The Big Stone Gap post. [volume] (Big Stone Gap, Wise County, Va.) 1892-1928, 1899-10-19
One Is Necessary at Each Navy
Yard for the Handling CT
Torpedo Boats.
CONSTRUCTOR HlTcHDORSS REPORT.
New Dry Docks Of the Largest Size
Are Needed at New York
and Norfolk.
Number of Vessels Added to the Navy the
Past Year Extended Use of Electric
ity on War Vessels ss an lux
Iliary Is Recommended

WASHINGTON, Oct. 15.--ln MS annual
report to the secretary OF the navy,
Chief Constructor Hichborn lays spe-
cial stress upon the Importance of
continuing the work OF improving the
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 a 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 bc 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 l6, 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 10 the
navy during the last fiscal year; four
Spanish vessels sunk during the war
were raised and added, and Il small
gunboats 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
cluding the American line chartered
ships. n number of auxiliary vessels
sold, the revenue cutters and light
house vessels turned back into their
old service, and couple Of monitors.
On July l 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 al
satisfactory prices the chief construct
or feels that the time is opportune tc
renew his recommendation that the
department contract with the 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 al
restricting the use of combustioi'
material upon them, and OF hrf
proofng such material as must o'
used. The severe tests applied pJ
the war to our ships under try
ing conditions of climate resulted
satisfactorily and little modification o.
new designs has been found necessary
The extended use of electricity as al
auxiliary is recommended and th'
bureau is making great progress II
this direction. The present strength
of the corps of naval constructors Il
said to be entirely insufficient and
considerable increase Is suggested In
cluding an assistant chief OF the bu
reau.
The report closeswith detailed state
ments from the constructors in charg
Of the various navy yards of the wori
performed and the plant necessary
Int