caliber. It is unnecessary to note that these effects will be much increased in work with the larger guns. It is urgently recommended that a more suitable position may be purchased by the Department, in order that the needed experimental work and proof of guns may not be definitely interrupted. TORPEDO TRIALS. Trials with the Howell torpedo belonging to this Bureau were continued this year. They took place in the harbor of Michigan City, Ind., and were, as a whole, confirmatory of the favorable opinion before enter tained regarding the principles embodied in this weapon. Numerous runs were made, with speed greater than had been previously attained, and also with increased regularity of immersion, the accuracy of flight in the horizontal plane being, as usual, good. The trials were not, however, conclusive; and it is understood that a company is engaged in further elaborating the weapon. INSTRUCTION OF ENLISTED MEN. This very important branch of instruction has been pursued by the Bureau both at the ordnance department of the Washington navy-yard and at the Torpedo Station, though the service has suffered somewhat at both places on account of our inability to detail an officer exclusively to conduct the instruction, owing to the inadequate number of officers on ordnance duty. The course of instruction will be made to cover four months instead of six, the former period being considered sufficient for the present. THE TORPEDO STATION is now in charge of Commander C. F. Goodrich, U. S. N., he having very recently relieved Commander W. T. Sampson. The stock of gun-cotton now on hand being nearly sufficient for present service needs, it is proposed to reduce the production very considerably, making only sufficient to supply expenditure and keep a proper reserve stock on hand. The new boat-fittings for spar torpedoes have been issued to service, as also, in some instances, the cubical torpedo case, which allows a much closer stowage of the gun-cotton than before obtained. The compact Le Clanché firing batteries, referred to last year, have been issued to all the ships that have fitted out since their completion. New boilers have been supplied to the torpedo machine shop, and they also afford power for the gun-cotton factory. Attention is again called to the importance of furnishing the station with two steam launches of modern form, engines, and speed, with which to exercise the torpedo class in the maneuvers which they will be expected to put in practice in time of war. The boats now at the station are old, slow, and worn out. They are useless for the purposes for which originally intended, and should be replaced. An additional supply of fresh water should be furnished for use in the manufacture of gun-cotton, and an item has been inserted in the estimates for bringing this water in a pipe from the city of Newport to Goat Island. An estimate has also been made for renewing the ferry landing stages both at the island and at the city of Newport. Those now in use are worn out and should be replaced. The report of Commander C. F. Goodrich, Inspector of Ordnance, in charge of the Torpedo Station, is appended. It presents a view of the present condition and needs of the station, and contains excellent recommendations. INSTRUCTION. A class of twenty-one commissioned officers and four gunuers received instruction during the summer months in matters bearing on torpedo warfare. Their interest in the subjects taught and their progress was gratifying, and the new course of instruction as marked out last year worked well. It is very much desired to give thorough practice in the manage ment of electric lighting circuits, and partly to this end the station will be lighted by electricity. Those officers who took the long or special course acquitted themselves well. A class of enlisted men has also received a course of instruction in torpedo warfare. This course was chiefly practical, and the progress made by the men was very gratifying. They showed intelligence and industry, and will, no doubt, be very valuable to the general service on account of their practical acquaintance with torpedo and electrical mat ters. This instruction will continue and be a prominent feature. Many of the officers and enlisted men became quite proficient in submarine diving (which is taught at the station), and the Bureau feels much gratified at the increasing interest which is being shown in this most important branch of seamen's training. It The report of the Board of Officers ordered to witness the examination of the torpedo class will be found in the Appendix. will be observed that their opinion of the course and its efficiency is generally favorable; but they desire the amount of clerical work increased. The Bureau has found by experience that any more writing than is done now is detrimental to the thoroughness of the practical instruction, which is the most important part of the course. The Board further recommends that the length of the course should be increased to seven months. The Bureau does not concur in this recommendation; the general course has been shortened because it was found unnecessarily long, and. furthermore, it is impracticable, without the greatest inconvenience in the present state of the service, to hold so large a body of officers (mostly taken temporarily from other duty) for so long a time as proposed by the Board. There is already in operation a special or longer course for those who are qualified to take it. On the west side of Goat Island (towards the bay), when gales prevail, the sea undermines the bank of the island in places, notwithstanding the presence of a partial protection of quarried rock, which is piled there as a breakwater. Additional rock should be placed there so as to extend and strengthen the protection, and as this is a matter of pressing importance an item has been placed in the estimates asking for a small sum with which to carry on the work. The question having been again raised concerning the carrying of the sewage of the city of Newport in a pipe across the inner harbor through the breakwater on Goat Island to discharge outside of the island, I beg leave to call attention to the following extract from a report on this matter received last year from Commander W. T. Sampson, who was then Inspector of Ordnance in charge of the Torpedo Station. The report shows that unless the discharge of the sewer is carried a considerable distance into the outer bay the result will be disastrous to the health of the Torpedo Station. The clerical force of the Bureau has performed its duties with intelligence and zeal; but the present extensive elaboration of ordnance material, the largely increased appropriations for the armament of new ships, and the multifarious details in connection therewith, renders it physically impossible for the small number of clerks and one draughtsman now allowed to properly keep up with all the work of the Bureau, and the increase of two first-class clerks, one copyist, and one assistant draughtsman, asked for in the estimates, is urgently recommended. The following statements are appended, viz: A.-Statement showing amount appropriated under each specific head of appropriation for the service of the Bureau of Ordnance during the year ending June 30, 1886, expenditures during the same period, and balance remaining on hand June 30, 1886, amounts expended for material and labor, and what balance will be required to meet outstanding obligations made during the year. B.-Statement of cost or estimated value of stores under the cognizance of the Bureau of Ordnance on hand at the several navy-yards July 1, 1885, of articles received and expended from July 1, 1885, to June 30, 1886, and of those remaining on hand July 1, 1886. C.-Statement of the number of days' labor and cost thereof from July 1, 1885, to June 30, 1885, at the respective navy-yards and stations, chargeable to the Bureau of Ordnance. D.-Amount expended during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, from the appropriations under the Bureau of Ordnance for civilians employed on clerical duty, or in any other capacity than as ordinary mechanics and workingmen. E.-Statement of contracts entered into by the Bureau of Ordnance during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, with schedules of bids upon which the same were based. NAVY DEPARTMENT, BUREAU OF EQUIPMENT AND RECRUITING, Washington, D. C., October 1, 1886. SIR: I have the honor to submit the following report of all operations under this Bureau for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, and to submit the inclosed estimates for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1888. For the fiscal year ending June 30, 1886, the following amounts were appropriated under the several headings: Equipment of vessels..... Transportation and recruiting. Contingent... Civil establishment (Bureau Equipment and Recruiting) $800,000 30,000 15,000 9,000 25,000 During the fiscal year 62 vessels were fitted for sea, wholly or par tially, at the various yards, and furnished with stores requiring an expenditure of $57,510.05 for labor, and for material the sum of $326,359.14 aggregating a total of $383,869.19 from the appropriation " Equipment of vessels." The appropriations for this Bureau for the year have been found sufficient, and I am glad to be able to report that there are unexpended balances of considerable amount to turn back into the Treasury from "Equipment of vessels" and "Transportation and recruiting." In the estimates for the year 1888 the Bureau submits an estimate for $60,000 for needed improvements at Coaster's Harbor Island, to include payment for a small cottage built on the island by Mr. W. A. Whaley, under permission granted by Secretary Chandler. The amount to be paid Mr. Whaley should be determined by a board of officers after examining all bills paid by him. COAL. For the use of vessels on foreign and home service there were purchased 50,841 tons of coal, costing, including all expenses of handling and delivery, $312,856.35. During the year the price of coal was found to be cheaper than the previous year, but the general system of contracting invited a large number of bidders the direct effect of which was to obtain coal at very low figures. HEMP. The needs of the service required the purchase of the following amounts of hemp: The following amount of cordage, with the cost of labor and material, was manufactured during the fiscal year: The cost of material being slightly higher and labor being about the same the cost prices of making rope for the year varies a little from that reported last year, manila rope costing a fraction over 13 cents per pound and hemp a fraction over 11 cents. With all sizes made the rope manufactured by the Government at Boston contains more material and less tar, and is superior in strength and finish to any made by private establishments. It is therefore cheaper. FORGE, ANCHOR, SMITH AND CHAIN SHOPS AND ROLLING MILL AT WASHINGTON NAVY-YARD. During the past fiscal year there has been manufactured in these shops the following: 1 No. 6 galley $644 44 7,315 67 7,960 67 6, 152 92 1,715 21 1, 179 96 Repairs to galleys belonging to the following-named vessels: Wyandotte, Total cost...... 240 fathoms 2-inch chain 435 fathoms 1-inch chain 240 fathoms 1-inch chain 120 fathoms 1-inch chain 175 fathoms 1-inch chain Total cost SMITH AND CHAIN SHOPS. TRAINING APPRENTICES FOR THE NAVY. 1,367 74 2,407 13 12,822 96 3,984 44 3,977 65 2,619 04 1,127 82 609 49 453 10 1,754 15 14,525 69 Coaster's Harbor Island.--The permanent headquarters of the training service is located at this point, and at present is under command of Capt. A. R. Yates, U. S. N., an accomplished and efficient officer. Under his direction a number of needed improvements at the station have been made during the fiscal year. There yet remains a considerable amount of work to be done to fit the station to our needs. To extend the sea walls, to dredge the channel, to build a hospital, to build a natatorium for the boys, and to extend the wharfing, that coal and other vessels may land stores at this station, the Bureau asks the sum of $60,000. This amount will be sufficient to include the payment of Mr. W. A. Whaley for the cottage built by him on the island under authority granted by Secretary Chandler, and also to maintain the property in good condition during the year. The health of the station has been fairly good during the year, but the Bureau has felt the need of a hospital for those patients whose care and treatment needed separation or more quiet than could be afforded in the sick bay of the stationary ship New Hampshire. The apprentices are usually detained at this station about six months, and are taught arithmetic, geography, history, and writing, together with the primary duties of the young sailor, such as knotting and splicing, heaving the lead, the compass, reefing and furling sails, pulling in boats, great gun drill, artillery and infantry tactics. After this preliminary instruction, they are drafted into the cruising training ships, when they are sent abroad to learn the usages of sea life and the higher duties of the sailor. The following affords an exhibit of the number of apprentices in the service June 30, 1886: Number on board stationary and cruising training ships....... Total number in service..... 665 530 1, 195 |