Waterbury evening Democrat., 1903-11-05
OUR COAL DEPOTS
Rear Admiral Bradford Says
 They Are Inadequate
VERY LITTLE PROGRESS MADE
Two Maps Accompany the Report,
 Which the Admiral Says Are h. structive-He Recommends That Surveys Be Prosecuted With vigor.

structive-He Recommends That
 Surveys Be Prosecuted With yigor.
 Washington, Nov 5.-Rear Admiral R. D. bradford, chief of the bureau of equipment of the navy department, i'll his annual report to Secretary Moody draws attention to the ileticiency of the coal depots in foreign waters for naval use, but because or the publicity gwen to the report the matter Is not nlscussed owing to diplomatic consid- erations. It is stated, however, that no progress has been made during the last year toward increasing the num- Der of stations,
 Two maps of the world are submit ted, the first showing the coal depots built, building or projected by the United States, and the second giving some information concerning Great Britain. Rear Admiral Bradford dt- rects attention to the maps and con cludes: "A comparison of the two Is instructive"
 Comment is made on the great i'm portance Of Photographic surveys h the Pacific ocean, i'll order that the large number of inperfectly known dangers to navigation may be definitely located, or, if non-existing, erased from the charts. In reference. to the Philip pines it is said that with the excep- tion of the portions of this archipelago which have been surveyed since the occupation by the United States, an in- significant fraction of the entire area, there is scarcely a mile of water ex- panse so charted that it may be nay1- gated with complete confidence. Recon mendation is made that in future these surveys be prosecuted with vigor.
 The bureau reports that the con- mission appointed to consider the question of transferring to the depart ment of commerce and labor the hydro graphic office, fhe naval observatory and the nautical almanac office, nas reached the conclusion that it would be llnwise to transfer these offices from the jurisdiction of the navy depart ment on account of their nautical char acter and their indispensable aid i'll preparing for war. The bureau says 1t learns that it is proposed to place these offices under civilian control and attach them to the secretary's office, and adds: stThe reasons assigned for their retention in the navy department would appear to be equally good for retention under the administration of sea going cofnbatant officer
 Admiral Bradford devotes one of the longest chapters of his report to an earnest defense of the integrity of the equipment bureau, the existence of which he declares is threatened by the aggressiveness of other bureaus. On the subject Of an organization of sea going officers of superior rank to advise the secretary of the navy on profes sfonal matters, Rear Admiral Bradford suggests the designation admiralty staff" The bureau recommends such a body to be created and named by executive authority.
 Tn conclusion Admiral Bradford says that after an experience of six years in the department that needs attention, rather than its organization, particu- larly in the direction of expenditure of mdney and in coEfning the subordinates Of the department to their legitimate duties.