The evening times., 1898-12-06

treme capacity to turn out additional sup
plies No ship was delayed for the want
of suitable compass outfit, though the
stock was reduced at one time to that of
single ship.
"In the compass office but few officers
have received instruction in the practical
work of compensation of the compass, be-
cause of the war. Every officer who is
destined to have charge, for the first time,
of the compasses on board ship should
receive a course of practical instruction
on their care and correction.
1.-The bureau regards with much concern
the constantly increasing demands for re-
pairs and renewals to the electrical out
fits and SUPPLIES of ships. While there are
some noted exceptions, such as the ships
on the Asiatic station and the
Oregon, the experience of ships on
the home station would seem to indi-
cate that they cannot long be self-sus-
tanning without dockyard electrical work.
The remedy appears to be in keeping
electrical outfits simple as the military
necessities will permit and providing
better personnel for its care and custody.
Happily, during the past year special
rate, the exclusive duty of which Is to
take charge of the electrical outfits of
ships, has been established. The pay,
however, is regarded by the bureau as in
adequate, and the naval training on shore
for this duty utterly inefficient The num-
Der of officers who are familiar with cleo
trical engineering seems to be decreasing
rather than increasing. Formerly this
science was taught at the torpedo station
in d sort of postgraduate course for ma
val officers, and much useful information
thus disseminated, as well as interest
awakened. When this school was aban-
doned. all official progress toward educat-
ing naval officers in electrical matters
n1 a.ff isal
ratus on shipboard has multiplied many
fold and become like, all other accesso-
ries of a man-of-war, much more COM
plex. In the opinion of the bureau the
only sure way of maintaining the effi-
cheney of the electrical appliances on
shipboard is to have a specially trained
corps of officers and men for that pur-
pose. 1t is earnestly recommended that
this be done. The difficulties of maintain
ing an electrical plant on board ship in
an efficient condition are tenfold greater
than on shore.
The homing pigeon service established
by nv predecessor has been continued,
end while the results have not been as
satisfactory as the bureau wished, es-
pecially with the cote at Key West. In
the immediate vicinity of the war, yet
this may have been due to the climate
and 10 the want of an experienced man
training the birds.
THE bureau strongly recommends that
an officer be detailed to superintend the
various cotes and personally see that all
the duties of the keepers are duly per-
formed. 1t is impossible To conduct the
service in its various details from a desk
in Office. The flights from the cote on
the Pacific coast have been fairly salts
factory. AS considerable money has been
IA .-1,- I
oughly tried before being abandoned
THE endeavors of the bureau have been
largely directed TO securing the best coal
for steaming purposes. With this end in
view all dealers and miners have been in
vited TO submit samples of their coal for
chemical analysis. Nearly all have avail
ed themselves of this opportunity. and
tests have been made at the Washington
navy yard. The results have been care
fully noted by the bureau, and in meeting
the heavily increased demand for such
coal on account of the war the bureau
has been materially aided by this data, in
keeping a constant flow of the best coal.
at a reasonable rate, 10 the points where
most needed. Evaporative tests still con-
tinue 10 be made at the New York and
Mare Island yards when desired.
1T is at present too early to place on
record for future guidance the entire
experience Of the bureau during the war.
1t is proposed TO do this at some future
time The demands upon this bur au
and its subordinate branches Occasioned
by the war Were. however. very great.
This was essentially so with reference to
the coal supply OF the fleet.
when war was threa tened. the bureau
made every possible effort to procure
coaling stations near the scene OF is
probable location. Special efforts We're
directed to the vicinity of the passages
about the Antilles, without success. how
ever. At Key West there existed SIN
gle coal shed with capacity OF 3,C0J tons
only with but one coal lighter for trans
| portation. More coal sheds could not b.
erected for want of funds When funds
were procured, ii was too late to COM
plete additional sheds before the war was
well under way. All available space at
| Key West was eventually covered with
sheds giving a total capacity there Tor
the storage of 5000 tons Ships were fire.
| queutly pfesent with a bunker capacity
| of 10000 TO 1900 tons. The large ships
| could not enter Key West harbor or ap-
| proach within six miles of the coal wharf
| No other place near the scene of war was
| available
las a preparation for war, the bureau
| had asked for and obtained many ten
| ders 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. The Balti-
more firm mentioned managed to secure
| a few schooners whose owners and mas
| ters were willing. for reasonable compen-
| sation. all things considered. to assume
the risk and contract to deliver coal at
Key West. Every one offered was taken.
| The Department was still in desperate
| straits for transportation of COAL and
the only alternative was to purchase
steamers. arm and man them with the
naval forces. There were but few ves-
sells in this country suitable for the trans
| portation of coal and available for i'm
mediate use. When these were found
| their owners knew well the necessit es OF
| the Government and generally demanded
| exorbitant prices. Whatever the cost,
| the Government could least of all afford
| delay.
'It is the duty Of this bureau to supply
| to the fleet fresh water for steaming pur-
| poses. Our ships of recent construction
are supplied with distilling apparatus,
which, when installed, was hoped 10 be
| adequate to supply sufficient fresh water
| to replace the loss after the boilers had
| been filed in port This has not been re-
| allied, owing chiefly, probably, to leaky
steam pipes. The Oregon is notable eX-
| oeption.
mo natural supply of fresh water ex-
| lists at Key West, and the necessity for
| providing additional water for ships coal
ing there was foreseen by the bureau