The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-12-02
OUR GROWING NAVY
WORK OF THE PAST YEAR RE
VIEWED By SECRETARY HERBERT.
Report ON Condition of ships Under
Consfructton-Recom m m In lions
Nayies of Other Nations.

WASHINGTON. Dec The annual re-
port OF Hon. Hilary A. Herbert. Secretary
of the Navy. has been submitted TO the
President. The Secretary says
The following vessels. built by contract
have been completed. accepted and COM
missionsd since the date of my last report
Date of Speed Horse
Vessel: speed trial. attained. power
Olympia dec. y. 1893 21.6e knots 17,3l3
Indiana Oct. Is. 1896 i5.54s knots s,54s
The ram Katahdin. completed under con-
tract at the Bath ion works was tried
over a designated course upon Long Island
sound on Nov. 30 of the present year. max
ing an average OF 1901 knots an hour
The contract requirements. excepting. per-
haps. some slight finishing touches. had all
been complied with. save only that
speed OF seventeen knots was not reached
upon the trial. and for this reason the de-
partment refused TO accept the ship. There
Is no provision authorizing the acceptance
OF the ship II she fails 10 attain seventeen
knots. The company earnestly insists that,
as the vessel and its machinery we're con-
structed upon the departments plans and
specifications. that as these plans and speci-
fications were faithfully followed and the
work we'll done. the ship should be accept
ed In the view of the department. how
ever. whatever may be the equities Of the
contractor, the question as 10 what shall
be the final disposition of the matter is one
properly belonging to Congress.
The following vessels have been COM
pIeted at navy yards and put in commits
sion: Maine. at navy yard. New York;
9 Texas at navy yard So a1tdl w. Amphi
tracts for several torpedo boats and gum
boats have been let. in accordance with acts
hattie ships have been received. but the
contracts have not yet been awarded
VESSELS NOW UNDER WAY.
"A reference TO the report of the chief
constructor" the Secretary says. Twill
show that work on the vessels now in
course of construction has advanced quite
satisfactorily during the past year. Work
on the frst-class battle ship Iowa is pro-
crossing satisfactorily. large part of
her armor has been delivered. and it is
probable that she Will De completed ABOUT
October. 1884, The structural work of the
hull of the hrst-class battle ship Massa-
chusetts Is practically completed except as
regards the armor The first-class battle
SIN Jregcu Is a. far advanced as IS prac-
ticable before the delivery of armor ano
kdn mounts. ABOUT six months after re-
ceipt of armor and armament will be re-
quired for their Installation and all other
hull work can be finished within that time.
The Brooklyn was launched early In Oc-
tober. Ii Is probable that "a the current
rate OF progress this ship will not be ready
for trial In less than one year. but If il
should be necessary TO push her construc-
ton With special dispatch she could, by the
modification of the existing plans for turn
Ing her tuyrets, etc. be made ready for
trial at much earlier period The work
on gunboafs Nos. Z. 8 and . (Nashville. Will
mington and Helena) is progressing salts
factoriiy. The hulls of these. vessels are
were. successfully launched on the 10Th of
October. The work on the tug boat Una
lila tNo. ~ at the Mare Island navy yard
mas progressed rapidly. The keel was laid
April %. 1886. she was launched Sept. Fl.
1895. and Is now practically finished. Con-
tracts have been made for materials for
Norfolk navy yard for the navy yard at
League island. Pennsylvania. Work on tor
pedo boats Nos. 3. A and has been begun
works ks '''''' . ~ INC ''' '' = '
'.In my last report I called attention to
the disadvantages OF woodwork In war yes
and 1t was stated that I had directed the
suspension, In ships then building, of al
result of the investigation then going on
was that woodwork In the interior of ships
was, as far as practicable. dispensed with
No substitute for wool in all essentials has
as yet been found and for some purposes
II Is still deemed Indispensable 1 there
fore recently ordered investigation of
use by the Electric Fireproofng Company.
The reports made OF these Investigations
led the department TO the conclusion that
II was desirable to treat by this process
such wood as must be used in the interior
OF our new ships. and. on July q. 1895.
having first agreed with this company upon
hereafter as far as possible, all wood so
used should be first treated by this pro-
cess.
NAVAL CONSTRUCTORS
Ne -, I'D
the wise policy of selecting it's future ma
val constructors from among the best and
brightest graduates OF the Nava. Academy
and sending them abroad for a post-grad-
uate course. some to Great Britain and
some to France. preparatory to their du-
ties as members OF the construction corps.
The young men so selected have frequently
carried of the highest honors abroad, and
none OF them have failed 10 graduate with
distinction The preliminary training re-
ceived at the academy gives unusual advan-
tas ,s ,,,. - a,a,.,,,. :. ..,u. 49,.
tenn OF selecting and training those who are
70 build and repair our ships IN the future
likely to produce better results than this
Certainly no course could be suggested
better calculated TO teach the science and
theory OF modern naval architecture, but IL
has occurred TO me that the system might
be extended. When these young men have
now put to work in the Bureau of Con-
struction and Repair in government navy
yards or at private shipyards where gov
eminent vessels are building Their only
experience at sea In naval vessels has been
the short cruises they took from the acad-
envy. Ii Is true that the work of snip
building is done on shore. but II Is prob
able that all great designers of ships seek
and enjoy more opportunities of seeing the
performance OF their handiwork under the
conditions TO which IL is finally subjected
than at present permitted to constructors
I'm the navy.
The department has therefore inaugu-
rated the policy. which IL hopes may
eventually prove useful, of sending assist
ant naval constructors, after they have
acquired some practical experience in ship
yards. to sea for cruises OF moderate dura-
ton. to make themselves familiar with the
actual working OF the various details OF
ship building. to observe and note the
action OF the vessel and its fittings under
reports to the department, and TO perform.
such other duties as the commanding officet
may require IL Il expected that the con-
structor so detailed will. while thus acquir>
ing knowledge that will ut him FOR the per-
Torrance OF his duties on shore. also be OF
much use in assisting to dock the ship
abroad and In making repairs TO vessels OF
the fleet to which he Is attached. He viii,
= likewise have extended opportunities OF In
specting foreign vessels and the manner in
which work Is done TN foreign shipyards.
Awarded
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