Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1900-10-22

WASHINGTON, October 21.-The
report of the chief OF the bureau OF
construction and repair for the fiscal
year 1S99-1900, which has just been
made public, is no exception to the
rule which that bureau has establish
ed in recent years of making its re-
port complete and explicit. Especial
interest attaches to the current report,
as it is the last one to be submitted by
Rear Admiral Hichborn, the present
chief constructor, who, under the
operation of law, will retire on the 4th
of March next The period during
which he has held this important post
has seen greater changes in the navy
than any other equal period in It's his
tory, the chief constructor having be-
gun, as he states, forty-fve years aga
as a government apprentice employed
upon the construction of the "Merri-
mac" and Hartford" After speaking
of the old wooden sloops of war, with
out protection or water-ught sub
division, and armed with broadsides
of smooth bores. he says:
How many of those associated with
the work of this period, looking into
the future, would have believed that
during the space represented by
The Active Career of One Man,
wooden ships of war and sails as a
means of propulsion would have pass
ed; that steel should have become the
material of construction; steam the
one propelling power; and electricity
general agent on shipboard; that the
demands for protection, armament,
speed and endurance would have forced
the construction of battleships and
armored cruisers of deep displacements
of over 10000 and $4,000 and speeds
of is and % knots? Who of them
would have believed that within that
time the resources of this country
would have been so developed that
when the vessels of war are to be con-
structed every part going into them is
American production"
Passing to a brief mention of the
more important matters and measures
with the adoption of which the bureau
of construction and repair has been
Identified during Admiral .Hichborn's
incumbency brief mention is made OF
the work of reconstruction of the his
toric Hartford" and the efforts look.
ing to the rehabilitation of the renown.
ed Constitution" the controversy in
which the chief constructor
Prevented Useless Expenditures
of the public money for aluminium tor
pedo boats after legislative authority
for such construction had been espe-
cially sought and obtained; his con-
sistent advocacy of sheathing; the in
clined turrets known at one time az
the Hichborn turret, the principle of
which has been adopted; his efforts in
the direction of the reduction of wood,
and the fire-proofing of such as re-
manned on board ship, and the good
results accomplished; the encourage
ment of submarine vessels and the I'M
portant adoption Of efficient vessels
of this class to the navy which has re-
suited, are touched upon. as are also
the effects Of the care and study de-
voted TO conveniences adding to the
creature comforts of both officers and
enlisted men.
The report opens with the estimates,
the principle items being:
For preservation OF and repairs to
vessels Of the navy, 100000; for re-
pairs and Improvements TO navy yard
plants. s92O,00O; for account OF hulls
and outfits Of vessels and steam machiD-
cry heretofore authorized, $21,772,917.
The chief constructor
Points Out the Advantages
under which the naval station at Ca
wife labors, and quotes report from the
naval constructor relative 10 a proposed
site at Olongapo, Subic bay. He with
holds recommendation thereon until thu
question OF a permanent naval station
in the Philippines is definitely settled.
Especial attention is placed upon ths
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 seveR
ports, and OF these but one is OF sufio.
tent size to take battleships. The dock
ing facilities available are severely tax
ed under existing peace conditions
This disparity, in time Of war would
be an extremely Serious matter, and
might result in keeping considerable
portion OF our naval strength ineffec-
tive at critical time. It cannot be too
strongly urged that the increase in
docking ana repair facilities In an ade-
quate ratio to the increase in the feet
Is a necessary element in naval devei-
opment. and 1t should be especially en-