are $425. 900 for com
pleting and repairing machinery and boilers
sS25, 600 for purchase of material and stores
including machinery and tools; sl5o. 900 fo
new machinery of the Chicago; $4,000 70
new machinery for the Atlanta; $4,000 TO
new boilers for the Dolphin; s1O0,UOO TO
new machinery for the old frigate Hartford
$4,000 for complete boiler-mal1ing plan
at the League Island nevy yard. and si2. 20
for extra tools for the navy yard ct Norfolk
| The increased estimate for new material