Evening star., 1900-10-22
WORK ON THE WARSHlPS
REPORT OF THE CONSTRUCTION
BUREAU CHIEF.
Admiral HichbOrn Reviews Opera
tiOns of His Administrations - The
Experimental Model Basin.

Admiral Hichborn, chief of the bureau OF
construction and repair, in his annual
port makes brief mention of the important
work accomplished during his long admin
istration. including the reconstruction OF
the historic Hartford and the efforts look
ing to the rehabilitation of the renowned
Constitution; the controversy in which the
chief constructor prevented useless expen-
diture of the public money for aluminium
torpedo boats after legislative authority for
such construction had been especially sought
and obtained; his consistent advocacy OF
sheathing; the inclined turrets. known at
one time as the Hichborn turret, the prin-
clple of which has been adopted his efforts
In the direction of reduction of wood and
the fre-proohng of such as remained on
board ship and the good results accom-
plished; the encouragement of submarine
vessels and the important addition of ei-
clent vessels of that class to the navy which
has resulted.
The report calls especial attention to the
need for additional dry docks. Admiral
Hichborn says:
on the east coast of the United States but
nine government dry docks of all sizes, dis
tributed among seven ports, and of these
but oae is of sufficient size to take the
battle ships. The docking facilities avail
able are severely taxed under existing peace
conditions. This disparity in time of war
would be an extremely serious matter, and
might result in keeping considerable por-
ton of our naval strength ineffective al
critical time. 1t cannot be too strongly
urged that the increase in docking and re-
pair facilities in an adequate ratio to the
Increase in the fleet is a necessary element
in naval development, and it should be es-
pecially emphasized that in this most inn
portant matter war requirements are not
peace requirements must always be kept in
view"
In speaking of the steel for naval vessels
1t Is pointed out that nearly 5oOO0,0o0
pounds of steel material have been inspect
ed, passed and shipped during the year by
the inspectors under the bureau of construc-
ton and repair, representing an increase
of more than 100 per cent in two years in
the quantity of this material required. The
vastness of the figures gives some idea of
the extent and Importance of the operations
carried on under the bureau. Speaking OF
submarine boats the report states
THE past year has brought to fruition
the experimental work covering consid-
cradle period and has demonstrated the
practicability of the submarine boat. There
can be little doubt that to the first nations
in the field with the new type will accrue
not only the advantages which will come
from the possession of efficient vessels OF
this type, but the additional advantage and
saving in cost which will result from an
early understanding Of the new type and
the notifications which its instroduction
will force in existing types"
The Experimental Model Basin.
AQmlral ftlCnD0rn makes the following
statement in regard to the experimental
model basin at the Washington navy yard:
THE experimental model basin has been
in successful operation during the year.
Experiments have been made to determine
the resistance curves for various completed
naval vessels, for new vessels being de-
signed and for other vessels submitted by
private persons. The expense of the latter
experiments was betrayed by the persons
for whom they were made, in accordance
with the provisions of the law. The value
Of the experimental model basin will in
crease greatly as time goes on through the &C
cumulation of data, but the experience al
ready had with 1t in connection with the deter
mination Of the lines for the five new battle
ships now being designed demonstrates con-
clusively that even now it Is practically in
dispensable for the work Of the bureau.
Owing to their size and limited draft the
form of these vessels was necessarily one
differing materially from foreign battle
ships and even from our own smaller ships.
The speed desired was also materially
greater than that Of our earlier battle ships.
The preliminary design Of hull for these
lines was gotten out with the utmost skill
have been finally adopted had the model
basin been available for experiments. AS
a result, however, of comparatively few
experiments in the basin the dimensions and
shape finally adopted for the hull were such
an Improvement that the completed vessels
will develop the required speed nineteen
knots) with 1900 horse power less than
would have been required with the first set
of lines"