The herald., 1898-10-29
WORK ON The WARSHEPS S
DURING THE LAST
FISCAL YEAR
Hichborne Makes Report
on Work Done by the Naval
Construction Bureau
Associated Press Special Wire.

WASHINGTON, Oct. 2S.-A large part
OF the burden OF equpping the United States
navy for tire war with SPAN fell upon the
construction bureau OF the navy, and IN hls
annual report Commodore HIcnborne, the
chef constructor, furnishes many. interest,"
| ing details as to the extent OF this work,
| Involving the transformation OF more than
| 100 merchant craft into auxiliary naval YES
sells at short notice. Looking to the future,
the chief constructor points TO the lmpor-
tance of properly equipplng and maintaining
the plants at the minor naval stations along
| the coast already established, and he sub
mits estimates for the purpose averaging
about $25 900 in each case lie says that had
the consequences of the recent naval en-
gagements in the West Indies been nearly
so serious as there was reason to expect they
might be, the southern stations would have
been necessary to repair the ships too badly
| injured to be sent to northern yards. To
keep the nucleus of the force of men at these
stations small works should be constantly
under way and proper storehouses should
be erected to keep sufficient quantities OF
material on hand. 1t is suggested that while
1.-THE new dock at Algiers, La., is building a
suitable repair plant and storehouses should
be erected.
The report recommends change in the
system of purchasing supplies for navy yard
work, declaring that repairs have been de-
ayed through the failure to procure ma
terial.
Beside sthe long list of vessels purchased
for use as auxiliary cruisers, the report says
that ten vessels were accepted by the gov
ernment from builder during the last fiscal
year. These were the Newark, Helena,
Nashville, Wilmington, Annapolis, Marietta
Newport, Vicksburg, .Foote and Wheeling.
Progress made on the vessels in course of
work on the battleships has been held back
to great degree by the inpossibility of
securing armor when needed. The progress
on some of the torpedo boats has not fully
met the requirements of the contracts owing
largely to inexperienced builders and delay
in securing material. Therefore it is sug-
gested that in awarding contracts the de-
partment should limit builders unfamiliar
with torpedo boats or naval wark to single
vessel, in order that they may not on an
apparent saving of few thousand dollars
obtain their experience at a heavy expense
in delay and ANNOYANCE to, the government.
The chief constructor declares that ii &
naval engagements Of the past few months
have thoroughly justified his course in max
ing freproof the woodwork placed in our
warships.
He produces figures to show that serious
Inconvenience was experienced owing to the
lack Of dry docks during the past year, and
says the necessity for fastening the CON
struction of new docks is strongly evident.
An alluson is made to the steady decrease
in the number Of apprentices in the several
navy yards, which the chief constructor
thinks is a matter of regret. He says that
the apprentices make the best workmen
and therefore urges that the system be put
on a new basis; that boys be carefully Sc
lected for apprenticeship, physically exam
ined and then carried through the proper
course of instruction at the navy yards
The behavior of all classes of our naval
vessels throughout the various conditions of
the war is set down as source Of gratifica-
tion to the construction bureau, where the
greater part of them were designed.
The behavior of all, both in action and
general service on the blockade. appears to
have been such as thoroughly to demonstrate
their integrity and their suitability for the
service for which they were designed.
The chief constructor paws tribute to
the indefatieable lahors of the construction
corps during the war and expresses the opin-
ion that the increase in its D,rsonnel has
hardly been as rapid as the demand unon its
services. Therefore it is urged that the bu-
reau continue the liberal policy it has fol.
lowed in assigning officers to the corps.