The record-union., 1895-11-11

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1O.-The hrSl
shin of the new navy was put In com
mission over nine years ago, ana ac-
cording to Chief Instructor f1lciio0i ~
the demands for ordinary repairs 0ii
the earlier vessels for the preservation
and for the maintenance Oh lAei
eGuipage in a proper state OF eliicieiiOy
are yearly becoming more SERIOUS anu
Congress must hereafter make Hlucii
larger appropriations for this purpose
Commodore Hichborn, in his annual re-
mort declares that modern steel SLlpS'
with their extreme SUBDIVISION ana
elaborate systems of ventilation, drain
age and mechanical auXiliaries Oh all
kinds, require much greater care poIii
when in commission and IN ofolIlalS'
than was formerly the case with the
old wooden ships. The system Is lol-
lowed by much more serious ana lar
reaching deterioration, and 1t is apso-
lutelv essential that the most careIul
supervision should be exercised at all
times. and remedies promptly applleu'
in order that the efficiency OF the yes
sells as men-of-war may be properly
maintained.
For. several years past the Construc-
tion Bureau has been compelled TO
retrench nearly to the danger point,
being limited by a repair appropriation
of less than per cent. of the original
cost of vessels while in the British
navy the figure varies from 10
per cent, the lower figure applying to
heavier armored vessels.
Constructor Hichborn insists that a
million and a half dollars are needed
secured from Congress for the current
year. A significant feature of Conmo-
dore Hichborn's report it that he OF
ficially recommended the construction
of only two new vessels to be author
lied by Congress at the next session,
instead of the great increases to our
force of heavy battleships which was
unoficially suggested by ms paper (- TeaG
before the naval architects IN New
York three days ago as being promptly
needed by the navy.
The vessels he recommends are two
small composite sailing vessels Of 1,OOU
tons displacement, to cost only S2o0,OOU
each These. if authorized by Con-
gress. will be the first two vessels with
out steam power that have been
placed in the naval service for many
years No argument regarding this
recommendation is submitted by Con-
structor Hichborn.
Commodore HichboI'n devotes con
siderable space to pointing out the me-
cessity for greatly increasing the num-
Der of dry docks at the navy yards, the
efficiency of our cruisers beirg 5eri-
ously affected by the difficulties en-
countered in cleaning their sub
merged portions. He recommends new
docks at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
Boston. Mass; Mare Island, Cal, and
Norfolk, Va Until the indefinite tim5
in the future when the big dry docks al
New York. Puget Sound and Port Royal
are available for deep draught vessels
the new battleships must remain un-
docked.
Chief Engineer Melville and Con-
structor Hichborn concur in the esti-
mate that 81. 800. go must be provided
for disbursing next year on account OF
the vessels authorized by the last Con-
gress. for which, however, no appr0-
priations were made. For repairs or
the Chicago $50. 900 is required, and fc1
the Hartford $4,000.
Constructor Hichborn reneWs with
emphasis the request he has frequently
made to Congress for an experimental
tank, to cost about 100000. which i
is proposed to use to test models of ship:
before the vessels themselves are built