The evening times., 1898-12-06
FIXING in shape
THE SEA Fighters
Report of the Work of the
Equipment Bureau.
EXPENDITURES FOR COAL
Constantly Increasing Demand for
Repairs and Electrical Outfits.
Experiments With the HOminE
Pigeon Seryice-ResuIts Not En-
tircIy satisfactory.
EXPENDITURES FOR COAL

r. b. Bradford, chief of the Bureau of
Equipment, Navy Department, today
submitted his annual report to the Sec
retary of the Navy. The report in part
follows:
The following were the appropriations
for the Bureau under the naval bill for
the above mentioned fiscal year:
Equipment of vessels. 81, ASS III
Contingent euuinuent .,,........... l5O00
Civil establishment .................... 15525
Increase OF the navy equipment. l62d2S
1t is believed that if state OF war
had not existed during part Of this year
the amounts appropriated would have
been sufficient for the exigencies OF the
! service. Up to the date that prepara-
tions for war became necessary good
balances under each heading were avail
able, and the bureau had taken prec tu-
tions to keep the expenses within the ap-
propriations.
when however, war became immi
nent and certain preparations for IT had
10 be made, as well later during the
progress OF the war, ii became a neces
sity TO spend much larger amounts than
originally appropriated. This was espe-
cially the case under the heading Equip
ment OF NeSseIs.' out of which all labor
is paid and general supplies are pur-
chased.
Congress having appropriated lib
eral amount for the national defense, the
bureau was allotted share of il. In ad-
dition, an appropriation of 100000 was
obtained under the head OF Equipment
Of vessels, and still later deficiency
appropriation of $4,000 was passed.
The expenditures OF the bureau ex-
ceeded these appropriations. including
the deficiency appropriation, by the sum
of sl1G,SS3. This was covered by the na-
val appropriation bill approved May l.
1898. which, by order Of the President,
was made Immediately available.
There was expended in the sail lofts
of the several navy yards the sum Of
$l2l 0i1.07 for labor and $50 S23 y for ma
terial. and in the rigging lofts 500, 7o3S 81
for labor and S10.35951 for mater ial max
ing a total expenditure for labor and
material of $3i2 1856, an excess ove=
last year of sl6l ISSCi
The sum of S574.,yJ.T was expended at
the several navy yards for labor in
equipping vessels being an excess over
last year OF sl16,Si1.04
There was expended abroad for equip
ment supplies the sum of $40 6l250 OF
this amount s601, ,SSJ.53 was expended for
coal.
"A total amount OF 80, ,55l tons of coal.
costing s., @6-2S. or at the rate OF Si.6S
per ton. WAS purchased during the year.
as against lSS3lS tons, costing 1865 ,S21. Y,
or at the rate of $.75 per ton, during the
fiscal year ending June 30. 1897. OF this
amount "A, III tons were purchased abroad
| or paid for by paymasters of ships. cost
ing S6Ol, SS5-53. at the rate of SS.J2 per
ton. as against 50 26S tons. costing s375,-
( fa co &c %
year 1897. There were purchased at home
during the year. upon open purchase requi-
sition or under contract 31S431 tons of
coal, costing. together with the transpor-
| tation thereof. $l.52o.1l9.7 or an average
Of sac per ton, as against S2.G5l tons,
| costing S2Se69i.ts. or an average of s3.41
per ton, for the year 1897.
The increased cost of coal abroad was
due TO serious and prolonged strikes of
coal miners and threatened war between
| foreign nations
a considerable quantity of coal was
| bought free on board AZ the point of ship
ment and was thence conveyed to ships
AT the theater of war by Government COL
| liers. No freight charges were therefore
| incurred, and the cost per ton appears
smaller than il would without Government
| transportation.
by watching the market and making
close contracts the bureau was able to
keep the cost of coal down to a minimum
| and at a price believed to toe remarkable,
| in view of the conditions.
The war emergency affected the Naval
| Observatory mainly in its issue Of nauti-
! cal instruments TO ships, the increase be-
! ing more than six 10 one, and the actual
| shipments for three and one-half months
being considerably more than for either of
! the three preceding years-ls95, 1896 and
/ 1897. in fact, the demand for nautical in
! struments was so great that. all in the
| country were purchased, and many in ad
dition ordered from abroad by cable.
The detachment of many officers for
sea duty entailed upon those remaining
! large amount Of extra work.
by an act of Congress approved May
{. the photographic Office was attached
to and made part of this bureau, and
| the transfer of the same from the Bu-
| reau of Navigation to this bureau was
| completed May I.
THE energies Of this office have been
\ heavily taxed TO keep TaCe with the de-
mand for outfits for ships rapidly added
| to the navy during the war. In time of
| peace the highest average quarterly de-
| mand upon the division of chart con-
| struction for furnishing the division of
| supply amounted to $500 navigating
| charts while for three months OF the
| present eXigency the division of chart
construction furnished 1880 copies of
| charts.
The same activity for furnishing looks
| for navigating purposes was required. In
| time Of peace about four new OUTFITS Of
| books and charts have been required for
| the navy during a single quarter, bui Our
ing the three months of war emergency
| I34 outfits were required.
THE resources of the compass office
| We're taxed to the utmost to supply c:.m-
| passes, binnacles ana their accessories to