Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-10-26
EXPERIMENTAL BASIN
HIGHLY COMMENDED BY REAR
ADMIRAL BoWLES
Report of Chief of Bureau Of Construc-
ton and Repairs, Navy De-
partment.

Rear Admiral Bowles, chief OF the bureau
of construction and repair, in his annual re-
port Just submitted. speaks highly Of the
value of the experimental model basin at
the Washington navy yard. On this SUBJ
ject he says, in part:
The experimental model basin has con-
tinued in successful operation during the
year. experiments of one kind or another
having been made with nearly $50 models Of
all kinds during that time, including five
for private persons. The experimental
model basin has now become Indispensable
to the bureau in connection with work upon
new designs, particularly those involving
novel features. The final forms for the
10O0-ton gunboats and the 10 OO0-ton battle
ships authorized during the last session Of
Congress were adopted only after number
of experiments with the view Of obtaining
the most desirable form in each case. The
results in the case OF the 13.O00-ton battle
ships illustrate clearly the value Of the eX
peIimental model basin. AS the result of
succession of experiments with the final
form adopted for these vessels speed of
seventeen knots can be confidently antici-
pated with but 10 600 indicated horse power.
There are five completed battle ships in the
navy of 1850 tons displacement and but
seven feet shorter than the Idaho or - 600
ton class, which averaged on trial almost
exactly seventeen knots with 70 900 indicat-
ed horse power. The new ships, although of
1,5OO tons, or 13 per cent greater displace-
ment will attain this speed with 1000, or
Is 2-8 per cent. less horse power and II they
reach on trial the same efficiency of propul-
sion obtained by the best of the 1890
ton ships will appreciably exceed the seven
teen-knOt speed.
Progressive speed trials of completed
vessels are the essential complement Of the
Investigations of the model basin in order
to determine the efficiency of propulsion. Up
to last year of the large number of vessels
built for the navy in the last twenty years
only the Chicago, Boston and Yorktown had
thorough progressive trials in commission.
At the urgent request Of the bureau, and
with the cordial cooperation of the bureau
of steam engineering, such trials have been
made of the battle ships Alabama, Massa
chusetts and kearsarge and in the past
year progressive trials for speed and coal
endurance have been ma de of the destroyer
TruXtun.
THE bureau will continue to urge that all
type ships be subjected to progressive trials,
as the scarcity of reliable data of this kind
has been serious handicap to successful
naval design
General Work at the Yard.
In regard to the general operations at the
Washington navy yard Admiral Bowles
says:
1.-The marine railway has been built dur
ing the year, the slip concerted and given
retaining walls. and the hydraulic rod haul
ing-out gear replaced by electric chain gear
housed in q small brick structure. This
work was completed IN May, and the cleo
trio chain gear has proved very satisfactory
In operation. the whole marine railway
plant being now in first-class condition, ex-
cept for the accumulation Of mud in the
slip. This is excessive at present but it is
hoped to remove 1t at an early date.
mo extensive Improvement of the con-
struction plant is recommended for the COM
ing fiscal year. A large Daniel planer with
special appliances to facilitate finishing the
ends of models. will save time and labor in
the model shop. This will have to be a
special tool. Designs will be prepared and
submitted at an early date
THE need for a permanent fireproof stor-
age building for the completed models of
the experimental model basin. to which at
tentiOn was called in last years report, is
especially urgent, the operation of the
model basin being materially hampered for
want of it. The present storage facilities
for models are those afforded by the tenn
porary adaptation of the west wing of the
old ship house. but this is entirely made
quate and in addition source Of danger
from fire.
The greatest care TO prevent an unneces-
sary accumulation of models and the great
est economy in the matter OF space will not
diminish the need for Il suitable fireproof
storage building, and the operations of the
experimental model basin will be more and
more hampered for the lack of it.
The need for boiler house to replace the
temporary wooden structure now covering
the engines and boilers of the department is
also urgent and should be provided for
Designs for both of the above buildings
nave been prepared by the department ap-
proved by the bureau. and transmitted to
the bureau or yards and docks"