The daily morning journal and courier., 1899-10-16
N4TdL CONSTR UCTOR'S REPORT. Chief Hichborn Points Out tho Needs of
 the Navy.

Washington, Oct. 15.--In his annual report to the secretary of the navy, Chief Constructor Hichborn lays spe-
 cial stress upon the importance of con tnuing the work of improving the
 plants at the various navy yards, n-
 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 report points out
 that the present building programme
 does not affect the two most important navy yards, viz: New York and Nor folk, at which a new dock of the larg- est size is urgently needed in view or
 the rapid increase of the number of new battleships in commission. Marine railways are also said to be necessary for the economical handling of torpedo
 boats and two such are recommended at New York and one each at Ports- mouth, 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 replace the 1n1 T it,tr definition of the characteristics that will be permitted under the treaty with Great Britain. Fourteen vessels with the exception of the Chesapeake and Princeton, torpedo boats or tugs were added to the navy during the last fiscal year, four Spanish vessels sunk during the war were raised and added and seventeen small gunboats were pur- chased or captured on the Asiatic sta tion and placed on the list. On the other hand, forty-one vessels were dropped from the naval list, including the American line chartered ships number of auxiliary vessels sold, the revenue cutters and lighthouse vessels turned back into their old service and a couple of monitors. On July 1 there were DullulnS IOT lHe navy lolly -CiSiAt new vessels in addition to those enum- erated.
 In view of the delay encountered In securing armor for the new ship at sat isfactory prices the chief constructor feels that the time is opportune to re- new his recommendation that the de- partment contract with the ship build CT for the ship complete with armor, instead of making separate contracts for the latter.
 Some of the lessons of the war refer red to In the report is the importance of shea hing ships as we'll as restricting the use of combustibie material upon them and of fire prooffng such material as must be used. The severe test ap- piled by the war to our ships under try ing conditions of climate resulted sat isfactorily and little modification of new designs has been found necessary. The extended use of electricity as an auxiliary is recommended and the bu- reau is making great progress in this direction. The present strength of the corps of naval constructors is said to be entirely insufficient and consider able increase is suggested, including an assistant chief Of the bureau.
 The report closes with detailed state meDts from the contractors in charge of the various navy yards of the work performed and the plant necessary.