New-York tribune., 1901-10-21
couE NEEDS OF THE NAVY.
,r.R ADMIRAL BOWLES CALLS ATTEN-
uroN TO SLOW WORK ON wARsHIPs.

A,,g-o, Oct. 20-The annual report of Rear
-, BoEles, chief Of the Bureau OF Construc-
and Repair. calls attention TO the slow progress
- :, the last year in the construction OF the
he now b1iding for the navy. owing 10 the
80 So and delays in the delivery OF armor and
- foreings He points out that under the pres
=. svstera for the purchase of armor the respon-
-r,,v cor delays emanating from this source rests
- the government. and makes II liable to suits
- sarages by the ship contractors. The Con-
r,.ion Bureau he says, has made considerable
sr-sss toward the Standardization Of ship fit
- which will reduce the original cost Of ships
[tbe navy and decrease the expense Of their main
.ncA He touches upon the tests OF hreproofed
oo5 conducted by his bureau. and says that while
he products Of the TWO processes submitted pos
g desira bic qualities neither wholly commends
,,ss,, 70 adoption by the navy.
pesr Admiral 30 yles strongly recommends that
=. coating drydock at Havana recently purchased
-, tbe Spanish Government be sent TO the site
. me new naval station at Olongapo. Philippine
TIsnds as soon as the repairs II completed.
= is essential. he says, for the efficiency OF the
,-v On the Asiatic station, both from a strategic
.-5 economic standpoint that the government shall
- in possession OF drydock in the Philippines at
10 earliest possible moment. He says that the
s,k fust purchased can be placed in condition for
the use Of vessels Up TO 10000 tons displacement
,tr,u the limit Of the sum appropriated by Con-
r-ass for its requirement.
Pear Admiral Bowles earnestly commends an IN
tease in tire naval constructors. which
,tri,ed BIZ law 10 forty. This number, he says, is
Entirely Inadequate TO the present needs Of the
ser1foe and he urges that the limit Of the corps
be Increased by Congress 10 sixty He says that
me efficiency Of the navy yard plants throughout
The country is largely limited by the insufficient
,u-her Of GTyGOcks and modern buildings for the
.ruinrnent Of the yards. The navy yards. however,
Srfinue 10 present fruitful field for the appca-
Sjan OF modern engineering 10 their mechanical
saniuuent as well modern methods of organ
szstion 10 the scheme Of administration. which il
nrouery applied should result in greater efficiency
n he conduct Of work and great economy in the
general expense which is now out of proportion
IA the work done
Rear Admiral Bowles says that the Construction
pureau has been taxed TO its utmost capacity by
Ire work Of designing new vessels and the super
vision Of vessels building and that these con-
Sitions have been aggravated by q lack Of space
N fhe Navy Department buildings available for the
technical and clerical staff OF the bureau. He
cords lack Of draughtsmen OF the requisite quail
snatons and expresses desire to obtain for the
bureau more graduates Of technical schools. He
attaches much Importance TO the need OF an eff
Gent corps Of carpenters in the navy as an ad-
trnct 10 the corps OF naval constructors. The
number OF carpenters afoat. Rear Admiral
Bozes SAYS is barely adequate TO the needs Of the
service. and the number shore duty is entirely
Inadequate. He recommends that as cir
cunstances VIII permit school for the instruction
OF carpenters mates be established.