The Bourbon news. [volume] (Paris, Ky.) 1895-19??, 1899-10-17
OUR NAVY YARDS
Marine Railways Are Necessary for
the Handling of Torpedo Boats.
Number of Vessels Added to the Navy the
Past Year-Exrended Use of Electric
ity on War Vessels an Aux
Hilary Is Recommended

WASHINGTON, Oct. TO- I'm his annual
report to the secretary of the navy,
Chief Constructor Hichborn lays spe-
cial stress upon the importance of
plants at the various navy yards, in
viting particular attention to those at
Boston and League Island. A plant
is also recommended at Algiers, La, as
without it the new dock will be worth
less when completed.
Under the head of dry docks the re-
port points out that the present build
| ing programme does not affect the two
most important navy yards, viz. New
York and Norfolk, at which new
dock of the largest size is urgently
needed in view of the rapid increase OF
| battleships in commission. Marine
railways also are said to be necessary
for the economical handling of tor
pedo boats, and two such are recon-
mended at New York and one each at
Portsmouth, League Island, Norfolk,
Port Royal and Mare Island.
Under the head of new construction
| the report sets out the fact that con-
tracts for the more important ships
authorized by the last congress could
not be let because of the limitation
placed upon the cost of the armor.
Nevertheless complete specifications
for these vessels have been prepared
and are included in the report. Work
on the design for gunboat 16, to re-
place the Michigan, has been sus-
pended, pending definition of the char
acteristics that will be permitted un-
der the treaty with Great Britain.
Fourteen vessels, with the exception
of the Chesapeake and Princeton, tor
pedo boats or tugs, were added to the
navy during the last fiscal year; four
Spanish vessels sunk during the war
gun boats were purchased or captured
on the Asiatic station and placed on
| the list. On the other hand Al vessels
were dropped from the naval list, in
Guiding the American line chartered
ships, a number of auxiliary vessels
| sold, the revenue cutters and light
! house vessels turned back into their
old service, and couple of monitors.
On July there were building for the
navy As new vessels, in addition to
those enumerated.
In view of the delay encountered in
securing armor for the new. ships at
satisfactory prices the chief construct
or feels that the time is opportune to
renew his recommendation that the
department contract with theS ship
builder for the Ship complete with ar
NOR, instead of making separate con-
tracts for the latter.
Some of the lessons of the war re-
ferred to in the report is the import
ance of sheathing ships, as well as
restricting the use of combustible
material upon them, and of fire
proofng such material as must be
used. The severe tests applied by
| the war to our ships under try
! ing conditions OF climate resulted
satisfactorily and little modification of
new designs has been found necessary.
The extended use of electricity as an
auxiliary is recommended and the
bureau is making great progress in
this direction. The present strength
of the corps of naval constructors is
said to be entirely insufficient and a
considerable increase is suggested, in
Guiding an assistant chief of the bu-
reau.
The report closes with detailed state
ments from the constructors in charge
of the various navy yards of the work
performed and the plant necessary.
| TIDE TENEn VNHuTNG