The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-26
sPxRTT or EzH PRESS.
editorial Opinions Ofths Leading Journals
upon Current Topics Compiled Every
Day for the Evening Telegraph.

THE NAVY YARD IN THE DELAWARE.
From ae Harri burg state JoutnaL
In the reports of the proceedings of the
Appropriation Committee of the Hodse at
Washington, we see again the full schedule
of sums, varying from $780, 900 TO $3.50. 900
each, set down as approved in the Fertilization
bill; and in the Army appropriation bill, au
equally large schedule of regular expendi-
lures. All these sums are said TO be much
reduced from the estimates, aud the inference
appears to be suggested, that the committee
has been economical ia its action, and, there
fore, that the items as approved should 90
through unquestioned.
But if any one desiring information will
go over the list of appropriations for 40 years
past, he will find the same items, and the
same amounts; each one of the 30 or 40 forts
has annually swallowed up its $50, 900 or
100000, until millions have gone to each
and every one of them, never to be seen
again. The fortifcation ring is, in fact,
quite the peer of the Indian ring, and the
resemblance between the annual calls for
money of one Of these Indian tribes and one
of the Canadian border forts is very striking.
ALI this annual expenditure is dead loss, in
most cases. Nothing new or vital is added
to the national defenses. That which is
really wanted, and which is absolutely essen
tial to national defense, is never touched al
all. Not one of these forts is living thing
of modern times Earthwork approaches of
a resolute enemy will plant batteries even on
the Charleston marshes which will re luce the
strongest of them. We need active, living
defenses, which will keep an enemy away
from the shores, prevent landing and give
us time to throw up intrenchments when they
may be needed. Nobody would recommend
an entire abandonment of the fortihcations
OF course, but no man of sense would rely
upon them exclusively. We require esta-
blishments ready to create new defenses to
build floating batteries, armed vessels, gun
boats, monitors, or whatever else might, at
the time, prove most effective.
And for this purpose we have nothing vet
provided. The Navy Department has again
and again uttered its warming and called for
the creation of yard or establishment where
armored vessels floating batteries, and all
forms of iron sea defenses can be built at the
smallest cost and on the best models. The
city of Philadelphia gave site with half q
million of dollars to the Government, without
cost, on which to erect works for iron ship
building, and TO provide for the preservation
and repair of the feet of iron vessels built
during the war. The losses annually incurred
by neglect of these vessels alone would
balance the sums paid the Indian and Fortifi-
cation rings both together. For every five
millions thrown away there, like sum of five
millions is lost by refusing to take care of the
costly vessels We have already on our hands.
1t would be incredible that such neglect
should exist, after our costly experience at
the opening of the war, if we did not see the
facts each session of Congress-, as they are
now foreshadowed for this session. What do
the delegation from Pennsylvania propose to
do in regard to the necessary provisions for
laying at least the foundations of the only
navy yard at which iron sbipbuilding can be
had? East year one or two members of the
Massachusetts delegation signalized them
selves by line Of behavior toward League
Island something like that of Senator Sum
ner toward the leading measures of this ses-
sion, but we have been assured that this
course would not be repeated, and that now
the EXTREMIST one of the obstructive econo-
mists would cheerfully vote for the only
thing that can preserve or maintain our de-
lenses at sea.