The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1897-10-28
ANNUAL REPORT
Of Philip Hitchborn, Chief Construc.
tor Of the Navy.
Work on New Vessels Stopped on Account
of Lack of Funds-Urgent Nc d OF I'm.
prOvements In Navy Plants-Better
Docks Are Needed Badly.

WASHINGTON, Oct 25.-In his annual
report to the secretary of the navy
Philip Hichborn, chief constructor of
the navy, says that the strength of the
navy on October 1 was 141 vessels all
told, including the ships of both old
and new navies. 1t is stated that dur
ing the last few months of the last tis-
cal year a considerable amount of work
upon vessels that had been authorized
by congress had to be suspended owing
to lack of funds. This caused a heavy
drain upon the new appropriations
at the beginning of the present
fiscal year, and makes the exhaustion
of those appropriations before the first
of next July almost an assured fact.
Chief Hichborn says this is discour-
aging state of affairs, as exhaustion
means a wholesale reduction of navy
yard forces and the discharge of com.
petent and trained men. He points to
the advantage and economy of having
at least one vessel building at each inn
portant navy yard.
Probably the most desirable type of
vessel for the purpose intended, partic-
ularly in view of the present state Of
d
sheathed cruiser of comparatively light
draft and great endurance, with quar-.
ters for flag officers.
Attention is called to the urgent
need of improving the navy yard
plants in the interest of the economical
execution of work, and estimates are
submitted for each yard. The plants
at New York, Norfolk and Mare Island
require additions. alterations and re.
pairs to keep them up to proper
state of efficiency, while the yards at
Boston, Portsmouth and League Island,
though not actively engaged, should be
put in q condition that would enable
them to work advantageously at short
notice should occasion require. A plant
at Puget Sound is also said to be ncces-
sary.
During the last year the government
accepted finally four ships, the Massa.
chusetts, Oregon, Ericsson and Brook.
lyn, while eleven vessels have been ac.
cepted preliminarily and subject to
final test, viz: Iowa, Nashville, Will
mington, Helena, Annapolis, Vicks-
burg, Newport, Wheeling, Marietta,
Porter and Foote.
Particular attention is invited to the
good results attending the construction
of the Iowa. 1t is shown that this cf-
ficient vessel is able to carry 212 tons
more than was calculated upon for her
designed draft. The changes in her
case cost only about two per cent.
of the contract price. Of the
gunboats the report says that their
first cost was remarkably low, aggre-
eating about two million dollars for
the nine, or not more than the cost of
first class armored cruiser. The cost
of their maintenance, particularly with
copper bottoms, and considerable sail
power should be a minimum.
The chief constructor, who is charged
with the duty of docking ships, makes
an urgent plea for more and better
docks, stating that the navy has been
at serious inconvenience during the
past six months for lack of proper
facilities for docking battleships. The
bureau believes that the necessity for an
additional dock is most urgent at Mare
Island and on the Atlantic coast at
Portsmouth and Boston, while larger
dock at Norfolk and League island
would be decided advantage. Fur.
ther consideration is also urged of the
merits of Algiers, La, as a dry deck
site, and it is urged that all the docks
should be ready in two years.
Chief Hichborn, under the head Of
Armor, renews his suggestion that the
department should no longer make sep
arate contracts for ships and theiI
armor, but should permit the ship
builder to supply the armOr
ANTEl EIDE