New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-12-04
MORE WARSHIPS ASKED.
Continued from nrst page.

ana Equipment under one head. These bu
Ieaus nave to do with the construction and At
ting out OF vessels; in one word the materla
or the ship. 1t is an integral work When (
contract Is made for the construction OF a ship
II IL made with one builder. 1t Is not given par
~ constructor of hulls. part to a steam en-
sIne nanulacturer and part to an QUILTING
hrm Whatever various trades enter into th'
work are all under one head. This is the method
oi private shipyards which build the larges
ships' and which are not left to the administra
tlon or three heads, between whom delicat,
questions OF respective authority and RESPONSE
Dility are liable to arise, resulting in delays anC
operation.
Each Of the above bureaus has now, durins
the construction Of naval vessels, its separate
inspectors at each yard. consolidated bureau
could, or course, be run much cheaper thar
three bureaus. and a great saving made by
reduction Of the now three separate working
forces. both clerical and mechanical especial,
be needed. as there would be but staff in
stead OF three so that more officers would bt
available for other duty. Under the present sys
TEN one bureau brings it's work to the point o
readiness for the work of another, which Is no
always ready for it. There is necessarily a lacl
OF that adaptation and harmony OF movement
which one head would secure.
III this consolidation were effected the matter
or furnishing coal and other current supplies
which Is now under the direction Of the Bureau
OF Equipment. could be easily transferred L
the Bureau of Supplies and Accounts. and such
other Incidental changes made as became neces
sary.
The foregoing suggestion is made solely Will
view to an Improvement in departmental or
ganiZation and with the highest appreciation
or the ability and dutfulness with which thes
bureaus have been administered under the
present heads. Efficient as they have been
however, their consolidation Is recommended
because IL Is believed that If consolidated unde
the direction of any one Of their present heads
or OF any competent officer, that efficiency would
be still greater. less expense incurred. and {
better business organization would succeed.
The terms OF office OF the chiefs OF the three
bureaus Will all expire in little more than {
year, two Of those officers then going upon thu
retired list, and II is due to them all, as an as
surance that the change is recommended OF
systematic and not personal grounds, TO sug
gest that If made II shall not go into effect until
the beginning Of the fiscal year after the ex
pration Of their said terms.
The report continues:
TRANSPACIFIC CABLE SURVEY.
The Increased Importance OF our possessions II
the Pacific led you TO recommend to the las
Congress the establishment Of a Pacific cable
and the Department, in furtherance of this OBJ
Ject. had recently had survey made OF a cable
route from Honolulu to the Philippine Islands
the route from San Francisco TO Honolulu hav
Ing been surveyed some years ago. The Nero
which had been used a collier during thu
late war, was thoroughly fitted out and equipped
FOR deep sea work at the Mare Island Nav,
sailed from Honolulu on May q. via the Midway
Islands and Guam, to point on the east coas
Of the island of Luzon. where she arrived OF
August l. having made S53 soundings. TIL,
length of the route is 4,S12 knots. The report:
received from the preliminary line OF soundng
indicate that the route will prove entirely prac
ticabe.
1t is the intention Of the Department to alsc
survey route for cable from the island o.
Guam to Yokohama. Japan.
IMPROVEMENTS IN GUN MAKING.
During the last year sxty-three guns for III,
main batteries Of vessels have been completed a
the naval gun factory, namely, four 13-inch
four S-inch. eighteen 6-inch, twenty-five 5-incl
and fifteen 4-inch; and seventeen others have
been assembled and are well advanced, viz, ont
l3-inch, four S-inch. eight 6-nch and four 5-nch
Twenty-eight guns of ordinary type have beer
converted TO rapid firing guns, VIZ, twenty-fv,
6-inch and three 4-inch.
Forgings have been ordered and are in par
delivered for twenty 12-inCh, fifty-one 6-inch
siXty-one 5-nch and forty-two 4-inch guns o
new design, with enlarged powder chambers anC
greater length, and capable of developing mucl
greater energy than the guns now in service.
New and improved mounts have been designed
ahording greater facility OF manipulation
The first OF the new 4-inch guns has been com
pleted and tested, exhibiting excellent balsti
properties and developing rs per cent create
muZzle energy than the present 4-inch gun. Tn
first OF the new 6-inch guns has also been com
pleted and tested, with very satisfactory results
been obtained considerably within the limit o
pressure allowed. The first Of the new l2-incl
guns, with it's mount, is we'll advanced. II Il
confidently expected that great increase il
energy over guns Of the same calibre now In ser
vice will be obtained by all the new type guns.
Two S-inch guns OF nickel steel have been as
sembled and are well advanced. One of these II
fitted with 4 very quick working breech mechan
ism Of novel design.
new type of breech plug. designated as TIT
"Welin-screw.' has been adopted for all the new
guns above inches in calibre It's pecuia
feature is that 1t has proportonatey large
threaded area than the old type Of plug. ad
hitting OF the use Of a relatively shorter, anC
therefore lighter plug than was heretofore uset
"a matter Of considerable Importance In heavI
guns.
The development OF the 12-nch gun has beer
so great that II has been designated as th
heaviest gun for the latest battleshps, rattle
than the 13-inch gun installed on previous YES
sells.
A new type of gun. 14-pounder of 30 cali
bre has been designed and manufactured AM
will probably form a prominent feature In TIT
secondary battery of new vessels
During the year batteries and ordnance out
fits have been supplied 10 number or vessels
including the three former Spanish gunboats
the Isla de Luzon. the Isla de Cuba and the Dol
Juan de Austria
SUPPLIES OF sMOKELESS POWDER
Immediately after the close Of the war Will
Spain the purchase OF brown powder was dis
continued ana the manuIactureIs were ulreCle'
TO turn their attention exclusively TO the manu-
facture OF smokeless powder. so far as their or
ders for the Navy were concerned. They hav
made commendable progress and are turning
out a satisfactory product In considerable guam
titles II is proposed to supply all new ship
with smokeless powder, and the powder for tn
Kearsarge the Kentucky and the Alabama Il
now ready for them. The older vessels will ais
be supplied as rapidly possible
The Government powder factory at IndiaI
Head Is progressing favorably and will be com
pleted ina few months Unavoidable delays II
obtaining materials have retarded It's progress
TO some extent. and II is preferable TO do gooC
rather than hasty work II Is neither expected
nor desired to enter into competition at these
works with private manufacturers, except as Il
oualty. II being the policy OF the Department L
foster the commercial industry. upon which th'
country must largely draw its supply
UNIFORM CALIBRE FOR SMALL ARMS
Stens were taken I'm December last by thu