The San Francisco call., 1901-10-21
WANTS DRYDOCK
IN PHILIPPINES
Admiral Bowles Says It
Is Badly Needed by
Government.
Chief Of Construction Bureau
Makes Recommendations
to Congress.

WASHINGTON. Oct 20.-The annual re-
port Of Admiral Bowles, chief Of the Bu-
reau of Construction and Repair. calls at
tention to the slow progress in the con-
struction of the ships now building for the
present year, owing TO strikes and delays
in the delivery of arn1or and steel forg-
ings. He points out that under the pres
ent system for the purchase OF armor the
responsibility for delays emanating from
this source rests with the Government
and renders it liable to suits for damages
by the ship contractors.
The Construction Bureau, he says, has
made much progress toward the stard-
ardization of ships which will reduce the
original cost OF snips OF the navy and de-
lie touches upon the tests of fireproofed
wOo0 conducted by his bureau and says
that while the products of the two pro-
cesses submitted both possess desirable
qualities, neither wholly commend itself
10 adoption by the navy.
Admiral BOWleS strongly recommends
that the floating drydock at Havana, re-
Gently purchased from the Spanish Gov
ernmenL, be sent to the site OF the new
naval station at OlOngapO, Phlhpplne Isl
ands, as soon as the repairs on II are
Completed. Ii is essential. he says, for the
efficiency Of the navy on the ASlauc sla-
tion, both from a strategicai and econonaic
standpoint, that the Government sha1i oe
IN possession OF d drydock IN the Fhl4p-
pines at the earliest possible moment. he
says that the dock just purchased can be
placed in condition for the use or vessels
up to 10000 tons displacement wlthln the
limit OF the sum appropriated by Con-
greSs for its requirement
Admiral BOwleS earnestly recommends
an increase In the number OF naval con-
structors. which is now limited by law TO
forty. This number, he says, Is entlrely
5naoeQuaue to the present needs OF the ser
Clice and he urges that the limit OF the
rps be increased by Congress to sixty.
lie says that the efficiency Of the navy
yard plants throughout the country is
largely limited by the insufficient number
Of drydOcks and modern buildings for the
equipment Of the yards. The navy yards,
however, continue TO present a fruitful
tleid for the application Of modern engi-
neering to their mechanical equipment, as
well as modern methods of organiza ton
10 the scheme Of administration, which,
# properly applied, should result in great
er efficiency III thee ondUct Of work and
great economy in the general expense.
which is now out of proportion TO the
work done.
Admiral Bowles says that the Construc-
tion Bureau has been taxed to its utmost
capacity by the work Of designing new
vessels and supervising vessels now build
ing, and that these conditions have been
aggravated by a lack Of space in the Navy
Department building available for the
technical and clerical staff Of the bureau
He records a lack of draughtsmen pesses-
sing the requisite qualifications, and eX-
presses a desire 10 obtain for the burea u
more graduates Of technical schools. He
aINdCleS 4AuCl lIupOL lance 10 the ueeu VI
an efficient corps Of carpenters in the
navy as an adjunct to the corps of naval
constructors The number of carpenters
now a1Oat, Admiral BOwles says, is bare
ly adequate 10 the needs Of the service.
and the number on shore duty is entirely
inadequate.
He points out that ship employment
means an honorable position board
ship. adequate pay and instructive en-
ployment on shore duty, and he recon-
mends that as soon as circumstances will
permit q school for the instruction of car
penters' mates be established