The record-union., 1898-12-07

WASHINGTON, Dec O.-An account
of how the navy was equipped to meet
the emergency created by the war IS
contained in the annual report Of Cap
tain r. J. Bradford, Chief of the Bu-
reau of Equipment. Navy Department.
Captain Bradford says it is too early
to place on record for future guidance
the entire experience of the bureau
during the war, but it is proposed to
do this at some future time.
The report goes on to say that the
demands upon the bureau and its sub
ordinate branches-the naval observa-
tory, the photographic office, compass
division, nautical almanac and cleo
trieal appliances division occasioned
by the war were very great This was
essentially so with reference to the
coal supply of the fleet.
When war threatened. the bureau
made every possible effort to procure
coaling stations near the scene of its
probable location, directing special ef
forts without success, however, to the
passages about the Antilles. There
was only one coal shed at Key West,
and one lighter, but eventually all the
available space there was covered with
sheds with a storage capacity of 90,-
GOO tons. No other place near the
scene of the war was available. rs a
preparation for war the bureau 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
offers on account of the war risks.
The Baltimore concern had a few
schooners. The department was in des-
perate straits, and the alternative was
TO purchase colliers at Hampton Roads,
ready to sail at an hours notice to
any point desired with 10000 tons Of
tie best coal
One lesson of the war which was of
use to every navy in the world, the
report continues, was a demonstration
that in future fresh water for boilers
must be constantly supplied to the
fleet in transports just as coal is ear
ried. With the exception of the Ore
gon, the distilling plants aboard our
warships. which were supposed to be
sufficient to supply the loss in evap-
Grafton to the boilers, proved to be
inadequate, owing chiefly to leaky
steam pipes. 1t was more difficult to
supply fresh water to ships at Key
West than to supply coal. The boilers
of the ships on blockade before Santi-
ago were much injured for the want
of fresh water and gave the COM
mander-in-chief much concern The
bureau has heretofore bought fresh
water for steaming purposes, but that
was too expensive.
During the war the bureau paid at
one time $2067.50 for $4,000 gallons
of fresh water at Tompkinsville. n.
Y, for the st. Paul, and pro rata for
other ships. Had this water been
drawn from the Brooklyn mains and
transported to the ship in waterboats
it would have cost only $43.25. To
remedy this evil the bureau is pro-
curing a water barge for each naval
station, and is erecting distilling
plants where necessary 1t has also
procared tankship to carry water in
bulk.
The Equipment Bureau bought near
ly half a million tons of coal during
the year at the rate of S4.6S per ton.
The year before only 13S,31S tons were
coal bought aboard, 74,111 tons, cost
$S.12 per ton. The increased cost of
coal aboard was due to serious strikes
of coal miners and threatened war be-
tween foreign nations BY watching
the markets and making close con-
tracts, the bureau was able to keep
the cost down to a minimum. and at
price believed to be remarkable in
view of the conditions
Captain Bradford regards with much
concern the constantly increasing de-
mands for repairs and renewals for
electrical outfits and supplies of ships.
With the notable exceptions of Dew
ey's fleet and the Oregon, the expert
ence or our warships would seem to in
dlcate that they cannot long be self
sustaining without dock yard and elec-
trical work. The number of officers
who are familiar with electrical en-