New-York tribune., 1905-01-16
N4V4L POWER PLANTS.
Consolidation Scheme Requires Care
fuL Consideration.

Washington. Jan. Is C5peciaD.-A scheme for the
consolidation OF power plants at the navy yards
was presented TO the Secretary OF the Navy few
months ago. and in order TO be well informed on
the subject before giving his final decision he
cured the services OF civilian experts 20 investigate
and report 10 him on these points: How much power
is there at each yard and what proportion OF it is
in use? Row much reserve power should there be?
How does # compare IN volume with the power
OF other industrial plants? In brief the Secretary
desired their general ideas OF the whole subject
both as 10 the amount of power on hand and the
amount necessary, with economy OF production.
economy OF use. etc.
The substance OF the report OF the committee OF
experts was that the duplication OF shops of the
same general character requires a larger power
plant installation than If work OF the same char
scter were performed at one point; that the prob
lem of consolidation not simple cne but
was different for each yard. account OF the
character Of apparatus already installed. II was
found that several kinds Of power used. For
instance, pneumatic power is used FOR purposes to
which 1t is better adapted than electric power by
the departments OF steam engineering and con-
struction in their shops and on board ships under
repair: hydraulic power IN the shops Of these de-
psrtments has limited use: live steam Is used
for the steam hammers. blowing engines and a
variety Of other purposes electricity power and
for light has been made available IN buildings On
board ships along the waterfronts and in the
orydocks The result is an increasing number of
power plants including separate boilers and build
ings engines, electric generators air compressors
hydraulic pumps, pole lines and conduits for cleo
tric power. etc
1t is acknowledged that the installation Of a
consolidated power plant and heating plant would
be great Improvement and would result in a
saving TO the government in operating expenses
and one OF the questions TO be decided IS ,,ndsr
which department It shall be placed. The steam
engineering department has been recognized as
ne one having supervision OF all mechanical pow
ara II ls being urged the Secretary that ft
should have charge OF the central power plant
me bMeau OF Yards and Docks asks that il shall
late control OF the power plants at all yards
Dut tere is much opposition TO the scheme es-
beaaIy on the part OF the naval constructors
Another question under serious consideration fs the
cost. u there We're power plants al anv OF the
navy yearos The plan suggested would no doubt
nlled 10 great extent with excellent machinery
some OF which is OF the best modern design IN is
S+srst Dy many that II would not be 10 the best
.Lseests OF the government 10 install consolidated
power plant, requiring wiring and motors
a. Ho cOAoeiiIlaton OF much OF the machinery now
which enter into the cost as is shown bv The
report OF me experts, They assert that a power
pant can be designed which would give an an
nusl saving In operating expenses as foiiotps.
NeW-York. $1,000; Boston s2E O9. Toortsroo,,tJ sSo
ODi league Island. COO and Norfolk Si5O0 The
are: New York, s450O00: Boston $50 600. POTS.
5outn S2o0 600; League Island, so COO Norfolk $3.50
.rS,sSS - ytAl saving or SO6co0 year,
:, mHlcA Mll require total expenditure Of
Nrzbeoo. In other words, Il would take twelve
Years. bsRlngs 70 equal the total OF expenditures
ia electrical science, the Consolidated niart ysoS
be out OF Cale and require 70 be recon 60
or more times. for the experts SPEAK of one Of The
plants that was installed less tban fo1iT % a ne
ego as being obsolete. although was OF the hest
ano most MODERN design at that time. The whole
being disposed Of