New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-10-29
TIFF NAVY'S ENGINEERING.
,rpoRr OF REAR ADMIRAL MELVILLE.
.,,pop7ANr EXPRESSION OF HIS VIEWS on
rur PERSONNEL CUEsT1ON-ELFC-
TR1cITY ~ THE NAVY

PERSONNEL O. rs i''.\-f'i@fN
rR1cITY ~ THE NAVY.
,,..s,,,e+on. oct. 2s (SpeciaD. Beyond the
,..tis statistical matter which constitutes the
80, ~ the annual report Of the Engineer p
49,, n the Navy. and its voluminous record Of
~ ACCOMPLISHED the most important chap
-, submitted by Rear Admiral Melville 10 the
sn.-s,a~v Of the Navy this year relate 10 person
- and electrically driven auxiliaries The ex-
.-ao-s,rarv tests PUT upon the Navy last year
,.-,,rsf-sted no desirable change In the steam
s-.cAire~, Of ships except the increase Of evap-
-a,,-e plants and the adoption IN proper time
- water tube boilers
-,A engines designed by the Bureau had stood
he trai ~ extreme conditions for which they
..a-e Intended The enterprise Of the naval en-
e,,sers BE- The Bureau. whose improved practice
e. ,aer INDICATED and the efficiency Of the
eorps afoat were made conspicuous by the free
so-, NJ the ships from hreakdowns az critical
moments
THE LINE AND ENGINEERING INTERESTS
Whether the Navy under the legislation OF the
,.s- Congress IS 10 lose the benefits Of its skilled
,o-,s ~ engineers which has contributed so
nh 20 the credit q the service. is now one Of
,pe mos, important questions before the De
-.-+ner. and or his subject the Engineer in
cAief writes 10 part as follows
sporos. - -.- subject Of the personnel with some
,s.-,lr.t OWING fo nay inability 20 see indications
- -re desired result from the operations thus FAR
~ me Personnel bin il was my earnest hope that
AZ clio -1t.c effect ~ that bill The whole trend
- deal would ae toward The complete afnalga
t,r y lie ara eneineerine Interests IN ne Navy.
49, The most favorable outlook for the protection
~ me rap D.. advancing engineering science" MY
lied NOS earnestly vast additions 70 The number
~ ofscs-s who would give earnest attention 20 en-
cheering matters and n no way imply desire 20
svgmen, The torces available for merely former line
az de,k 9viy The comprehensive union ~ ne ine
and ensnee-.rs vocauons SIN hope VI De- ne
result D, me personnel change a2d earnestly re-
cues, that 20 oepaftnenlal ree-i4lijA may ~
formulated or permitted 20 exist which Will IN any
degree ,eri % destroy his belief or prevent sue
construction 70 The intention Of the bill Briefly,
-ba fare q the reconstruction Of the personnel
hinges upon fre provisions made FOR future and
continuous supply Of efficient engineers in the Navy
compatible w.fr professional excellence in ensi-
neerng matters hv an individual nor unwsr-
fanted expectation Is thar preference for me me-
rranIcal part ~ these combined duties VIII be-
.sss- sac,~r itsey 70 mis- ned ~ work and 20
rs sr0s' universal appiica' ION 10 mo progressive
S,-s IS 90 INSIST lron tho present line officer adapt
ing hlms.f as soon as possible % the new conc.-
Of mechanical engineering Primary instruction has
ALREADY been given 20 every graduate OF the Nalsi
,isl ~ ne nrsseTt wstcn offcsrs IN deck and
lcs5er,v Win ensile TIE f5fnre line o-icer even
controi % successfully The practical instruction
81 ne present watch ofHcer as above suggested IS
& Fundamental and vitality necessary feature which.
department. from now on.
STEAM ENGINEERING THE BASIS.
must earnestly invite your attention in This
erri14ering % to-day Various C1fcrorr'ncs IN
~ shane ~ electrical hvd~auii. and pneumatic
tpecialties divert the thoughtiess inro considering
etesm engineering. while the fact remains that tho
~ very front rank ~ The advancing workers IN
sch speoia'ues. The principles q the SIDE
branches are OF extreme simplicity those govern
Ing the construction Or the mf flstns hfln@
essentially The same as IN good mechanical ensi-
i is only necessary 70 push aside the more or
Jess plausible syperhcaNues which would lead 10
a misjucgment az these facts. ana looh iQI mo
fundamen tally important and distinct are me autie
OF a mechanical bureau, and also TO De convinced
~ IfeSest speeal talent FOR i,s future operation
regret the matter Of com hination % bureaus has
YOU IN no Way comes from motives other than The
be!st n the impossibity of srcorssIu. issue Dt
mechanical work IN all branches toward increased /
specialization. hut the wisdom q such trend IS .
side world Of constructive work
After reviewing the increasing extent and i'm /
portauce % the Bureaus work and pointing out I
The necessity a having the most skilled men in /
the service for designing new machinery. over /.
seeing repairs experimenting the fitness Of new .
ships and other duties involving the highest
technical knowledge and superior intelligence, f
Engin4ar "a chief Melville continues
INSTRUCTION ~ ENGINEERING.
one n the most important duties clearly under
ttis Bureau and one which the Personnel bill has /
made even more important + possible than here
tofore that connected with the instruction IN T.
enereer.ng branches % the cadets A. the Naval .
ACADEMY iris special instruction I'D the combined .
course should never be left 10 the control OF other
than engineers % great practical experience IS .
We as high theoretical attalnmcnts. and deem IL
privilege 20 guard the chara ter OF the course
ty non mating officers OF peculiar fitness for THIS
work
Lastly the apportionment of efficient officers 20
ne st'as ir tho Navy as heads OF me steam en-
cheering department. IS clearly one o. moment
8nc Illustrates ia the present state Of the roster
TIE re .ssity % putting .nto enect such lesula-
tons as Wild Immediately bring 20 the front ofncers
o. ne former line best fitted for conducting SUCH
work and which will lead 70 eventually producing
the ii1e engineer Of experience who Will be able 20
succeed 20 the positions OF stu higher Importance
noted above I would ask that YOU take into con
t0era'1r the vital Importance or esta onsn.ns a.
ternGt0I ~ deck and engine room duty for the
present officer Of the line ~ order mat there
may BE- 70 future SHORTCOMINGS and no SAD or els
tstrous dtteiency III guarding these interests