The Baltimore County union. [volume] (Towsontown, Md.) 1865-1909, 1874-12-19
a MOrtifuino COnfess;o,,

The showing OF the report of the Secretary Of
the Navy demonstrates the utility of a Board OF
Admiralty. That report says the Navy consists
of 1913 vessels Only Is of these are fit for cruis
ing. There are 81 iren-clads. Sixteen of these
are fit for actual SERVICE four are undergoing re.
pairs, bit The remainder may be counted on as real
ly useless for any active and efficient service Four
OF The largest of them, designed and commenced
during the war, and have never been launched
aud consist in fact only of their wooden frames
still on the Stocks and the remaining twelve.
known as light draught monitors, not able to cqyry
their turTet guns and munitions Of Oar, are valua-
Ole only as old MATERIAL. Five OF the steam cruis
ing vessels have never been launched and are not
estimated to be worth the cost of completion -
Seven are condemned and laid up as unfit for
further USE three others have condemned ma
chinery."
These facts are of sufficient Importance to at
tract the attention of Congress and the nation
One naturally asks the cause-and then the rem.
edy. Here Is one-half OF our iron. clads 'really
useless for any active and efficient purpose. TiOetvc
are not able curry their turretg guns and munitions
Of aSar, are 0aiuabte only as old MATERIAL" There
Is amusement in it, II II were DOT too serious, that
all American man-ot-war cannot carry its guns
aud munitions OF war. What is the cause Of this
We say the cause is in the construction. Science
combined with experience evidently has not been
Exhausted III their constr action. Those who should
know the most aoout the requisites of construc
uOn and equipment have not Oeen allowed a voice
ia lhe premises. These are experienced members
vi the Navy. That we have twelve vessels that
can carry their guns is u mortifying reflection
upon the wisdom that presides ovee: IT Navy
- UelleVe Ilat SECRETARY OF S5sy-s
the best he can under the circumstances But
evidently somebody builds Naval vessels for
money and not lor lighting purposes.
Our remedy tor this evil that casts such dis
reputable shadow over our Naval genius lies in
tue organization by Congress OF Board OF Ad-
nlralty which shall be constituted OF experienced
aud intelligent members OF the Navy. They
uvdIu We made appolnuve by the President, sub
Jrct u tue Oenales confirmation. Tney should
oear Tue same relation the Secretary OF the Navy
tnat Tue Uaulusl does to the President. They
suouiu oe selected from the best men of the Navy.
iue uenenl Vi the experience and skill OF Naval
comlnanders ana engineers IS the light that is
needed lu prevent tue waste OF money in the con-
srucuon OF useless vessels" An iron-clad
G. SIS iron half million to million dollars
Inls is TOO much TO spend Tor useless thing.
As the leaks are beginning TO he stopped in other
departments, ii is time tney were being stopped
IA luis one. "Usriess' lron-clads will do very
we'll Tor iron contractors, tor the etficien
cy OF the Navy or The credit OF the Department or
The Interest o! the Repaollc. Eleven vessels have
Ueen adued 10 the Navy since last year. /: is
important 10 know If they are useless"
Let this Board he organized and let their opin-
Ions be taken In writing and recorded In the De-
parlment to enlignten The councils of the Secre-
,ary Of the Navy upon all questions touching the
construction and equipment OF Naval vessels, the
use OF materials, the location OF Navy yards and
The direction and control OF the Navy in time OF
war Now is The time TO begin it. Spain may
brighten US out OF our wits again before twelve
months Let the nation have the benefit of the
skill and experience in the Navy.