Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1883-09-22
JOHN ROACHps FIGURES.
"hat the Leading Nations Have Spent
Tor Naval Vessels-Mistakes Made by
the United States Since the War

states since the war.
NEW YORK, Sept. 20.-John Roach rela.
tive to the recent history of the American
Navy and Merchant Marine in response
70 questlons put to him by the Senate
committee on Education and Labor.
makes the following statement. 1t shows
IN details the naval expenditures since
lS0O and gives a summary of all naval
contracts with American shipbuilders.
Mr.. Roach claims that his figures are ali
newly collected from official EurOpean
and American records never before pub
llshed, and that they establish the respon-
slbility of England for the Justification of
secretary Seward's prophecy of the speedy
suppression of the rebellion.
Mr.. Roach gives a list of tweDtv-three
English blockade runners captured in the
carry part OF the war, which were loaded
WltE munitions of war to the value of
$6,O0O,O 900, and quotes the "British Annual
Register" and the Confederate General
Richard Taylor as proof that the South
depended for success entirely upOn Eng
lish aid and resources.
THE COST OF OUR WAR NAVY.
The navy imprOvised during the war
cost SS4,OOO,O0O. Materials and vessels
were sold for $40, 900, 900, leaving the cost
OF our war navy about So, ZOO, 900, which
VIII be further reduced by the proceeds
ft fCooCio ulIGCltU 10 De SOIU DN
the last Congress. In eighteen wears
since the war the United States has spent
Tor new naval vessels only $4,000, 900.
while England has spent $l5G, 900, 900;
France, $SS,0O0, 900; Russia, $50. 600 900
Italy, $32,000,000; Germany, $37. 900 600:
Turkey, $l7,O00,000; Brazil, $1,000 900
and Chill $l,00O,000, all for iron clads-in
all over S40O,00O,000 expended by our
naval and commercial rivals.
These figures account for the fact that
the United States now has no navy. The
wooden vessels which lid good service
during the war, were built in great haste
and should have been sold at the close of
h0stIlitIes, and small number deficient
IRON and steam vessels substituted. Mr..
Roach says he advised this and earnestly
opposed the extravaganza and waste of
constantly repairing worthless ships. and
that the necessary economy of compound
engines was introduced by the one he
built tor the vessels of the Wampanoag .
class at saving to the government of
S6O,0O0 under other bids.
THE RUIN OF THE MERCHANT MARINE.
At the close of the war our merchant
fleet was destroyed. The Government
had taken 467 ships; the remainder were
destroyed by the English Confederate
cruisers or sold. English ship-owners
NiSh AftiStt d VI lOI lIGC SHIPS, 50 as TO
secure market for their used up vessels.
and to get control of the great cOasting
trade of 5000 miles in American waters.
MIR. Roach claims that the fact that he de
teated the British free-ship bill in 1870 is
the occasion of the attacks made on him
since then.
The Allaire, Novelty, Continental and
other great shipbuilding works were all
broken up, in consequence of the failure
to protect American shipbuilding, the
heavy eXactions of port charges and the
refusal to pay for mail service.
HOW MR.. ROACH BIDS so LOW.
a list of naval lettings since the war
shows that Roach was, in most cases, the
lowest bidder, but that heretofore the
work was divided between several.
Mr.. Roach accounts for his low bids on
the steel vessels now building by his own
ership of mines and furnaces as well as
shipy ards, which cheapens his materials
and says that the new cruisers will be
furnished promptly and will be efficient.
lie says the Pacific Steamship Company
alone has paid to HIM for iron ships So
OOO,0O0, three times as much as the entire
outlay for new naval vessels by the Uni
ted States since the war, and that in all
foreign steamship lines iron and steel ves-
sells have been substituted for wooden at
great cost.