Evening star., 1896-10-30
VESSELS OF THE NAVY
Annual Report Of the Chief Of the Construc-
tion Bureau.
Vessels Accepted and Progress on
Experimental Model Tank.

In his annual report to the Secretary of
the Navy Commodore Hichborn, chief of
the construction bureau, calls attention TO
the serious delays and Inconvenience that
nave resulted from the lack of an ade-
quate stock Of materials to make repairs
to ships. He asks that Congress be re-
uuested to authorize the allotment of 81
5ssytssI for the requirement of such stock,
which Will not require an additional appro-
priation but simply enable the bureau to
purchase its stores in bulk instead of in
driblcts. He asks for appropriations of
$4,000 for the completion of the work on
the Chicago and sT0,tUO for the compile
ton of the Hartford, which, when reno
waited, he says. will be of actual value as a
cruiser while preserving the sentiment at
tachcd to F'arraguts old flagship; $1,000
for the tank at the Washington navy
yard and S5OGO each for two tugs for the
Port Royal, S. c., and Puget sound naval
stations.
Vessels Accepted Last Year.
During the last fiscal year the department
formally accepted five vessels-1ndiana,
Massachusetts, Oregon, Katahdin and
Ericsson-and four were commissioned
Maine Texas, Terror and Monadnock. The
chief constructor says that in general good
progress was made upon vessels unaer
construction during the year; that there
are no further delays on account of armor.
and that it Is hoped the delays in the pro-
curement of ordnance material. which have
been great in the past, will disappear in the
future. An estimate of SlW,GoO is sub
mitted to provide a place for laying up
torpedo boats while they are not in active
service, but no location is specifically sus-
geSted.
The bureau has been preparing plans for
converting into effective auxiliary cruisers
;,Io
the naval reserve lists. including the
Owego class and the Hudson class of lake
vessels and the FL Sol class and FL Dorado
class of ocean-going vessels, and 1t Is
recommended that a stock of non-perish-
able stores for each of these vessels be
prepared and kept ready for immediate
use. Attention IS again called to the neeG
of more dry docks, and the delays which
are now experienced in docking ships art
pointed out An increase in the number OF
carpenters is also recommended.
Experimental Model Tank.
Commodore Hichborn makes the follow
ing reference to the experimental mode
tank at the Washington navy yard:
The act making appropriations for tn,
naval service for the fiscal year ending
June ~ 1897 contained an appropriation
of 5000 toward the construction of an ex
perimental model tank at the Washington
navy yard, under the bureau of construc
ton and repair, the value of which ha:
been repeatedly set forth by the bureau IL
its annual reports. Preparation of plan.
for this establishment we'll advanced
After careful examination by boring ant
driving test piles. a satisfactory site ha:
been selected at the navy yard, and pre-
liminary work on the ground is now pro
crossing 1t is hoped that the next Con
gress will appropriate the balance neces
sary to complete this important installa
ton. AS soon as the money becomes avail
able work can be expedited.
1T is but proper to state that the burea,
is in receipt of several communication
from private shipbuilders throughout tn,
country upon this subject, expressing graft
fication at the prospect that the Unitet
States was at last in fair way to be OF
a par with foreign nations in this import
ant respect.