Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1915-12-29
WILL DRAW PLANS
FOR ALL U-BOATS
Navy Engineers, Instead of Con-
tractors, viii Decide On De-
tails Hereafter.
BUILDERS MAY NOT BID.
Chief Constructor Taylor Saws Progress
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
states upon which bidders may submit
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 10 bidders only the general re
quirements for submarine craft, allow
ing them to bid on their own designs.
will he 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 regard
ed as confidential
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 tes
ted the wind tunnel, where aeroplane
experiments are made, and other ex-
perimental equipment.
Twenty-Five per cent. of the work
done last year in the model basin was
for private shipbuilders who are now
learning Of the advantage that adjunct
of the navy has been to its designers.
A device ii simulate storm. conditions
and wave motions is now being install
ed 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 war
ships" The department has design
ed ana begun construction of an aero
plane to carry 1900 pounds as means
to development of knowledge of this
subject among its engineers.
The report points out the high
standard of efficiency made by the
bureau employees it being stated that
no vessel designed by the navy has
shown overweight during the last
twelve years. record no private com
pany nor the designers of any other
government have been able to equal.
Re-rating of bureau employees is asked
i'm order that some hope of advance
ment may be given them and an in
creose in personnel to do away with
the voluntary overtime the report de
clares they have cheerfully rendered.
These increases are requested, !"
says the chief constructor, 'in order
that the bureau may be in position
to meet efficiently the increasing de-
mands upon it and in order to provide
for re-arrangement of the force as to
reduce the number of transfers and
designations. The records of the past
five 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 possess technical
| knowledge so necessary for its work
| is a serious handicap in carrying on
/ its work efficiently.
THE bureau believes its many losses
through resignation and transfer are
mainly attributable TO the lack of any
| reasonable prospect of advancement il
pay as compared with that obtaining
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 office Of the Navy Department. The
majority of those who leave the bureau
go to other branches of the government
where conditions are more attractive.
| Washington Star