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26 | MARINE REVIEW. ANNUAL REPORT OF REAR ADMIRAL BRADFORD. The annual report of Rear Admiral R. B. Bradford, chief of the bureau of equipment, is quite exhaustive. Discussing the naval station at Hawaii, he says: "No facilities for equipment or other work exist at the present naval station at Honolulu, As a coal depot it has been of the greatest value since the time of the late war. There is storage accommodation for 20,000 tons of coal with only moderate handling facilities. Two excellent wharves and two slips, capable of accommodating the heaviest draught ships, have been fully completed during the present year and have, during construc- tion, and since completion, been of much service, both to naval vessels, army transports and merchant ships. During the present year much thought and attention has been given to securing a good site for a naval station at Pearl harbor, just west of Honolulu. This harbor constitutes the most available and in fact the only good harbor in the Hawaiian group. Its importance was recognized by the last congress in its appropriation of $150,000 to acquire land for a naval station and harbor and channel defense. Efforts were made to obtain prices and options on the lands recommended as a site for the naval station from the owners, but entirely without success. Under instructions from the department, the acting commandant of the naval station, Hawaii, was directed to institute: pro- ceedings in July in the proper court for the condemnation of about 800 acres of land in and about Pearl harbor necessary for the naval station. It is believed that these lands, if acquired, will furnish adequate facilities for the development of a first-class naval station and place the government on a good footing for the repair and maintenance of all vessels coming or operating in Central Pacific waters." 'On the subject of coal, he says: "Continuing its policy of the past three years, the bureau has transported American coal from the Atlantic coast to distant ports of the world for the use of United States ships of war wherever suitable storage for the same can be obtained. In addition to the amounts transported in navy colliers, about 50,000 tons have been laid down at Manila by chartered vessels, mostly foreign, during the year. The cost of the latter has averaged $8.63 per ton as against $7.80 per ton for the fiscal year 1900 and $6.92 per ton for the fiscal year 1899. Freights generally during the year were expensive, although at present they are very cheap. The naval coal depot at Honolulu has been kept well stocked. It is exceedingly difficult-at present to obtain freight for American coal to this port, since it can only be carried in American ships. As foreign ships cannot obtain cargo at Honolulu the importation of Cardiff coal is also expensive. The combination of the two renders coal at this station considerably more costly than formerly." The admiral speaks in high terms of the hydrographic office. He says that in no year during its existence has there been such a demand for its publications as during the present. The bureau is sadly in need of ad- ditional room. Discussing the subject of wireless telegraphy, the admiral says: "There appears to be little doubt that the Marconi apparatus has been [ December 12, considerably improved during the past year. Claims are made that the difficulty of interference can be overcome, but the bureau is not aware that any positive exhibition or demonstration has been made to this end. Practical improvements have been made in the erial wire by grounding it through the primary of an induction coil. 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