The Forrest City times., 1898-12-09
some, INSIDE HISTORY.
How the Navy was Equipped to Nee,
the Emergency of the War
with Spain.
ANNUAL REPORT OF CAPT. BRADFORD,
IL De"'s with tho Doings OF the Bureau of
Equipment. and Indicates the Impor-
tance of Thorough and Intellig ent Prep.
aration I'm These Days of Steam Driven
Engines of War

Washington, Dec. Am account of
how the navy was equipped to meet
the emergency created by the war is
contained in the annual report of
Capt. X. b. Bradford, chief of the
bureau of equipment, navy depart
ment. Secretary Long, in his report,
has made some brief reference to the
workings of the bureau in q compli-
mentary manner, and Capt. Brad
ford's report furnishes the details Of
the operations of that important bu-
reau. He says it is too early to place
on record for future guidance the en-
tire experience of the bureau during
the war, but it is proposed to do this
ut some future time. The report goes
on to say:
DEMANDS UPON THE BUREAU.
The demands upon the bureau and its
subordinate branches-the naval observa-
tory, the photographic office, compass d.
vision-occasioned by the war were very
great. This was essentially 80 with ref
erence to the coal supply of the fleet
EFFORTS TO PROCURE COALING
STATIONS.
When the war threatened, the bureau
made every possible effort to procure
coaling stations near the scene of it's
forts, without success, however, to the
passages about the Antilles. There was
only one coal shed at Key West and one
space there was covered with sheds with
storage capacity of 1000 tons No other
place near the scene of war was availa-
had asked for and obtained many tenders
for the transportation and supply of
coal When the crucial moment came,
with the exception of a single Baltimore
firm, all declined to adhere to their Of
fers on account of war risks.
ONLY A FEW SCHOONERS.
The Baltimore concern had a few
schooners. We were in desperate straits.
and the alternative was to purchase ships
and arm and man them as transports
There were but few vessels in this coun-
try suitable ior the trnnsport1sSn OF coal
were found. their owners knew we'll the
necessities OF the government and gem
erally de demanded exorstant prices What.
government could least of all afford de-
lay. so FIVE golfers were purchased rang
ing IN price from $3.50, 900 for the Sterling
to Sf2, 900 for the Merrimac.
OTHER VESSELS PURCHASED.
The first great emergency having passed.
and the squadron being relieved, addi-
tional golfers, mostly foreign vessels.
were purchased at fair prices. and event.
ually the bureau possessed an efficient
armed collier fleet, with a carrying capac-
ity OF 5000 tons. for use In the Atlantic.
impossible to carry on the operations
brought to a successful issue by the fleet.
che monitors were especially helpless,
WITH their small steam radius. without
the help of GOLFERS.
THE HISTORIC COLLIER MERRIMAC.
The assistance rendered by the Merri-
mac Is historic, Capt. Bradford says. with
ton of single telegram from the COM
mander-in-chief. urging that a particular
kind of coal only be supplied to the fleet.
concerning an adequate coal supply was
received from any ship af1oat during the
entire war; evidence that an abundant
tmep tbs was v awa as,, Ia 1ns
at Hampton roads, ready to sail at an
hours notice to any, point desired, 10000
tons of the best coal.
A USEFUL LESSON.
One lesson of the war which will be of
use to every navy in the world, the report
continues, was demonstration that in
future future fresh re-, water water for boilers must be
ports, just as coal Is carried. With the
exception of the Oregon, the distilling
plants aboard our warships, which were
supposed to be sufficient to supply the
loss in evaporation to the boilers, proved
to be inadequate. owing chiefly to leaky
steam pipes. 1t was more difficult to sup
ply fresh water to ships at Key West
than to supply coal. The boilers of the
ships on blockade before Santiago were
much injured for the want of fresh water,
and gave the commander-in-chiefm much
concern.
FRESH WATER EXPENSIVE.
The bureau has heretofore bought fresh
water for steaming purposes, but that
bureau paid at one time s2O67 so for 1872
900 gallons of fresh water at Tompkins-
Vile. N. Y; for the St, Paul. and pro-
been drawn from the Brooklyn mains and
transported to the ship in water boats 1t
would have cost only $43.25 To remedy
barge for each naval station and is erect
ing distilling plants where necessary. 1t
has also procured a tank ship to carry
water in bulk.
BIG PURCHASES OF COAL.
The equipment bureau bought nearly
half million tons of coal during the
year at the rate of $4.6s per ton. The year
before only 1Ss,31s tons were bought at a
abroad. 7i111 tons, cost $S.12 per ton. The
increased cost of coal abroad was due to
serious and prolonged strikes of coal min
nations. BY watching the markets and
making close contracts the bureau was
able to keep the cost down to minimum,
and at a price believed to be remarkable
in view of the conditions.
INCREASING DEMANDS FOR RE-
PAIRS.
Can't Bradford regards with much con-
Germ the constantly increasing demands
for repairs and renewals for electrical
outfits and supplies of ships. With the
notable exceptions of Dewey's fleet and
the Oregon, the experience of our war
ships would seem to indicate that they
can not long be self-suslaining without
dock yard and electrical work. The num-
Der of officers who are familiar with
electrical engineering seems to be de-
creasing rather than Increasing, proba-
bly, owing to the closing of the torpedo
school. where a course on electricity was
taught.
MULTIPLICATION OF ELECTRICAL
APPARATUS.
In the meantime electrical apparatus
on ship board has multiplied many fold
and become, like all other accessories of
a man-of-war much more complex. II is
earnestly recommended that a special
corps of men be provided to care for the
electrical plants. Capt. Bradford says
that as a monopoly practically controls
the most important electrical supplies,
with the usual high prices, he considers
II advisable to erect at the New York
navy yard, for the purpose Of overcoming
this evil. sufficient appliances for the
manufacture of the articles now pur-
chased.
HOMING PIGEON SERVICE.
While the results of the homing- pigeon
service have not been as satisfactory as