Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1902-10-30
MELVILLE'S REPORT.
The Engineer.in.Chi Declares The
Personnel Act 4 Failure.
The Use OF PETROLEUM FOR COAL.
Admiral Melville Says II Ought TO Be Sue
esssfuIly Used on Torpedo Boats, bat
Doubts u II Can Be Installed
On Dsttleshins.

Washington, Oct. 25.-The annual
report to the secretary Of the navy
of Engineer-in-C Chief George Melville
is of unusual interest this year. Mr..
Melville says with the greatest frank
ness that the personnel act has
proved to be q failure, as it is admin
tered, and he declares that one-half
Of the officers Of the navy have yet
to be convinced of the benefits Of
amalgamation. To use his own
words, in referring to the personnel
act, ut vas rather a revolution than
progression in naval development
when congress enacted q law where
by every naval officer Of the line had,
in the future, to become a fighting
engineer" European experts de-
clared that either their own navies
were not properly organized, or that
the United States had made a mis-
take from which it would not recover
for at least 20 years. Still, Admiral
Melville thinks that if the law were
administered with a desire to make
1t a success it would give the most
efficient navy in the world. To that
end he wants IN engineering labora-
tory at Annapolis like that at Char
Gutenberg, Germany, for expert
mentation and the education in en-
cheering of young line officers.
The proposed use Of petroleum as
a substitute for coal on shipboard
is treated at length and in such de-
tail as thoroughly to meet the in
Vulnerable demands that have come
to the navy department for the spe-
cial information contained by the
engineering board composed Of
Lieut.. Commanders Edwards, Parks
and Bailey. For months this board
has been working with a big 1000
horse power boiler on the water
front in this city testing a multitude
Of oil-burning devices and the great
est manufacturing concerns in the
United States and even abroad have
been seeking to learn the results Of
the boards work. The following is
an extract from the report on this
subject:
1.-THE more this question is investi-
gated the more intricate seems the
problem Of successfully installing an
oil fuel appliance on board a battle
1t ought to be successfully
used on the torpedo boats as well
as upon auxiliary naval vessels that
steam between regular ports. For
the army transport service it might
prove very desirable, since a supply
Of oil could be maintained at the sew
eral calling ports. In regard to the
installation on the large powered
battleships and armored cruisers
there are three distinct features
which must be considered, viz: The
mechanical, commercial and the
structural. Regarded from two Of
these view points it seems as If it
would be some time before "~coaling
ship" ceases to be an evolution upon
he war vessel. While both the naval
md mercantile vessels traverse the
ocean, there is a wide difference in
construction as well as in the
nature of the duty performed, and
his must be taken into account in
designing the motive plant"
Treating Of the commercial as
,ects of the question, the report
makes the following important state
ut may be regarded as Q certainty
hat, except where unusual condi-
ions prevail, the cost of oil for ma
inc purposes will generally be
than that Of coal. The cost
nay be less for vessels departing
rom the gulf Of California seaports,
,ut the rule will hold elsewhere"