ships. In the same connection it suggests the purchase of a few rapidfire guns; also that of cadet magazine rifles for use in the instruction of cadets at the Naval Academy.

The work performed at the Naval Ordnance Proving Grounds, under the superintendence of Lieut. Austin M. Knight, is highly commended. The difficulties attending the firing of shotted guns over water which is continually traversed by vessels necessitates the selection of another ocality, and such a change has received due consideration and bids fair to be solved satisfactorily. The money already appropriated for the purchase of a new ground has not yet been used.

The Torpedo Board, provided for in the act of Congress, approved August 3, 1886, is still in session. Three finished systems of torpedoes have been submitted for trial.

On August 4, 1888, the Department decided to order 30 Howell torpedoes, with the right to extend the order to 50, from the Hotchkiss Ordnance Company.

The Bureau reports that the instruction of enlisted men in torpedo work and ordnance material has proceeded successfully. A course of gunnery instruction will soon be initiated at the torpedo station, and it is hoped, in view of the increased need of seamen gunners, to increase the number of men under instruction.

In answer to the Department's advertisement in November last for proposals for a submarine boat, two designs were submitted, but as neither contained any guaranty of performance of the functions required, they were rejected.

In accordance with the act of Congress approved August 3, 1886, and in answer to the advertisement of the Department, two proposals were received for the construction of a steel sea-going torpedo boat. That of the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company was accepted, and the boat is now in process of construction.

In accordance with the act of Congress approved March 3, 1887, the steamer Stiletto was purchased from the Herreshoff Manufacturing Company and has proved of great service for exercising the officers and men at the Torpedo Station.

The 8-inch pneumatic gun carriage and apparatus for working the 10-inch guns of the Terror, contracted for with the Pneumatic Gun Carriage Company, are now being constructed by the South Boston Iron Company.

Pursuant to an act of Congress approved March 3, 1887, two cast-steel, high-power 6-inch guns have been furnished by contract; one is of Bessemer steel, constructed by the Pittsburgh Steel Casting Company, the other of open-hearth steel, furnished by the Standard Steel Casting Company. No proposals were received for a crucible-steel gun. The guns received have been finished and will soon be tested.

The Bureau reports important progress at the Torpedo Station, and an improvement in the buildings, wharves, and apparatus. A further

appropriation will probably be required to complete the extension of the sea-wall, as authorized by Congress.

The encouragement of private manufacturers, whose works are located back from the Atlantic and Pacific sea-board, to manufacture gun-cotton is recommended, as such increased production would be of great service in case of war.

Good results have been obtained in using gun-cotton as bursting charges in the shells of ordinary guns up to 80-pounders, and there seems to be no reason why it should not be used in the large calibers if a suitable fuze can be produced.

A service electrical lamp for submarine work has been completed and is now issued to ships. Arrangements have been made to secure torpedo search-light apparatus of American manufacture. This is an important step.

Important researches have been made in the chemical laboratory, including the investigation of explosives and metals, and the effect of the detonation of determined amounts of explosives.

The instruction of officers in torpedo and similar subjects has progressed, and several new features have been introduced.

BUREAU OF EQUIPMENT AND RECRUITING.

In the report of Commodore W. S. Schley, of the Bureau of Equipment and Recruiting, will be found a statement of the supplies purchased and manufactured by the Bureau during the past year. The working of the equipment department established at the Boston yard has given excellent and economical results, notwithstanding that much of the machinery taken over at the time of the transfer was found to be defective and in great need of repair.

The Bureau reports that it is substituting a new galley made at the Boston yard for the old Young's galley formerly used. This change was necessitated by the improved Navy ration, which requires better cooking facilities.

A statement is made of the number of men in the service, the number enlisted, discharged, deserted, died, re-enlisted, and employed on special service.

A recommendation is made, in view of the fact that the number of continuous service men, although large, is not as large as it should be, that a board be convened to formulate a uniform scale of punishments and classification of offenses, the present uneven way of administering justice being claimed to be one of the great causes which prevent reenlistments.

The instruction of seamen at Washington and the torpedo station is commended.

In regard to the apprentice establishment, the Bureau reports fair results. The want of proper training-ships has been a great drawback, 11294-N 88.

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and the construction of new bark-rigged vessels of modern type is again recommended for use as practice vessels.

New tables of allowance for the new types of ship have been made and have been sent to the equipment depot.

Commodore Schley concludes his report with some valuable recommendations in regard to the improvement of the men's messes, the in crease of the pay of certain grades of petty officers and other enlisted men in order that the service may get a better class of men now required by the improvements in material; the extension of the retirement and citizenship laws passed for the Army and Marine Corps to the enlisted men of the Navy; and that power be given to naval officers to administer the oath of allegiance to recruits as is now done by officers of the Army.

BUREAU OF STEAM ENGINEERING.

The report of Engineer-in-Chief George W. Melville, Chief of the Bureau of Steam-Engineering, gives the amounts expended in the purchase of material, purchase and construction of steam-machinery, with estimates for the fiscal year 1890.

Under the head of "General Operations" a résumé of the work performed under the bureau is given, which includes the construction of new machinery and repairs to that already in use.

Under the head of "Machinery under Construction" is given the present state of advancement in the designing and constructing of machinery for the Newark (cruiser No. 1), Philadelphia (cruiser No. 4), Charleston (cruiser No. 2), San Francisco (cruiser No. 5), Baltimore (cruiser No. 3), Concord (gun-boat No. 3), Bennington (gun-boat No. 4), Yorktown (gun-boat No. 1), Petrel (gun-boat No. 2), Vesuvius, and the monitors Monadnock, Terror, and Amphitrite.

Recommendations are renewed to build large proving and testing machines at the New York and Mare Island navy-yards, and to establish central steam and electric generating plants in the navy-yards, which should supply all of the points where steam-power and light is required.

A synopsis of the work done at the various yards is given, together with a statement of the condition of the various plants of machinery and suggestions in regard to minor changes.

Under the head of "Personnel of the Engineer Corps," the Engineerin-Chief calls attention to the number of engineers and machinists in our own and in foreign services, and asks for the appointment of an assistant chief of Bureau. He strongly recommends the establishment of a practice-ship for the men of the engine-room force, especially for those of the rating of water-tender, the latter having new and very important duties to perform in running the machinery of the new-type ships. He also recommends that all vessels fitted for forced draught should be run under forced draught until the engine-room force has be

come entirely expert in developing the highest powers of the ship. This would of course slightly increase the expenditure of fuel for a time, but without it the great extra cost of perfected boilers and machinery would be lost.

In regard to the rating of men as machinists, he recommends a more thorough examination.

The chief of the Bureau argues against the retention of vessels on active service, without thorough overhauling, for a period of more than three years, because by so doing the engines are entirely exhausted, whereas otherwise slight repairs render them thoroughly efficient for another cruise.

The chief of Bureau reports that, being convinced of the important reduction in weight which the introduction of coil boilers would ensure, the Department issued a circular inviting manufacturers to submit plans of a boiler adopted for use in an armored coast-defense vessel. In answer to this circular twenty-three firms applied for and were furnished with information, and nine submitted designs. Owing to the pressure of other business no decision has yet been reached as to which of these boilers will be tested.

During the past year the following important tests have been made: A Belleville coil-boiler on board Mr. J. M. Forbes's yacht Shearwater, giving very good results. A new style of boiler made by the Herreschoff Manufacturing Company, so designed as to necessitate less intelligent handling than those of their design now in use in the service; the results were very satisfactory. A boiler using naphtha as a fuel, built by the Hohenstein Manufacturing Company; the results were interesting, giving additional data on the evaporative powers of naphtha.

The new boilers of the Swatara were tested under forced draught with and without circulating plates; the results proved the value of the use of circulating plates.

A very interesting test of a device for burning petroleum was made on a locomotive fitted up by the Petroleum Fuel and Motor Company. The apparatus was very successful, and the evaporative results are, it is said, the best on record.

A very small oscillating engine, 5 by 7 inches and 10 inches high, designed for driving blowers and centrifugal engines on steam-launches, was tested. The highest speed was about 2,100 revolutions per minute; a similar engine has reached 3,200 revolutions per minute.

A comparative test was made of the two systems of steam indicators now in use. Both gave good results, and the difference in their performance was very slight.

Excellent results were obtained for "Magnolia metal" on a comparative test with the best anti-friction metal heretofore tested.

The result of tests made with an aluminum bronze furnished by the

Aluminum Bronze Smelting Company, shows the metal to be a valuable one when a non-oxidizable metal of great strength is required. On account of a want of knowledge in handling the casting of large masses of this metal two castings for the propeller of the Petrel were condemned owing to the existence of blow-holes. It is to be hoped that better results will be obtained when more experience is gained.

Tests have been made with another valuable material, the bronze made by the Deoxidized Metal Company. The specimens tested with good results were made by order of the Bureau with exactly the same composition as "navy-bronze," but the company claim even better re sults with their own composition. These tests, with the exception of the Swatara's boilers, were made at the expense of the parties submitting the articles, but as officers had to be taken from other duties the chief of the Bureau recommends the establishment of an experimental board of engineers.

Under the caption of "Estimates of Appropriations" required, the chief of Bureau states that every cent estimated for the coming year will be needed, and that he is not entirely satisfied that he should not have asked for more as the appropriations for this Bureau have been decreased every year lately without a corresponding decrease in the necessity for expenditures. He says that he supposes that the Congressional committee is influenced by the fact that there is generally a balance left at the end of the year. There must be either a balance or a deficiency, and it is impossible to regulate matters so that the expenses which are incurred all over the world shall foot up to the exact appropriation. Important work is therefore often neglected in order to be within the appropriated amounts.

The appropriation for the purchase of new tools is strongly recommended as is also that for experimental purposes.

The estimates for the construction of new machinery is based upon the requirements of the new vessels under construction and authorized during the past fiscal year.

BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR.

Chief Constructor Theodore D. Wilson, chief of the Bureau of Construction and Repair, shows in his report the work performed and the amount expended by the Bureau during the last fiscal year, together with estimates required for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1890.

He recommends an estimate for a chief draughtsman, such a rating having been allowed for similar work under the Bureau of Steam Engineering for several years.

The immediate construction is strongly recommended of "experimental works," at a cost of $60,000, for use in the determination of the resistance of ships by means of models. The "works" are a most important part of the equipment of the ship-building branch of foreign