pense except for traveling expenses of officers and transportation of in struments. The information gained is, however, not only of value to the Government but to the public at large. Moreover, the tests were made by engineers temporarily taken from other duties, and not by those specially detailed for such work. A great deal of experimental work should be done, especially in the way of high combustion and rapid evaporation, the proportions of triple and quadrupie expansion engines, the proportions of high-speed screw propellers, etc., the cost of the results to be so obtained being infinitesimal compared with the value of the knowledge to be gained. I would recommend that an experimental board of engineers be appointed for such purpose, and that an appro priation be asked to defray the expenses of investigations looking to the increase of efficiency of naval machinery of all kinds. ESTIMATES OF APPROPRIATIONS REQUIRED. I would call attention to the fact that every cent of the amount that I have estimated for the coming year under the appropriation "steam machinery" will be needed, and I am not entirely satisfied that I should not have asked for more. The appropriations have been decreased every year lately without a corresponding decrease in the necessity for expenditures. The appropriations under the head of "steam machinery" for the past few years have been as follows: From this it will be seen that in seven years the appropriation has been decreased just about one-half. During that period a number of vessels have been sold; but the amount of machinery to be repaired, preserved, and renewed has not decreased in anything like the ratio of reduction of the appropriations. In fact the machinery of a number of vessels which were built between the years 1872 and 1878, upon which very little has been expended, are now just beginning to need extensive repairs. Each year repairs which should have been made have laid over until the next year's appropriation became available. Work thus 'accumulates from year to year, machinery being temporarily patched up which should be put in good condition. As an illustration of this I may cite the case of the Essex, whose old boilers were patched up before her present cruise, when new boilers were really needed, simply because of a scarcity of funds. The consequence is that this vessel has been a "lame duck" nearly all the present cruise on the Asiatic station, and would probably fail if needed suddenly on any service where full speed would be required. There are two things which, I have no doubt, to some extent influence the Congressional committees in annually reducing the appropriations: First, there is generally a balance left at the end of the year, which, they argue, was unnecessarily appropriated; and secondly, if we get along on a certain amount one year, we should, by the exercise of greater economy, be able to get along with less the next year. As to the bal. ance at the end of the year, we must either have a balance or a deficiency. While we have stations scattered all over the face of the earth where expenditures are constantly being made, it is impossible to regulate the expenditures with such nicety as to make both ends meet exactly at the end of the year, and it is better to be on the safe side and avoid a deficiency. It will be noticed that the balance on hand at the end of the last fiscal year is larger than usual. This is due to the fact that certain materials which were needed were not purchased until close to the end of the year, when we knew about how much money could be used without causing a deficiency. A delay of a few days in placing some of the orders made it impossible to pay for the material out of last year's appropriation, and it will, in consequence, have to be paid out of this year's. As to greater economy, I can not see how, under existing circumstances, the expenditures can be reduced. An examination of the records and correspondence of the Bureau, showing how we are obliged to exercise the greatest care in order to make both ends meet, will convince any one of this fact. There are more vessels now undergoing necessary repairs than at any one time for several years back, while several vessels now on for eign stations will need thorough overhauling with new boilers during the present year. It is almost certain that a number of vessels will have to be laid up towards the end of the year waiting for the next year's appropriation to become available. The appropriations which I have asked for to purchase new tools for navy-yards are strongly recommended; also the appropriation for experimental purposes, the necessity for which I have elsewhere noted. My estimate of $2,100,000 for construction of new machinery under the head of "increase of the Navy", was based on the following calcu lations: The vessels now building and authorized are as follows: The letters in the last column refer to the following appropriations: The appropriations thus far made for these vessels, exclusive of appro priations for armor of vessels building in navy-yards, vessels for coast G. Sept. 7, 1888. "Increase of the Navy; steel practice vessel ". Total... F. Sept. 7, 1888. "Increase of the Navy; construction and steam machinery" defense, etc., are as follows, the reference letters showing for which of the above vessels the various amounts are available: A. Mar. 3, 1885. "Increase of the Navy" B. Aug. 3, 1886. "Increase of the Navy; vessels and monitors" $1,895, 000 2,500,000 2,420,000 1,500,000 1,000,000 3,500,000 260,000 From this should be deducted E and G, as they are for specific purposes, and not available for vessels generally 13,075,000 1,260,000 Also deduct the following amounts, which are included in B: 11,815,000 $75,000 225,000 To the contract prices of vessels now building, or There must also be added the premiums to be paid for increased Charleston. Yorktown.. Petrel Baltimore.. Newark.. Philadelphia. San Francisco Bennington. Concord Leaving available.... $50,000 50,000 10,000 175,000 50,000 100,000 100,000 5,000 5,000 545,000 9,706, 910 1,883, 090 Judging from the estimates for vessels now building, it may be said that, roughly speaking, this amount will be expended, two-thirds for hulls and one-third for machinery; thus leaving for machinery, in round numbers 627,000 From this deduct the amounts that may be expended on the Maine, Texas, and Monadnock, for machinery, during the current year, as follows: Maine and Texas.. $100,000 80,000 180,000 180,000 Leaving a possible balance at the end of the current year. 447,000 The cost of machinery of vessels not yet under contract may be estimated, in round numbers, as follows: Cruiser of 5,300 tons, one-half.. This will not all be expended in one year, and, supposing no work to be done on the vessels authorized by the act of September 7, 1888, except in the way of preparation, during the present fiscal year, there would be required during 1889-'90 the following portions of the sums above estimated : Two cruisers of 3,000 tons, one-half.. 300,000 Three cruisers of 2,000 tons, two-thirds. 450,000 700,000 Probable expenditure in 1889-'90 .... From which deducting the possible balance at the end of the present fiscal 2,520,000 2,093,000 2,100,000 I have the honor to submit herewith the estimates for appropriations for this Bureau for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890. Very respectfully, Hon. W. C. WHITNEY, Secretary of the Navy. GEO. W. MELVILLE, Chief of Bureau. Estimates of appropriations required for the service of the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890 by the Bureau of Steam Engineering, Navy Department. Detailed objects of expenditure, and explanations. STEAM MACHINERY. For completion, repairs, and preservation of machinery and boilers of naval vessels, tugs, launches, and torpedo-boats, including cost of new boilers and auxiliary machinery; labor in navy-yards and on foreign stations; purchase, handling, and preservation of materials and stores; purchase, fitting, repairs, and preservation of machinery and tools in navy-yards and stations; running yard engines; for incidental expenses, such as foreign postage, telegrams, advertising, freight, photographing, draughting, books, plans, models, stationery, instru ments, and apparatus (act September 7, 1888) CONTINGENT. For contingencies, drawing materials, and instruments for the draught ing-room (same act). CIVIL ESTABLISHMENT. Navy yard, Portsmouth, N. H.: Clerk to department, per annum (act September 7, 1888).. $1,200 1,800.00 Estimates of appropriations required for the service of the fiscal year, etc.—Continued. INCREASE OF THE NAVY-STEAM MACHINERY. On account of the steam machinery of new ships heretofore or hereafter authorized by Congress (submitted).. IMPROVEMENT OF THE PLANT AT THE NAVY-YARD, NEW YORK. Extra tools required to put the yard in condition for building and repairing modern marine machinery with economy and dispatch, including traveling crane in foundry and in new boiler-shop, and a 600-ton prov ing and testing machine (submitted) .... IMPROVEMENT OF THE PLANT AT THE NAVY-YARD, NORFOLK, VA. Extra tools required to put the yard in condition for building and repairing modern marine machinery with economy and dispatch, including improvements in handling machinery, and in the boiler-m king pl nt (submitted)..... IMPROVEMENT OF THE PLANT AT THE NAVY-YARD), MARE ISLAND, CAL. Extra tools required to put the yard in condition for building and repairing modern marine machinery with economy and dispatch, including improvements in boiler-making plant, improved machine tools, etc. (submitted). EXPERIMENTAL PURPOSES. For investigations with a view to increasing the efficiency of naval machinery in the matter of economy, lightness, and increased power, by systematic experiments with various kinds of improved steam generators, engines, forced-draft, propellers, materials of construction, and such other experimental work in connection with naval machinery as may be found expedient, including purchase of materials (submitted) ... 2, 100, 000. 00 155,000.00 60, 000, 00 55,000.00 25,000.00 11294-N 88- -23 295,000.00 |