Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1895-11-11
CARE O TIE navy.
Important R8oomA04aati0ns BY the
Chief Of the Bureau
Of Constructions and Repair-Th
Needs Of the Navy Yards a : d
the Urgency Of Dry Dock Facili-
ties-An Experimental Station q
Necessity.

Washington, November 1O-Ccmmo-
dore Philip Hochborn, chief of the bu-
reau Of construction and repair of the
navy, has completed his report for the
year. The report includes estimates
for appropriations for next year, the
most important Of which is $5,695,67
TO be expended ON vessels authorized by
Congress for the increase Of the navy.
He also asks for 81, 500, 900 for the gen
eral repair OF vessels and the purchase
Of stores and machinery; $52S,000 for
continuance Of work already author
lied on the Hartford, the Chicago and
other vessels, and 100000 for Two COM
P0site sailing vessels. He dWells espec-
Tally upon The necessity OF adequate
money for The repair OF vessels, as the
modern steel ships, with their extreme
subdivision and elaborate systems Of
ventilation, drainage and mechanical
auxiliaTies Of all kinds, require
MUCH GREATER CARE,
both when in commission and in ordin-
airy, than was formerly the case with
the old wooden ships
II is now more than nine years since
The frs vessel OF the new navy was puJ
n comm .ssi0n, and The necessity for
general repairs and renewals Of fl
t.Hgs and equipments is becoming more
and more pressing.
Tho po'iov- NJ o,-tr--,,o ooo~,C -.-r- Z,
about reached its limit, and unless more
ample appropriations are made for the
care and preservation Of ships and the
general maintenance CT the yard plants
me efficiency of the Zee. will be dimin-
ishcd and government property win suf-
fer serious deterioration.
Commodore Eichbon notes the COM
pic..on and acceptance during the year
Of the Nlrblehead. Columbia, Olympia
and Minneapolis. gives The sta,us-of
other vessels which are
ALMOST COMPLETED,
and also st0tes The facts in connection
with contracts recently let and speci6-
cations made under the authority CT thJ
las. naval approrI bill. He sug-
gests the importance of appropriations
sufficient to put the navy yard plants
ct Portsmouth. Y. r.. Bcston. Mass,
New York, Lesgue Island. Norfolk. Va,
and Mare Island. California, In a con-
di-ion to meet the demands of the i'm
mediate future. lie thinks S125000
necessary al Norfolk $4,000 al New
York. and $4,000 at Mare Island. He
also Tanews the recommendation OF last
year for the appropriation Of S75.000 for
each of the two new stations at Port
Royal and Puget Sound. This money
is. he says. necessary to equip the sta
lions with tools so as to enable them
to cover the ordinary repair work.
Probably the
MOST IMPORTANT PART
of the report Is that devoted to the nee
ossity of increased dry dock facilities.
Mr.. Hichborn notes the fact that there
was no dock. government or private, in
the country sufficiently large TO dock the
Indiana preliminary to her trial trip.
IT, he says, such q condition con-
fronts the department in time Of peace,
It is easily realized how serious q defect
il would prove in time of war when the
casualties Of battle and necessity Of
keeping the bottoms OF vessels in such
condition that they might develop
their highest speed would largely in
crease the demands Of our docking fa-
cilities"
The chief constructor endorses the
recommendation Of the constructor at
Boston for dock there sufficient in size
to take the largest vessel. IS he does
also similar recommendations from the
constructors at Norfolk and Mare Isl
and
Mr.. HichbOn also recommends that
Gin order that the plants OF cur naval
stations may always be kept in
A HIGH STATE or EFFICIENCY
for the performance Of the general work
Of repairing and fitting out. Sc is car
nestly recommended that in future ap-
preparations provision be made for hav-
ing at least one vessel in course of con-
stTuction at each Of the three principal
navy yards
Explaining the reason for this sUg-
gostion, he says that the completion Of
the vessels building at the New York
and Norfolk navy yards has necessi-
tated the discharge Of n large proportion
Of the skilled force hitherto employed 81
those stations, and it will be exceed
mFly difficult to maintain the efficiency
Of the construction and repair plants at
those yards unless early measures are
taken 70 give regular employment 10 a
small force of skilled mechanics in
each Of the principal yards.
The report renews the recommends
ton previously made CT
AN EXPERIMENTAL TANK
in which carefully conducted expert
ments could be made with models in
such way as to anticipate the perform
ance Of the completed vessel, these re-
suits not being capable Of attainment
in any other way.
Several foreign governments have al
ready preceded us in this direction and
have had constructed elaborate expert
mental stations. the British taking the
lead. One hundred thousand dollars is
asked for this purpose, and it is believ-
ed that with such station, properly
eCuipped and Offered, the Department
would be in q condition to make original
research and action on quite independ-
ent lines instead of being compelled,
I'm great measure, to rely upon the OK
reriments ana deductions of others,
which must of necessity be accepted at
their full value, as there is no means
in this country OF testing their &C
curacy.
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