The Washington times., 1901-10-21

ties in the corps these graduates have re-
| ceived a special course of instruction in
naval architecture and marine engineering
at the technical schools of the Govern
| ments of Great Britain and France. and
recently of Germany and also at the
University OF Glasgow in Scotland
THE progress of shipbuilding and the
art of naval construction in the United
States in recent years. and the introduc-
tiOn of courses of naval architecture in
the technical schools of this country hav-
ing reached a stage at which il was no
longer essential for our students to pur-
sue their studies abroad. the Department
has. upon the recommendation of this bu-
reau, assigned three naval cadets to a
special course of instruction in naval
architecture at the MaSsa chusetts Insti-
tute of Technology, where an advanced
course has been established with special
reference to the necessities of the SER
vice.
THE improvements of the construction
and repair plants at the various navy
yards and stations have proceeded in ac-
cordance with the appropriations made
and as RAPIDLY as the progress upon the
new buildings authorized would permit.
The efficiency of these plants is, however,
largely limited by the insufficient number
of drydocks and modern buildings for the
equipment of the yards. The navy yards,
however, continue 10 present a fruitful
field fof the application of modern cngi-
neering to their mechanical equipment
as well as modern methods of organiza-
ton to the scheme of administration,
which should, if properly applied. result
in greater efficiency in the conduct Of
work and great economy In the general
expense. which is now out of proportion
to the work done.
A lengthy statement follows. showing in
detail the progress of work on vessels
under construction, and upon the subject
of steel inspection the report says:
The total quantity of ship steel in
spected by the bureau and the amount
passed and shipped for Incorporation into
show decrease from
the figures of the preceding year. The
total quantity submitted to inspection
under the bureaus requirements during
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1901, was
about 10000, coo pounds. compared v it'll
{ total of about 10. 900 for the fiscal
year ended June 80, 1900. The great activ-
ity in the steel industry and the con-
tinued urgent demand for all classes of
finished products has at times made it
difficult to meet the demands of ship
builders having contracts for naval yes
sells.
''The production of nickel steel for pro-
tective decks and other purposes, COM
bining armor with structural features,
has kept pace with preceding years, and
reached total of about $4,000 pounds.
The improvement in surface and in char
acteristics upon physical and ballistic
tests have been fully maintained and lit |
tie difficulty is being experienced in pro- |
curing nickel steel of high characteristics |
in whatever quantity may be required.
I'm the working of steel at the ship |
yards practically 10 difficulties attribut- |
able to the character and quality of the |
materials have developed. The percent |
ages of reflections for various causes and |
the percentages of total rejections given
In the tables are evidence of the charac-
ter Of the inspection made. The cost of
he inspection per ton of material handled
will compare very favorably with the
charges made by any of the several COM
mercial organizations making testing
business
The report estimates the required ap-
for work on new vessels au-
Jhorized by Congress for the increase of
the navy, construction and machinery,
for the fiscal year ending June 80, 1903
al S17.303, ,010 The combined estimates of
Bureau of Construction and Repair and
the Bureau of Steam Engineering, both
included in the report, are Si7637. .25i for
he fiscal years 1901-1S0 and 1912-1909. The
balance in the Treasury less the sum of
1850 00O, which is to be applied to the con-
struction of one gunboat to take the place
Of the Michigan on the Great Lakes, is
shown to he $30.3 .244, available for the
expenses Of the two bureaus, against the
lbove estimates. and leaving a deficiency
If s1729,0 ,010, for which an appropriation
s asked.