New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-12-07
FOR THE HOLIDAYS
Colgate&Co's
ViOriS
a NEW VIOLET PERFUME
EQUIPMENT OF THE NAVY.
WORK OF CAPTAIN BRADFORps BUREAU
IN PREPARING FOR WAR

WORK OF CAPTAIN BRADFORD'S BUREAU
IN PREPARING FOR WAR.
washington. Dec Gan account Of how the
Navy was equipped TO meet the emergehc!
created by the war is contained IN 'he amman
report Of Captain Il. r. Bradford Chief OF 'he
Bureau Of Equipment. Captain brahtord says
II is too early to place on record lot lu'ure
guidance the entire experience or the bureau III
the war but II is proposed to do THIS al some
f,,ure time The report goes on 10 say that
the demands on the Bureau and its subordinate
branches-the Naval Observatory. the Hydro-
graphic Office. Compass DIVISION Nau,icai
Almanac and Electrical Appliances DIVISION
occasioned by the war were great lhis was
essentially so with reference to the coal sup
n,v When war threatened the Bureau made
every possible effort to procure coalinS stations
near the scene Of operations. directing special
efforts without success. however. to the pas
saees about the Antilles There was only one
ooolsbed at Kew West and one lighter. but
eventually all the available space there was COW
ered with sheds, with a storage capacity of
o 600 tons. No other place near the scene OF
war was available AS a preparation for war
the Bureau had asked for and obtained many
tenders for the transportation and supply or
coal When the crucial moment came. with
the exception of single Baltimore firm, all De
clined TO adhere TO their offers on account or
war risks. The Baltimore concern hau d IL"
schooners The Department was IN desperate
straits. and the alternative was 10 purchase
ships and arm and man them as transports
There were few vessels IN this country suitapie
for the transportation of coal and iInmeo'atey
available When these were found their owners
knew well the necessities Of the government
and generally demanded cxorbitant prices
Whatever the cost says Captain Bradford, the
Government could not afford delay, so hve
GOLFERS were purchased. ranging in price from
$40 600 for the Sterling. to S342ooo, FOR the
Merrinac
The first great emergency having passed anu
the squadron being relieved addltlonal coilIe'S'
mostly foreign vessels. were purchased AT la'r
prices and eventually the Bureau possessed n"
efficient armed collier feet, with a carrying ca
pacity Of fifty thousand tons. for use III 'he
Atlantic. Without these vessels 1t would have
heen impossible to carry on the operations
brought - successful issue by the fleet. The
monitors we're especially helpless. with their
small steamins radius. vithou; the help Of coll
iers The assistance rendered by the Merrimac
I. historic CAPTAIN Bradford says with pardon
ob,. nride that with the exception of single
t11ogran1 from the commander in-chief urging
that q particular kind Of coal be supplied 70 the
noe, NOT single request communication
concerning an adequate coal supply was re-
cejved from any ship aHoat in the war-evidehce
that an abundant supply was always avaiiapie'
At one time there was aaoat in steam coiieis
At Hampton Roads. ready to sail at an hour
notice 10 any point desired forty thousand tons
of the best coal
One lesson Of the which will he OF use 10
every navy in the world. the report continues
was a demonstration that in future fresh waler
fo- boilers must he abundantly supplied 10 the
neet by transports. just as coal Is earned WIN
the exception of the Oregon the distliIlns pIahts
aboard the warships. which were supposed 70
be sufficient to supply the loss IN enapola 49,;
10 the boilers. proved to be inadequa'e oWlhs
chiefly to leaky steam pipes. II was more
difficult 10 supply fresh water TO shlps at hey
West than TO supply coal me po.,e1 E - Ivy, ,r
injured for the want Of fresh water. ana cav
the commander-in-chief much concern me
Bureau had heretofore bought lTeSh Ndtei Ioi
steaming purposes. hut that Vas 70. thpr",s55 80,
,rha Bureau paid at one time S2.n61 =" Tor f".-
900 gallons OF fresh water at TonpklnsViile y.
Y. for the 81. Paul. and pro rata Tor o'neI
ehns Had this water been drawn from 'ne
BROOKLYN mains and transported to the SHIPS ~
water boats 1t would have cost only ~" -. o
remedy this evil the Bureau is procnit ms
water barge for each naval station and Is erect
ing distfline plants where necessary III mas
also procured a tank ship. the Are'hnsa' 10
carry water in bulk ,.. .o,t q
million tons Of coal in the year at The rate OF
81 ~ a ton The year before only l3s.3iN IONS
were bought at cost ~ 81 - a ton. me coal
bought abroad Il III tons, cost - l. ION.
The increased cost OF coal abroad vas que -
serious and prolonged strikes Of coal miners ana
threatened war between foreign natlGlF. 10y
watching the markets and making close con
tracts the Bureau able To keep inc cost
down 10 n minimum and at a price neheNeo |"
he remarkable in view Of the conditions
Captain Bradford regards with much concern
the constantly Increasing demands for repairs
and renewals Of electrical outfits ana supPhes
of ships. With the notable exceptions OF
Dewey's feet and the Oregon, the experience
Of the warShps would seem 10 indicate 'hat
they cannot long he sef-sustainnG without
backward electrical work. The number or on
cers who are familiar with electrical engineer
ing seems BE- decreasing rather than incrcaS-
ing probably owing 10 the closing OF the Tor
pedo School where course In electricity was
given. In the mean time. electrical apparatus
on shipboard has multiplied many fold, and be-
come like other accessories of a man of-war
much more complex II is earnestly recon-
rnendcd that special corps Of men he pro
vided to care for the electrical plants Captain
Bradford says that as 4 monopoly practically
controls the most important electrical supplies,
with the usual high prices, he considers II ad-
visable 10 erect the New York Navy Yard
for the purpose of overcoming, this evil suffi
Gent appliances for the manufacture Of the arti
Giles purchased.
While the results OF tho homing pigeon
vice have not been 50 satisfactory
OF war. CAPTAIN Bradford gays this may have
been due 10 the climate and the want of an eX-
pcrienced man 20 care for the birds so he
recommends a further trial OF the system
TNDJiN SENTJUENT CUiNGJNG