Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-10-25

most favorable outlook for the protection
OF the rapidly advancing engineering sci
ence. My belief in the spirit of the bill
was that It contemplated most earnestly
vast additions to the number of officers
VINO would give earnest attention to en-
gineering matters. and in no way imply
desire to augment the forces available for
merely former line or deck duty. The COM
prehensfve union of the line and engineer
Ing vocations still hope will be the result
OF the personnel change, and l earnestly
request that no departmental regulations
may be formulated permitted TO exist
which will in any degree tend to destroy
this belief or prevent such a construction
or the intention of the bill.
Briefly, the fate of the reconstruction of
the personnel hinges upon the provisions
made for future and continuous supply of
efnclent engineers in the navy. The duties
OF the line were believed to be perfectly
compatible with a professional excellence
In engineering matters by an individual. A
not unwarranted expectation is that pref
erence for the mechanical part of these
combined duties will be shown by a great
number owing to the intense interest at
tachlng itself to this field of work and to
It's almost universal application to the pro-
gressive arts Of the age The only pausi-
BILE scheme, therefore, is to insist upon the
present line officer adapting himself as soon
as possible to the new conditions, and in
creaSing, where lacking his knowledge of
mechanical engineering
Urinary instruction has already been
given to every graduate of the Naval
Academy. Necessary practice is easily at
tanned Departmental regulations insisting
upon alterations for the present watch Off
GERS In deck and engine room, du-
ties will accomplish the latter end.
Enicient and complete instruction at
the Naval Academy will enable the
future line officer even more rap
ldly than now to grasp the new work and
control 1t successfully. The practical in
struction of the present watch officer as
above suggested is a fundamental and
vitality necessary feature. which, In my
opinion. should govern the rulings of the
department from now on.
Status of Engineering.
must earnestly invite your attention in
.his connection to the status of steam and
mechanical engineering of today. Various
outcroppings in the shape of electrical. hy-
draullc and pneumatic speciaties divert
the thoughtless into considering these
heIds fundamentally separate from that of
steam engineering, while the fact remains
that the man educated fully in steam en-
siheerfng Is in the very front rank of the
advancing workers in all of such special
ties. The principles of the side branches
are OF extreme simplicity, these governing
the construction of the mechanisms being
essentially the same as in good mechan-
1cai engineering
1T is only necessary to push aside the
more or less plausible superf1cialities which
would lead to misjudgment of these facts
and look for a moment upon the real re-
qulfementS to realize how fundamentally
important and distinct are the duties of a
mechanical bureau, and also to be con-
Vlnced of the wisdom of using every exer-
ton to provide the highest special talent
Tor lts future operation. L regret the mat
ter OF combination of bureaus has been
even speculated upon. This regret / assure
you, III no way comes from motives other
than the belief in the impossihlity of
successful issue of such scheme. Not
only Is the trend of modern mechanical
work in all branches toward increased spe-
clalization, but the wisdom of such trend
Is never questioned by the leading talent
IN the outside world of constructive work.
Engineering at the Naval Academy
one of the most important duties clear
ly under this bureau, and one which the
personnel bill has made even more i'm
portant, II possible, than heretofore, is that
connected with the instruction in engineer
ing branches of the cadets at the Naval
Academy This special instruction In the
combined course should never be left to the
control OF other than engineers of great
practical experience well as high theo-
retlcal attainments and l deem IL a priv
llege to guard the character of the co,rse
for this work
Lastly, the apportionment of efficient
officers to the ships in the navy as heads
OF the steam engineering department is
clearly one or moment, and illustrates in
the present state of the roster the necessity
OF putting into effect such regulations as
Will Immediately bring to the front officers
OF the former line best fitted for conduct
ing such work. and which will lead to
eventually producing the line engineer of
experience who Will be able to succeed to
the positions of still higher Importance not
ed above. L would ask that you take into
consideration the vital Importance of estab-
fishing alienation of deck and engine
room duty for the present watch officer of
the line. In order that there may be no fu-
ture shortcomings and no sad or disastrous
QeEclencS IN guarding these nj
Engineering Plants at OUTLYING Sta-
lions.
while the bureau IS unable to foresee
the governing policy most desirable In the
future at these several newly acquired sta
tons, it cannot but recommend that i'm
mediate steps be taken for establishing
moderately large repair plants at each of
these under this bureau. l have included
IN my estimates request for an appro-
priation Of $4,000 each for the naval sta
tons at Porto Rico and Honolulu, and have
already taken steps to supply the naval
station at Cavite with additional tools to
those found there. The matter of further
hitting up the station at Havana is under
Amusement, but no immediate steps are
considered urgent owing to the proximity
of that station to Key West The present
buildings at the Porto Rico station are sub
stantial, and L consider 1t especially i'm
portant that proper tools should be in
stalled there.
In connection with the Island of Guam.
TINS bureau has taken up the matter of
supplying distiIling and refrigerating
plant. but does not at present recommend
any further installation of engineering ma
teriai. owing to the uncertainties of the fu-
ture.
The Washington Navy Yard.
"a considerable amount OF work has been
done in this yard in connection with the
manufacture of parts and fittings of spe-
cial machinery for new ships building by
FI,t-g
one of general repair to naval vessels
owing to its inconvenient location, but minor
repairs to the following vessels were made
during the year. Alvarado, Dolphin, Fern
Pompey Princeton, Sandoval, Sylph, Te-
cumseh and Triton.
Expenditures for work upon naval yes