The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1878-11-29
OUR COSTLY SHIPS OF WAR.
Thirty OF them In Commission and sixty
More RottinE at the Wharves.

WASHINGTON, Nov 2s-R. W. Thompson.
in his report to II. b. Hayes says that there are
in commission twenty-eight cruising ships.
one steamboat, and five sailing vessels. There
are others undergoing repairs. and which. If
put In use would make our navy consist OF AZ
steam and five sailing ships. Tho number OF
monitors now ready for service is 10. and ms the
one recently put out OF commission can be soon
repaired. and the Miantonomah can be COM
pleted out OF existing appropriations. the num-
Der may be properly fixed at IS. Two torpedo
boats are now also ready for service. The total
fighting force OF the navy might soon be made
TO be oil cruising ships, 10 monitors. aud two
torpedo boats. making In al 6s. But this does
put In service in case Of necessity. The four
double turreted monitors and one single tur-
trite. Monadnock. Dictator. and Terror-coud
be completed without much delay with
the NECESSARY appropriations for that ppr.
repairs are. not at present conten plated-the
Colorado, WaG9sh; franklin, Florida. Mime
sofa and New 1Ork-could be soon put in con-
diton as fighting ships IL necessity required IT,
And this being done. the lighting force Of the
navy would be flfty-seven cruising shius.
twenty monitors, and two torpedo boats 20
which could be added. in case OF imminent
necessity. two other steam and two sailing yes
sells, thus making the total number eighty
three. The number might still be increased,
however. by utilizing eight large iron tugs OF
over 800 tons each, now at the navy yards and
other stations. which could be converted into
gun or torpedo boats. and thus make the whole
number OF war vessels OF all classes ninety
one. There are thirty-two steam and sailing
vessels now unfit for use for warlike purposes.
although four Of these might, II necessity de-
manded. be put ia condition Tor temporary ser
The report mentions the success Of the expe-
dition 10 survey the Madeira River. The mouth
Of the river Is $50 miles ND the Amazon. and its
falls are 900 miles above the Madeira's mouth.
A railroad is being completed around the falls,
and 1t will open up the vast country Of Bolivia.
IN alfi paa IA IN IA VI nNr 10
priaton for this year s3s, 949.75.
me- he Hs snys IN esbet snG
a part OF our settled policy that our commercial
marine shall remain In this condition OF inferl-
GRITTY on the ocenn and this drain upon our
wealth is to continue we shall be left TO decide
the future Of our navy with reference only 10
the possibility Of war with foreign powers, and
TO the means Of our national defence by proper
protection TO our coasts and harbors In this
event our industrial interests must be left %
suffer still further injury our iron coal ana
timber will decrease in value; the enormous
ireights We now pay VIII continue 70 press
ports; our merchant vessels will in
the end. DO driven from the sea. and
such unjust and ruinous Limitation will
then be put upon the enterprise OF our people
that their inventive genius will be restrained
and their labors left without Just reward. II AL
this il 20 be accomplished. the policy which
produces II must be based upon the idea that
the navy bears no relation whateyeTto our COM
morce. and that the latter can reach every part
vicissitudes Of trade without any protection
from il. IT, on the other hand. the Government
shall adopt such measures as shall put the
country in q position 10 reap the full benefits
OF its commercial enterprise, and secure
the profits OF our own carrying trade, which
properly belongs 70 us. by means OF such
fostering care as the national Government
alone has power 70 give, then our navy should
have such strength and character given 10 it
that II will be ablo 10 furnish protection 10 our
commerce wheresoever II may be needed. Our
present navy is or can be made without any
other than the current annual appropriations,
according TO the expenditures OF the last and
the estimates for the present and next fiscal
year. amply SUFFICIENT 10 protect our commerce
In the present stage OF It's development But as
our surplus productions are annually increas-
ing and must be transported to foreign mar
kets or become total loss on our own hands
the question whether or not the navy shall be
improved so as to provide for this state OF an
ticpnted development must either now or at
some time IN tho near future be decided by
Congress. Although II cannot be properly con-
sidered without reference 10 the condition OF
the Treasury and its ability to supply additional
appropriations, yet 1t becomes an important
factor ln deciding II TO remember that II even
the 800 900 900 paid for irelghts during the last
fiscal year 10 vessels sailing under foreign flags
had been retained at home and allowed 10 be-
come part OF our national wealth, our ability 10
meet and overcome the embarrassments OF trade
would have been PROBATIONARY increased
This sum, II saved and ludiciously expended
would alon0 be- sufficient 10 make our CONNER
cia marine equal 10 that of Great Britain aud
our navy superior to any in the world.