The Washington weekly post. (Washington, D.C.) 1878-1916, 1900-10-23

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The report of the chief OF the Bureau Of
construction and Repair for the fiscal
year lSs-lse0 which has just been made
puohe, IL no exception 10 the rule which
I that bureau has established in recent
years or making It's report complete. and
! explicit. Especial interest attaches 10 the
current report. as 1t is the last one to De
/ submitted by Rear Admiral Hichhorn. the
present chief constructor, who, under me
operation OF law, viii retire on the attr OF
MArch next The period during which ne
mas heid this important post has seen
greater changes in the navy than any oth-
| er equal period In its history. the chief
constructor having begun. as he states.
lorty -hVe years ago as a government aB-
prentice employed upon the construction
OF the Merrimac and the Hartford. -..s.
RAISING 10 brief mention of the uurs
| important matters and measures with the
adoption OF which the Bureau of Con-
| suucllOn and Repair has been Identified
during Admiral HichhoFn's incursbencV,
BRIEF mention is made OF the work of re-
! construction of tie historic Hartford and
the efforts looking To the rehabilitation
OF the Renowned Constitution: the. con-
| troVersy In which the chief constructor
prevented useless expenditures of the
public money for aluminium torpedo-hoats,
AFTER legislative authority for such con-
structlon had been especially sought and
J obtained; his consistent advocacy OF
sheathing; the inclined turrets. known at
one time as the Hichborn turret the prin-
cipie OF which has been adopted; his eff
/ forts in the direction of reduction OF wood
and the fireproofing of such as remained
on boardship, and the good results ac-
| complished; the encouragement Of sub
| marine vessels, and the important addi-
| lion of efficient vessels of this class 20
| the navy which has resulted are touched
| upon, as are also the effects of the care
and study devoted TO conveniences adding
TO the creature comforts of both officers
and enlisted men.
| Estimates for the Bureau.
| The report opens with the estimates,
| the principal items being: For preserva-
| ton of and repairs to vessels OF the nafy.
| s., ,0yo; for repairs and improvements
| To navy yard plants, 500 coo; the account
of hulls and outfits of vessels and steam
machinery heretofore authorized, 81, H.
| 917
The chief constructor points out the
disadvantages under which the naval sta
| ton at Cavite labors and quotes a report
| from the naval constructor relative To
| proposed site at Clangapo. Subig Bay.
| He withhOlds recommendation thereon
| until the question OF a permanent naval
station in the Philippines is definitely set.
| tied.
| Especial attention is placed upon the
| need for additional dry docks. He says:
There are available at the present
| time on the East coast of the United
| States but nine government dry docks Of
all sizes. distributed among seven ports.
and OF these but one is of sufficient size
| to take the battie-ships. The docking Ia
| ctlities available are severely taxed uader
existing peace conditions. This disparity
| in time OF war would be an extremely
serious matter. and might result In keep
| ing a considerable portion OF our naval
| strength Ineffective at a critical limo. 10
| cannot be too strongly urged that the IN
crease in docking and repair facilities I'm
| an adequate ratio TO the increase In the
| fleet, is necessary element in naval de.
velopmelt and It should be especially tins
phasized Tat in this most important mat
ter we- requirements and not peace re-
| quirsments a,ust always be kept In view"
should BE 3aili in Navy Yards. ......
Some space is devoted to the question
| of building vessels In the navy yards. He
says:
There are at the present time. in view
of the prosperous condition of the ship
building industry and the number Of naval
vessels building and appropriated for. suf-
ficient work 10 permit the assignment OF
| a portion Of the building work to the gov
eminent yards without there being ques-
tion Of the withdrawal or Withholding OF
| necessary support and assistance. the
maintenance OF which in a high state OF
efficiency is unquestionably OF national
importance" He points out that England
Is building In her navy yards ls battle
ships and cruisers France II. Germany 5,
Russia g. and Italy 3, in their government
yards Concerning the battery Of battle
ships he says:
THE decision finally come to in the ar
rangement Of the batteries Of the new
battle-ships was compromise between
opinions. The merits and dement's OF the
superposed turret have been under dis
cussion for some years. The completion
Of the first battle-ship 10 which the sys-
TEN has been applied and the trials 10
which they have been subjected have
demonstrated only the mechanical prac-
ticability Of the system OF mounting. II
has been recognized from the commence
ment Of the discussion that there are
grave disadvantages in this system OF
mounting. There is nothing In the
experience with the two vessels recently
completed tending either 20 show how
extent Of their effect upon the vessels IN
which this system Is employed. The de-
ctsiOn In the case OF the recent vessels
has been reached In practically the same
way as the decision relative 70 the FIRST
vessels 20 which the system was applied.
and is based upon the same presentation
-0f arguments pro and con. although the
navy now possesses the means OF deter
mining. practically al any rate, a portion
OF the points az issue
-bsathiBg the Only Remedy.
Admiral Hichborn deals at some length
with the question OF sheathing. and says:
1T Is a practical imDossibiHty to pre-
vent such fouling that In a short time af-
ter docking the speed is sensibly reduced.
and after the lapse 81 a very few months
her speed capabilities cut down 3 per
cent 10 nearly " per cent, except BIZ bro
yidinr her with a WOOd-sheathed and cum
psred bottom. The process - an old ON.
It's pFacticdbiiity and freedom from iniu-
TiOus effect upon the ship 20 which N Il
applied, even TIE element OF safety which
II adds, have been fully demonstrated
Much OF the old prejudice against IL "a
born 81 incomplete Information as ~ what
IL really involved. and Is Of The same ma