The Worcester spy. [volume] (Worcester, Mass.) 1898-1904, 1898-10-29
Over One Hundred Chang
ed Into Effective Vessels.

| Washington, Oct. 2S.-A large part Of
the burden Of equipping the United
States navy for the war with Spain
fell upon the construction bureau of the
navy, and in his annual report Commo-
dore Bichborn, the chief constructor,
furnishes many interesting details as to
the extent of this work. involving the
transformation Of more than 100 mer-
chant craft into effective naval yes
sells at short notice.
| Looking to the future, the chief con-
structor invites attention to the i'm
}portance Of properly equipping and
maintaining the plants at the minor
naval stations along the coast already
established and he submits estimates
for that purpose averaging about $25, :
OOO in each case. He says that had the
consequences of the recent naval en-
gagements in the West Indies been as
serious as there was reason to expect
they might be, the southern stations
would have been necessary for repairs
10 ships too badly injured to be sent to
northern yards. To keep the nucleus
lof force of mechanics at these stations
small work Should be constantly under
way and proper Storehouses should be
erected to Keep sufficient quantities of
material on hand. 1t is suggested that
while the new dock at Algiers, La, is
building suitable repair plant and
storehouses should be erected.
Besides the long list Of vessels pur-
chased by the government for use as
auxiliary cruisers, the report says that
10 vessels We're accepted by the gov
ernment from builders during the last
fiscal year, These were the Iowa,
Helena, Nashville, Wilmington, Annap-
oils, Marietta, Newport, Vicksburg,
Foote and Wheeling.
1t is suggested that in awarding con-
tracts the department should limit
builders unfamiliar with torpedo boat
or naval work to a single vessel, in or
der that they may not on an apparent
saving of few thousand dollars, OBJ
tam their experience at a heavy ex-
pense in delay and annoyance TO the
government.
The chef constructor declares that
the naval engagements of the past few
months have thoroughly justified his
course in making f1reproof the wood
work placed in our war vessels.
He produces figures to show that Sc
rious inconvenience was experienced.
the past year, and says the necessity
for Mastering the construction of the
new docks is strongly evident
An allusion is made to the steady de-
crease in the number of apprentices in
the several navy yards which the chief
constructor thinks is a matter Of re-
greet. He says that the apprentices
make the best workmen, and therefore
he urges that the system be put on a
new basis; that boys be carefully Sc
lected for apprenticeship, physically
examined and then carried through the
proper course of construction at the
navy yards.
The behavior of all classes of our
naval vessels throughout the various
conditions of the war is set down as
a source of qualification to the con-
struction bureau, where the greater
part of them were designed. The be-
havior of ALL both in action and in
general service on the blockade, APP
pears to have been such as to thor
oughly demonstrate their integrity and
their suitability for the service for
which they were designed.
The chief constructor pays a tribute
to the interchangeable labors of the con-
structicn corps during the war, and ex-
presses the opinion thar the increase in
its personnel has hardly been as rapid
as the demand upon its services. There
fore IL is urged thar the department
continue the liberal policy it has re-
Gently followed in ass gn:ng officers to
the Corps.