Evening star., 1915-12-27
WILL DRAW PLANS
FOR ALL U-BOATS
Navy Engineers, Instead Of
Contractors, Will Decide on
Details Hereafter.
BUILDERS MAY NOT BID
ON THEIR OWN DESIGNS
Chief Constructor Taylor Says Prog
ress Is So Rapid That One
Bureau Must Control.

Engineers of the Navy Department
will hereafter prepare plans for all
submarines to be built for the United
figures. Where bidders hold rights to
patents they may submit alternative
bids; but such progress has been made
by naval constructors. according to
Chief Constructor Taylor, in his annual
report. that the old practice of sub
mitting to bidders only the. general re-
quirements for submarine craft. allow
ing them to bid on their own designs,
will be abandoned.
Constructor Taylor mentions the ex-
periments made during the year in
search of adequate defense for battle
ships against submarine and aeroplane
attack. and adds that specifications
for the ships next to be purchased have
been materially improved" Details Of
changes in construction are regarded
as confidential.
Activities Of the Bureau.
The various activities of the bureau
are shown in the report in dealing with
the model basin at the Washington
navy yard, where hull designs are test
ed; the wind tunnel. where aeroplane
experiments are made. and other ex-
perimental equipment. Twenty per cent
of the work done last year in the model
basin was for private shtpbuilders who
are learning of the advantage that
adjunct Of the navy has been to its de-
signers. A device to simulate storm
conditions and wave motions Is now
being installed in the tank.
OF aircraft design the report says:
THE development Of the aeroplane
seems to be in the direction Of larger
weight capacity and greater speed, and
in this respect Is repeating the history
of the development Of warships." The
department has designed and begun
2,200 pounds as q means to develop
ment Of knowledge Of this subject
among its engineers.
Navy outstrips Private Concerns.
The report points out the high stand
ard Of efficiency made by bureau en-
ployes. 1t being stated that no vessel
designed by the navy has shown over
weight during the last twelve years,
record no private company nor the de-
signers of any other government have
reau employees is asked in order that
some hope of advancement may be
given them and an increase In person.
mel to do away with the voluntary
overtime the report QecldIec tneyf nave
cheerfully rendered.
These increases are requested" says
the chief constructor, '1n order that the
bureau may be in a position to meet
efficiently the increasing demands upon
it and in order to provide for rear
rangement of the force SO as to reduce
the number Of transfers and resigna-
tions. The records Of the past dys
years indicate that the changes in the
clerical force amount to something over
half the total force every three years:
This failure to retain in the employ OF
the bureau men who have been trained
and who possess technical knowledge
so necessary for its work is a serious
handicap in carrying on its work eff
ciently. The bureau believes its many
losses through resignation and transfer
are mainly attributable to the lack OF
any reasonable prospect Of advance
ment In pay as compared with that OBJ
tanning in other branches Of the public
service and in civil life for men Of
equal merit. The average pay Of the
clerks in this bureau is less than in any
other bureau or ONCE of the Navy De-
partment. Tho majority OF those who
leave the bureau go to other branches
Of the government whore conditions
are more attractive"