BATTLE CRUISER. [Based on characteristics submitted to General Board by Bureau of Construction and Repair and not yet approved. (C. & R. No. 15272-A.2 (AF), Oct. 19, 1912.)} [Based on the general board's characteristics, dated June 14, 1911 (C. & R. No. 2182-A. 102 and 102B).J [Based on characteristics received unofficially from aid for material, dated Sept. 18, 1912.] AMMUNITION SHIP. [Based on characteristics received unofficially from aid for material, dated Oct. 2, 1912.] [Based on characteristics of General Board, for which sketch has been submitted by Bureau of Construc tion and Repair, but which has not yet been approved (C. & R. No. 15272-A2).] [Based on characteristics same as for 1913 program. If these are changed, as the Bureau of Construction and Repair has recommended, amount should be increased to $650,000 for increase of the Navy, constructionand maintenance, 8-hour day.] 3. The estimates include royalties on patents for submarine if built at a navy yard, but it has been construed that the eight-hour law would not apply to purchased articles of equipment. R. M. WATT. H. I. CONE. N. C. TWINING. APPENDIX IX. Subject: Appropriation "Equipment of vessels (C. & R.)." This bureau's allotment for the fiscal year 1913 from the appropriation "Equipment of vessels (C. & R.)" amounts, in round numbers, to $1,359,000. The estimates for the fiscal year 1914 under this appropriation are $1,802,400. This is an increase of $443,400 over the current year's appropriation. This additional amount is requested in order that the bureau may have sufficient funds to enable it to properly carry out work under its cognizance chargeable to this appropriation. For the first six months of this fiscal year expenditures have been about two-thirds of the available appropriation, leaving for the balance of the fiscal year only one-third of the appropriation. During the first six months amounts allotted to navy yards for labor and material have been approximately $75,000 less than the amounts estimated from the yards as necessary. In addition, the amounts allotted for issues to ships have been $850,000 less than the amounts estimated from the yards as required. During the first six months of this fiscal year allotments have, therefore, been $925,000 less than asked for. The total amount of increase requested is less than one-half of the total asked for and not allotted for the first six months of this fiscal year. In addition to expenditures which have formerly been paid from this appropriation, the bureau has recently received a communication from the Bureau of Ordnance inviting attention to the fact that "Ordnance and ordnance stores" was paying a considerable sum for towing hawsers and other similar equipment gear used at target practice. This bureau informed ordnance that it would be impossible to undertake to pay for this material during this fiscal year, on account of shortage of funds, but that hereafter an attempt would be made to pay from this bureau's allotment for all material used in target practice properly chargeable to "Equipment of vessels." COMMITTEE ON NAVAL AFFAIRS, Saturday, January 4, 1913. The committee this day met, Hon. Lemuel P. Padgett (chairman) presiding. STATEMENT OF REAR ADMIRAL RICHARD MORGAN WATT, CHIEF BUREAU OF CONSTRUCTION AND REPAIR Continued. There were also present Hon. John E. Raker, a Member of Congress from the State of California and Rear Admiral N. C. Twining, Chief Bureau of Ordnance. The CHAIRMAN. Gentlemen of the committee, Judge Raker has a matter that he wants to present to the committee wi h reference to the ship Portsmouth. The Judge was here yesterday, but we had so few members present that I said to him we would take the matter up this morning. Now, Judge Raker, you may present to the committee such matter as you desire. Mr. RAKER. Mr. Chairman and gentlemen of the committee, the matter which I desire to present to the committee covers the bill H. R. 13600 and also the bill S. 817, which passed the Senate on May 29, 1911. There are some different features in the bill H. R. 13600 from those in the bill S. 817. As to the construction and general repair of the Portsmouth, Admiral Watt is here, and I would like to have him make a statement as to the conditions and the necessity for these repairs and what they will cost, if the chairman will permit that course. The CHAIRMAN. Certainly. If Admiral Watt has a statement, he will please make it. Admiral WATT. I have a statement. The department directed the bureaus in a letter dated October 5, 1912, to submit detailed estimates covering the cost of necessary repairs and equipment under their cognizance for fitting the Portsmouth for a trip to the Pacific. Under date of November 16, 1912, the Norfolk Navy Yard submitted estimates for work under the Bureau of Construction and Repair amounting to $48,910. Mr. ROBERTS. Admiral, what would your bureau have to do with putting the vessel in shape? Admiral WATT. The sides of the ship, between wind and water, that part of the ship that is alternately wet and dry, is badly rotted. Mr. ROBERTS. Are the timbers rotted, or just the planking? Admiral WATT. The planking. Mr. ROBERTS. Are the timbers solid? Admiral WATT. The timbers seem to be in pretty good condition. Much of this planking would require renewal, she would require recalking on all this renewal planking, the recalking of the decks and a number of minor repairs, all of which I could submit in detail if that is desired. Mr. ROBERTS. I just wanted to know in general how radical the repairs would have to be. Admiral WATT. The estimates I have just read do not include cost of running rigging, block outfit, furniture, or any supplies or equipage. A rough estimate of those items would be $25,000. The total cost under the Bureau of Construction and Repair would be approximately $75,000. Mr. ROBERTS. That does not include sails or any rigging? Admiral WATT. I will give you now the total estimated cost for fitting out the vessel for a trip to the Pacific Ocean including equipage, which is as follows: Construction and repair..... Equipment (Construction and Repair). Equipage under Bureau of Construction and Repair.. Equipage under Bureau of Medicine and Surgery. Equipage under Bureau of Supplies and Accounts.. Equipage under Bureau of Navigation............. Total..... The CHAIRMAN. That would include everything? $48, 910 2,580 25,000 2, 200 1,800 3,500 83, 990 Admiral WATT. Yes, sir; it would include everything. It would be desirable, however, to give us a few dollars margin for things that the uncovering of the sides might reveal. I should say that if Congress wants this ship to go around to the Pacific Ocean, they should appropriate $100,000. The CHAIRMAN. I notice that the Secretary in his report on page 35, under the topic "Historic ships," says: The custom of selling unserviceable vessels will before long dispose of the Constellation, Portsmouth, Hartford, and Olympia, unless their preservation be specially authorized. Some of these vessels could be preserved almost indefinitely with a small expenditure for occasional repairs, and their names would be a constant inspiration to the Navy and to the country at large to live up to their noble traditions. Could you give the committee or place in your hearing an estimate with reference to the other ships similar to the one you have made? Admiral WATT. Yes, sir; I could add that to the hearings, but it would require considerable time to obtain the necessary data from the navy yards. Mr. ROBERTS. It would make quite a difference, I take it, whether the ship is to make a voyage or is to lay in a harbor, as to what it would cost to preserve it? Admiral WATT. Yes, sir. The CHAIRMAN. What I meant was what it would cost to accomplish the purpose stated in the report of the Secretary. Mr. ROBERTS. Have you anything showing the original cost of the Portsmouth? Admiral WATT. No; I have not, but her original cost was probably in the neighborhood of $250,000. The CHAIRMAN. Where is the Portsmouth at the present time? Mr. ROBERTS. Is she being used as a receiving ship? Admiral WATT. She is really awaiting disposition." Mr. ROBERTS. Awaiting condemnation? Admiral WATT. It was understood that this matter was under consideration, and had it not been for these measures it is probable she would have been appraised and offered for sale by this time. The CHAIRMAN. Where are the other three ships? Admiral WATT. The Constellation is at Newport; the Hartford is at Charleston, S. C., and the Olympia is at the Naval Academy. Mr. RAKER. Mr. Chairman, in that connection I would like to have inserted in the record the history of the Portsmouth from the time of her construction at the navy yard, Portsmouth, N. H. (Kittery, Me.), in 1843, as prepared by Mr. Charles W. Stewart, Superintendent Library and Naval War Records, showing the trips which she has made and the service which she has rendered. The statement referred to by Mr. Raker follows: NAVY DEPARTMENT, LIBRARY AND NAVAL WAR RECORDS, MY DEAR SIR: I have the honor to acknowledge the receipt of your note of July 8th instant, and in reply send you the following brief record of the service of the U. S. S. Portsmouth: U.S. S. Portsmouth, second of the name, was built at the navy yard, Portsmouth, N. H. (Kittery, Me.), in 1843. Her tonnage is given in the General Navy Register as 846 tons, and her battery as 14 guns; but she carried at some periods 22 guns. She is spoken of in Emmons's History of the United States Navy as "Excellent, whether sailing, steering, working, scudding, lying to, or riding at an anchor in a seaway. She was considered one of the best (fastest) sailers in the Navy in the old days of sailing vessels. First cruise, 1844-1848, in the Pacific under command of Commander J. B. Montgomery, squadron of Commodore J. D. Sloat. Took a prominent part in the operations on the coast of California during the war with Mexico. June 3, 1846, arrived in the harbor of San Francisco, Cal. July 5, 1846, landed a party of seamen and marines, under command of Lieut. J. S. Missroon, United States Navy, for the protection of the American consul and citizens at San Francisco. Lieut. H. B. Watson, United States Marine Corps, was in charge of the marines. July 9, 1846, war having been declared between the United States and Mexico, by order of Commodore Sloat a force was landed at Yerba Buena from the Portsmouth, which took possession of San Francisco, and at 8 a. m. hoisted the United States flag in front of the customhouse. Detachments of officers and men were sent to hoist the flag at Sutter's Fort, Sausalito, Sonoma, and Bodega. March 11, 1847, to October 29, 1847, the Portsmouth captured three Mexican vessels. Two of them were ransomed for $14.929. February 24, 1848, sailed from Valparaiso, reached Boston May 5, 1848. 1849-1851, African Squadron. 1851-1854, Pacific Squadron. 1856-1858, East India Squadron. Under Commander A. H. Foote took a very prominent part in the capture and destruction of the Barrier Forts, Canton River. November 16-22, 1856. In this engagement there were 7 Americans killed and 22 wounded. The Portsmouth was struck by shot 12 times. At the close of the engagement three rousing cheers were given the ship by the crews of the British men-of-war lying near. 1859-1861, African Squadron; captured several slavers. 1861-1865, West Guli Squadron; with Admiral Farragut (commanded by Commander S. Swartwout) at the passage of Forts St. Philip and Jackson, occupation of New Orleans, and numerous engagements in the lower Mississippi River. Made a number of prizes. 1866, quarantine ship, New York Harbor. 1867-1868, fitting as a training ship and on special duty. |