The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1900-10-22
NEEDS Of THE NEW NAVY.
ADMIRAL HICHBORN MAKES HIS
LAST REPORT.
proved Methods in His own Life
time and Reviews Naval Condi-
lions as They Exist at This Time.

lions as They Exist at This Time.
| WASHINGTON. Oct 2i--The report Of
the chief OF the bureau of construction
ana repair for the fiscal year iSs-lsoo
mas just been made public. Especial in
teresf attaches to the report, as II Is the
last one to be submitted by Real Ad-
miarl Hichborn. who. under the opera
uon OF the law. will retire on March
next The period during which he has
neid this post has seen greater changes
IN the navy than any other equal period
IN i,s history. the chief constructor hav-
ing Begun. as he states. forty-f1ve years
( ago as government apprentice. employed
Z upon the construction OF the Merrimae
ana Hartford After speaking of the old
wooden ships OF war, without protection
or water-tight subdivisions. and armed
with broadsides OF smooth borcs, he says:
=. How many of those associated with
.ne work OF this period, looking into the
Iuture. would have believed that, during
tne space represented by the career OF one
man. the ships OF war and sails as a
means OF propulsion would have passed:
that steel should have become the ma
terfal OF constructions: steam-propeiling
power and electricity a general agent on
snipboard and for protection. armament.
speed ard endurance have forced the con-
I
ers OF deep displacement OF over 10000
and 1900 tons, and speeds OF ten to TWEEN
1.-TWO knots Who of them would have
believed that. within that time. the re-
sources OF this country could have been
so developed that when such vessels of
war are to be constructed, every part GO
ing into them is of American produce
tom"
The report opens with the estimates,
the principal Items being: For preserva-
ton OF and repairs to vessels OF the
navy 1900 coo: for repairs and improve
ments to navy yard plants. 500 900: the ac-
count OF bulls and outfits Of vessels and
steam machinery heretofore authorized.
SCI. 1917.
The chief constructor points out the
disadvantages under which the naval sta
ton at Cavite labors, and quotes a re-
port from the naval constructor relative
10 proposed site at Oiongapo. Suhg
bay He withholds recommendations
thereon until the question Of a permanent
naval station in the Philippines is def
nitely settled
More Dry Docks Needed.
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
e. an sizes distributed smong seven ports.
TO take the battleships. The docking ia
cilities available are Severely taxed UNI
der existing peace conditions. This dis
parity. In time of war. would be an ex-
iremely serious matter, and might re-
suit In keeping a considerable portion OF
our naval strength ineffective at critical
times, II cannot be too strongly urged
that the Increase In docking and repair IA.
ciilties In an adequate ratio to the In
crease in the feet Is a necessary element
IN naval development, and II should Do
especially emphasized that. In this most
important matter war requirements and
kept in view"
Some space liz devoted to the question OF
building vessels In the navy yards. He
says:
There are at the present time. in View
or the prosperous condition OF the ship
building industry and the number OF naval
vessels building and appropriated for. suf-
hcient work 10 permit the assignment OF
a portion of the building work 70 the
government yards. without there being a
question OF withholding OF necessary sup
por. and assistance, the maintenance OF
which In high state of efficiency Is un-
questlonably Of national Importance"
He points out that England is building
IN her navy yards sixteen battleships and
cruisers. France seventeen, Germany
eight. Russia six and Italy three In their
government yards.
Arrange ment OF batteries.
Concerning the batteries Of hattleships.
.'The decision finally come 20 in the ar
rangement OF the batteries OF the new
battleships was compromise between
opinions. The merits and dement's OF the
superimposed turrot have been under
discussion for some years. The compile
ton of the hrss battleships 10 which the
system has been applied. and tho Trials
to which they have been subjected. ieni-
onstrated only the mechanical practical
bnlty Of the system OF mounting, IL has
been recognized from the commencement
OF the discussion that there are grave
DISADVANTAGES IN this system Of mount
ing. There Il nothing In the experience
with the two vessels recently completed
tending either to show how they may be
removed or TO determine the extent Of
their eject upon the vessels H. which this
system l. employed The decision IN the
case OF the recent vessels has been reach
ga In practically the same way the
decision relative to the first vessels TO
which the eystrn was applied and Is
based upon the same presentation 81 ar
gufnentS pro and cen, although the navy
now Possesses the means OF determining
practically AZ any rate, portion ~ the
points al issue.
Question of sheathing.
Aazsral Hiehborn deals a. some length
with @he question Of sheathing, aud says
N y practical impsssihiliiy y pre-
vent such fouiing that n short time
after docking the speed il serSibiy re-
tace3 and after the lapse . Nerg feW
months her srecd capabilities are cat
down from 3 per cent 20 nearly 81 per
cent except by provtding her with a
Mood sheath and copper bottom The pro
cess - al Old one. Its Ef4N icAHiNtN and
freedom from injurious eTect upon the
seir 10 which It u applied, even the ele-
raant ~ safety which Il adds have been
fiigtv demonstrated
much " the prejudice against g." te
adds rs born % Incomplete irfoYmAticn
as 10 what is really Involved and i 81 the
same nature a. that wht-h opposed the
Introduction OF steam navigation ard
steel ships
il speaking % the steel Tor naval ves-
sais. II q pointed out that nearly - a0a ass
pounds ~ steel material aas been tfi-
spe-esed passed. and shipped SQrtnG fha
year bg the inspectors and the bureau %
construction and repair. ycpfezanTinG an
Increase 81 more than loo per cent ia
two years IN the quantity - thts fas tsriai
required The vastness q the figures