The times., 1899-10-01

was employed where possible. as at present.
der necessarily limited conditions to save ccaL
The necessities Of the service in this respect
nQw greater, and soon VIII be, with the placing
IN commission Of vessels IN advanced state
oi construction. very much greater, than during
the pgriod referred to-. and vet less than half the
amount stated Is appropriated for tins parp0se
iGr fnc present fiscal wear i am Therefore con
WINGED that az least s290 900 additional for tins
year, which should lie estimated fur as q def
cheney, is absolutely necessary 20 avoid the en-
hafrassmeut and injury 90 the service which are
inevitable under the p7eaeHt con0itlQns. FROM
lhe time oi fhe large rclucticn IN the appruprl2-
lion the amounts granted have ranged from ST.,
5l3el1 To Sc .099 and during this period the
ships In commission have been kept in service
only by the most rigid, and. in some Instances,
Improbable, raTsimOuy, by the utilization q OBJ
s0lete material and stores icit over from the pc
riod Of the CiFI War by the practical laying
zap of vessels on foreign stations, owing 10 tie
want ~ fuel and 10y sending the vessels 10 cruise
without q proper outfit All old material which
could bc uti izdG Toy this purplsa has been con-
simed. and the fitting cut Of ships for commits
sion has thus become serious matter Very
respectfully, GEORGE DEWEY,
Chief Of Bureau.
To the Secretary Of The Navy.
Electric Lights on shipboard.
The feature Of the report for 1880 was
the discussion Of the matter of electric
lights and signals on shipboard The
chief Of The Bureau of Equipment said:
The lighting OF ships Of war by electricity.
which was inaugurated by this Government, has
now become so essential that no warslip is con-
sidered complete which Is not so lighted Dur
ing the year substantial progress has been made
in the Development and advancement Of the sgs-
tem which Is being employed II the new ships,
and progress abroad has been critically noted
Electric lighting plants have been installed on
board seven vessels, and the work Of installation
is actively progressing upon four Others. Spe-
clal attention has been given curing The year 10
the subject Of means of interior communication
on silploarc, ana iesefllcne system is soon 10
be added, eXperlmentally 10 other devices in
on board Of the new cruisers. Night signaling
by electricity has also been and is stll actively
under consideration, and Il is believed that a
system Viii have been devised in the near future
which VIII meet The Increasing necessities Of the
service in this respect The great Importance OF
an adequate method Of communication at night
between the ships Of a squadron or feet makes
necessary The utmost care in the consideration OF
the subject. Very respectfully,
GEORGE DEWEY, Chief Of Bureau
To the Secretary 0f the Navy.
Equipment of ships.
An abstract Of Admiral Dewey's report
for 1881 follows:
During the past fiscal year hfty-three vessels
have been either wholly partly equipped under
tins bureau. az sn expenditure Of labor and ma
teFlal Of S66s 1884 o. Coal for ships and for
the equipment of shops az shore stations to the
amount cf GS.564 tons was purchased at a cost
Of S4b5, So 60. Hemp fer the manufacture OF
corcage 10 the amount Of 228 2s7-22s0 tons was
purchased, at a cost Of SIS, ,959 o. The rope walk
al the Boston navy yard has supplied, as usual
the wants of the service. The equipment shops
al the various navy yards have been employed in
making anchors. chain cables, sails, rigging. etc.
70 meet the wants OF the service. Very respect
fully, GEORGE DEWEY.
Chief Of Bureau.
To the Secretary Of the Navy.
Maintenance of Cruisers
Admiral Dewey's last report as chief Of
the Bureau OF Equipment, Navy Depart
ment, was dated October Is, 1892. An alb
stract follows:
There was expended abroad for the maintenance
OF cruising vessels from the appropriation Equip
inent Of Vessels, the sum OF S405 675 g. includ-
ing s2ss ,94s-05 for 35,0I7, 72522s0 tons Of coal
The sum Of s540,09s52 was expended for mate
nal and labor during the fiscal year in equip
ping the various ships Of the Navy. HEMP for
the Manufacture of cables, tow-lines and rope.
70 the amount OF l52, 934-2249 tons was purchased
at an expenditure Of s26,52e.3l. The rope walk
ana the equipment shops at the Boston navy
yard have 70 large extent supplied rope chain
cables. anchors, galleys, etc, 10 meet the wants
OF the service and the sail lofts at that station
ana the New York. Norfolk and Mare Island
navy yards have been occupied the greater part
q the time IN sail and other canvas work 10
supply new ships and to replace articles worn
out IN the service. Very respectfully.
GEORGE DEWEY, Chief Of Bureau
10 The Secretary Of the Navy