Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-11
VESSELS 0E1HE NAVY
Report etIl1qqh'Ai 'oapp,,
Chief ConstTuctor.
MORE DOCKS NEEDED
SATISFACTORY PROGRESS BEING
MADE ON NEW SHIPS.
Fireproof Building for Storage Of
Models at the Washington Navy
Yard is Recommended.

According to Rear Admiral Caps, chief
of the bureau of construction and repair.
there are 327 vessels in the United States
navy classified follows:
Vessels fit for service. including those
under repair-First-class battle ships, IL:
second-class battle ship, l; armored cruisers,
2; armored ram, l; single-turret harbor-
defense monitors 4; double-turret monitors,
6; protected cruisers, IS; unprotected cruis-
ers, 3; gunboats, u; light-draft gunboats,
3: composite gunboats, g; training ship
Naval Academy sheathed, /; special class,
Oolphin-Vesuvius), 2; gunboats under 500
tons, 81; torpedo boat destroyers, 16; steel
torpedo boats, 80: submarine torpedo boats,
s; wooden torpedo boat, +: iron cruising
vessels, steam, 8; wooden cruising vessels,
steam, 6; wooden sailing vessel, 8; tugs, Al;
auxiliary cruisers, D; converted yachts, %;
Golfers, 10; supply ships and hospital ships,
IA Total. 265.
Vessels under construction or authorized
Ffrst-class battle Ships. IA: armored cruis-
ers, 10; protected cruisers. 5; scout cruisers,
3; gunboat for Great Lakes mot begun) +; I
composite gunboa-s, 2; steel torpedo boats
D; training ships, q training brig / ; GOLFERS ;
2: tugs, 2. Total, Al
Vessels unfit for sea service-Wooden
cruising vessels, steam, 10; wooden sailing
vessel, s.. Total, Is.
GSIAAAttIcS 0cCIcdSeO.
The aggregate of all estimates, except
increase of the navy, construction and ma
chinery," for the fiscal year ending June
30. 1906 shows reduction of $3.50, 45O from
the same appropriations for the fiscal year
1905. The appropriation increase Of the
navy is affected by the increasing number
OF ships for the new navy authorized by
Congress.
Chief Constructor Caps says that the
work of the bureau at several navy yards
has been somewhat interfered with by de-
lays in the construction of buildings in
tended for its use. In some instances
buildings, appropriations for which were
made more than two years ago, have not
been begun. The bureau. he says. is still
embarrassed by the facks of adequate dock
ing facilities for vessels Of the fleet
Reference to the reports from the various
navy yards, he says. will indicate clearly
the great demand made Upon the docking
the navy yard, New York, Is, at the pres
ent time, the only navy Yard the Allan
tic coast at which battle ships be dock
ed indicates the serious Importance of I'M
dertaking promptly, and prosecuting with
all possible dispatch, the construction of
such docks as have already been author
lied. gFr
? The chief CONSTRUCTOR says that one of
the most serious disadvantages under which
a majority of our navy yards is now labor
ing is the scarcity of berthing space in rea-
houses. This deficiency in suitable berthing
space has reached such an acute form at
the navy yard, New York. to seriously
impair the efficiency of that yard when I'M
dertaking repairs to the fleet.
1t is recommended that provision be made
bureau from amongthe~1f hcsrs of the con-
struction corps. Chief Constructor Caps
says that the force Of naval constructors
actually available for duty at present is so
inadequate as to make it a matter of seri-
49, Ill II, L.
desgna tons to fill existing and prospective
vacancies at the various stations where
work under cognizance of this bureau Is
being performed.
Progress of Construction.
1.-THE progress of work on vessels build
ing at navy yards" says Chief Constructor
Caps, els very satisfactory, that Of the
Connecticut being especially gratifying,
and it seems worthy of note that the rate
Of progress on this vessel has been greater
than that Of any previous battle ship built
for the government. with the single excep-
ton of the sister ship Louisiana. now build
ing at the works Of the Newport News
Shipbuilding and Dry Dock Company.
While the work on the Connecticut has
been so far most satisfactory, this result
has not been accomplished without I'M
usual effort on the part of those responsible
therefor.
AltnOuRH every pOSSfDie pTeCduliOu Is
being taken to reduce the cost of the Con-
necticut to the most economical basis, 1T
can hardly be hoped that the work will be
done as cheaply as when performed in pri-
vate shipbuilding yards, whose rates of
pay for nine hours work are. in many
cases, less than those being paid for eight
hours work at the navy yard, New York.
1t may also be noted that private ship
yards do not pay their per diem employees
for holidays or when on leave, whereas
a very large proportion e. the per diem
employees on the Connecticut receive pay
for fifteen days leave and seven public
holidays during the calendar year, without
any work being done in return therefor
1.-THE desira bility of having some of the
government yards thoroughly equipped for
building vessels of the largest size is fully
recognized, but the repairing and overhaul
ing of the fleet must at all times remain
the important work of navy yards, and in
time of war their resources will be taxed
to the utmost in performing such work"
Washington Navy Yard.
In regard to work at the Washington
navy yard the chief constructor says, in
part:
Work of the experimental model basin
has been continued steadily during the
year. One hundred and seven new models
have been taken In hand. In addition to
minor and miscellaneous experimental
work, important tests were made during
the year In connection with methods OF
sheathed quarters ON shipboard, power
water-tight doors and distant control, and
plans for ships ventilation.
THE marine railway, with the new cleo
trie-chain gear for hauling, out continues to
work satisfactorily. This plant is now In
excellent condition, except for the accumu-
lation of mud. which is removed from time
to time to keep the tracks clear
THE space on ethere side of the marine
hn ntyad m Of