New-York tribune., 1905-07-31
ARMY AND NAVY NEWS
lEROM THE TzrsuSz sUzxxU.I

Washington. July 90
POWER PLANT CONsOLTDATION-Tns Sec
re'ary OF the Navy got tired last week waiting
naval officers IN Washington and the navy yards
20 come 70 some agreement respecting tne con-
soiioauon OF power plants at the navy yards and
stations This Is subject which was considered
InLy oy some civilian experts employed by Mr.
morton early in his career the head Of the Navy
Department Il was then decided that the 3ower
plants az navy yards should &c consolidated. n
the effort 10 economics labor and reduce tina
cost OF operation II was found that at navy
yards there were not only Implications Of plants.
hut as many as six separate and independent pow
er plants The problem involved in the carry
ing out Of the proposition OF the civilian engineers
who submitted general scheme This could only
oe done BY obtaining the ideas OF heads Of d--
partnentS al the navy yards and he chiefs Of
bureaus IN Washington Assistant Secretary Oar
ling has charge Of this detail Of naval adrninis-
traticu and he fouud that the proceedings since
the department decided consolidate the plants
there much Interference with the deuarrLasntaI
purpose. and thai II anything % be dose be-
fore Congress met there would have be arbitrary
action. without further delay. He reported Mr..
Bonaparte that the procrastinaton had assumed
such proportions that TIE department might as
we'll proceed with what information was now in
its possession. The hrst work therefore,. Be
undertaken VIII be az rhe Brooklyn Navy yard.
where partial project has been outlined. 70 oe
carried out in the next twelve months az an est
commended by Stone and Webster. the Boston e<-
peTts. who investigated the conditions at Brooky
the the Work viii be carried out When siitiona funds
are available The estimates TO Congress next De-
consolidation at all OF the navy yards
FOR SUBMARINE sAFETY-Ths exparts IN
naval construction at the Brooklyn Navy Yard have
been instructed to work the detail pla-s OF =
device which VIII have the effect af adding 70 ths
security OF submarines II Is proposed 70 pface
heavy shackie at each end OF a suona-fnas 30 cna<
a boat disabled at the bottom and unable 20 rtss
- ala q ~ n
floating derrick or some other nsrhoc attached
to boat on the surface This Is ons OF The direct
results OF the accidents which have overr<Hn sub
marines abroad and especially ths c-sasrer 70 rns
French boat where the officers and crew ware I'M
prisoned for several days. the gsats- part q which
period they were known TO be alive. but who tzed
before the boat was brought to ths surrace. Thsra
has been some talk OF constructing az New-Xorx
floating derrick. FOR the purpose ot serving AZ a
tender for submarines az practtca q oefns rsali1ed
that special means for protscticn should oe ezksn
for the benefit OF those engaged n experimental
work on such boats. Most sxDsrz n srena--rs
navigation say there Is used of great alarm on
apprehension IN regard 20 service On the suhnartns
and certainly those attached 60 such ooats DO nos
seem to regard their lives IS inDsrtlsc rs was
the remark OF one OF the suorna-fns crsv shar
there was nothing about tne suonanns wnien
Penniion AZ sn psgo So far ABOUT ne only
danger seams 10 be IN the Possibility that t1s SUD
surface. All naval ships have this aangsr. IN
degree,
other nnenaces from which the subra--ns Is roc
exempt. II Is believed that with tho means OF
bringing the submarine 20 the surrace. such as IN
proposed the naval constructors. all pr-caution-
ary measures required under the circumstances VIII
be furnished There will be series OF sxperi-
mertz with the appliances for urfRg AZ the Brock-
Ivu Navy Yard where the submarines Flungers
Porooise and Shark now undergoing recalrA
MARINE OFFICER OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Norman G. Burton. OF the marine corps. on duty
ar the Norfolk Navy Yard. has been rsprtmanded
IN a letter OF the Secretary OF the Navy. This is
the result OF the court OF inquiry. which was held
TO inquire into the conduct OF that officer and Of
Lieutenant F. A. Ramsey, also OF the marine
corps and now on duty at the Brooklyn Navy
Yard The trouble arose over the Incident Of Cap
tain Burton's arrest at Colon Just as he was pre-
pairing 70 sail for this country after period Of
duty IN the Canal Zone quarterraster OF ma
rines OF duty there Lieutenant Ramsey was act
ing chief OF police that city. and the arrest was
due to the fact that Captain Burton had in his
possession a revolver which Lieutenant Ramsey
thought oaIo1ged to the government. and regarding
which Captain Burton refused TO render
count The whole trouble was due to the similar
ft- the appearance OF Captain Burton'S pistol
and that issued by the government. and II might
have been avoided had Captain Burton made an
this retfcence that the Secretary OF the Navy sent
his letter Of rebuke TO Captain Burton The court
or inquiry also recommended that Lieutenant Ram
sey be reprimauded, but with this view the Navy
Department did not agree