The times., 1899-10-16

Tingey, %, in doubt; Wilkes. 1s. Deem
ber Is. 1899. and the Plunger, S5, in doubt.
The experience OF the war with Spain
showed that the ships of the Navy were
well designed. and in the main gave ex-
celient satisfaction in every respect. The
steel inspection force did good work during
the year. The style of boats used on the
vessels is commended and ali old boats are
being replaced by new style ones The
work OF the bureau, in spite of the extra
labor made necessary by the war with
Spain the early part of the last fiscal year.
has been kept well in hand, though the va
rlous navy yards have been greatly rushed
with repairing, refitting, and altering yes
sells. Regarding the construction of new
vessels, the report says
The work of the bureau in connection
with new construction and building under
contract during the past year attained the
largest dimensions in the history of the
rebuilding of the Navy, comprising as it
did tho construction of battleships. 4
monitors. l cruiser, 1 sailing vessel, 16
torpedo boat destroyers, % torpedo boats
and i submarine torpedo boat a total of
53 vessels, the aggregate contract price of
which. exclusive of armor and armament.
was $33 400, 1885,"
Carpenters are badly needed and the re-
port recommends a large increase in the
number employed. the number afioat at
present being barely adequate for present
needs, while there are none for the many
new vessels that will soon be in service.
An increase in the number of naval con-
structors is also asked for. The corps is
now limited to forty, which is not enough.
Many OF the officers are required to work
overtime to keep up with their duties.
The report also suggests that the posi-
ton OF assistant chief of the bureau be
created and that the assistant shall act in
the absence of the CHIEF. 1t cites tne fact
that several other bureaus are provided
with assistant chiefs.
Improvement in Plants
To the matter of improvements in the
navy yard plants the report devote5 con-
siderable space, giving the details of the
improvements required and the approxi-
mate cost. For the Portsmouth, N. H.,
navy yard about $40,G COO is needed for
various necessary improvements, while
there are other improvements desired, but
not SO urgent. The New York navy yard
will require $4,000 worth of improve
ments, a. foundry, boiler plant, and lot
OF small machinery being absolutely neees-
sary, while a boat shop is extremsiy i'm
portant. The Boston yard wants over
100000 for improvements, a boat shop,
pldte-TOCh lOCOmOllVe, crane, anu lot OF
small tools being among the things most
urgently needed. A ship filters shop, a
smithery, foundry, saw MILL metal
workers shop, and an electric power p ant
are also of extreme Importance. For
League Island, Pa. $3.50, coo is asked. ship
fitting. plating, and joiner shops being par
ticularly desired, while bending shed and
furnaces, angle smithery, smiths shop
boat and cooper shop, saw mill, plumber
shop and boiler house are also necessary
The Norfolk. Va, yard is badly in need oil
a new ship filters shop, and the other
shops need repairs, for all of which $4,000
will be required. The Port Royal, S. c..
yard only requires about $1,000 for imme-
diate repairs to machinery, but $4,000 i.
wanted for a shed for timber. For the
Pensacola, Fla. yard, s31.176.14 is asked
blacksmith shop, lot of boilers and en-
gines being most urgently needed. At the
Mare Island yard it is estimated that
$50, $50 will be needed for machinery and
! $14, 500 for dry kiln and upho,stering and
locksmith's shop. and s4,500 for locomo-
tive crane; the machinery is badly needed
as the shops are about finished. 1t will
require $50, 600 for the Puget Sound. Wash,
yard, the tools for foundry, tinsmith, and
| eoppersmith shops being absolute neces-
sary. A full and detailed report of the
work on the vessels under construction is
given, also details of the work done at the
various navy yards on vessels the past