The Mineral argus., 1884-12-11


of Aug. .. 1882, and March 80, 1889 NJ
the four vessels under contract one. the Cbi
cago, of 1900 tons, is more than hal,
finished; the Atlanta, 3 900 tons. has baer
successfully launched, and her machinerv ,s
now fitting; the Boston, also of 8. 900 toms
IA ready for launching; and the Dolnbin !.
dispatch steamer of 800 tons. is ready for
delivery Certain adverse criticisms ,,,or.
the designs of these cruisers are discussed b,,
the secretary who insists that the oorrecfy
ness OF tne conclusions reached by the ad
visory board and the department has bear
demonstrated by recent developmentsi in sbi,,
building abroad The machinery ~ az
double-turreted monitors, Puritan Terroy
ana AmpnlIlte contracted for under fine
act of March 3, 1888 is in process ~ oo,. On0
struction. No work has been done drS;,1c- I'LL
the past year on their armor, for lack Of tbee
necessary appropriations A fourth mon
itor, the Monadnock, still Remains NJ,
finished at the navy yard in California Il is
recommended that early steps be taken 70
complete these vessels, and to provide also
an armament FOR the monitor Miantonomah
The recommendations of the naval adviso1-v
board, approved by the department com
Prlse PE1n Ine construction OF one steel cruiser of
4,oOO tons, one cruiser of 5000 tons two
heavy-armed gunboats, one light cruising
gunDoat, one dispatch vessel armed with
hotchkiss cannon, one armed ram and three
torpedo boats The general designs, ali of
which are calculated to meet the evistino
wants OF the service, are now well odvancef
ana tne construction of the vessels can be
unoertaken as soon as you shall grant the
necessary authority.
THE ARCTIC EXPEDITIONS.
Inc act or congress approved Aug z 1880
authorized the removal to the United States
OF the bodies of Lieutenant Commander q
w. De Long and his companions of the lean
nette expedition. The removal has been suc
lfuta
taken from their grave in the Lena delta. in
Marchi 1888. but were retained at Yakutsk
until the following winter, the season beinU
200 far advanced TO admit of their Immediate !
transportation. They arrived at New York |
Feb. 20, 1884, where they were received |
with suitable honOrs. In pursuance of the |
Joint resolution of congress approyed Feb |
10, 1884, a naval expedition was fitted |
out for the relief of Lieut. A. W. Greelv. |
United States army, and of the marty WHO |
had been engaged under his command in |
scientific observations at Lady Franklin |
bay. The fleet consisted of the steam |
sealer Thetis, purchased in England; the |
Bear, purchased at St Johns, Newfound-
land, and the Alert, which was generously |
provided by the British government Prep |
arations for the expedition were promptly |
made bv the secretary of the navy, with the |
active cooperation of the secretary of war
Commander George w. Coffin was placed In
command of the Alert and Lieut. W. II EN-
cry in command of the Bear The Thetis
was intrusted to Commander Winfield s
Schley, to whom also was assigned the su-
per1ntendence of the entire expedition. I'm
med1ately upon its arrival at Upemavik
the fleet began the dangerous navigation of
Melville bay, and in spite of every obstacle
reached Lttleton island on June % a
fortnight earlier than any vessel had be- |
fore attained that point On the same day it
crossed over to Cape Sabine, where
Lieut. Greeley and other survivors of
his party were discovered. After taking on
board the living and the bodies of the dead
The relief ships sailed for St Johns, where
they arrived on July II. They were appro-
priately received at Portsmouth, n H. on
Aug. /. and at New York on Aug g. One of
The bodies was landed at the former place
The others were put on shore at Governors
Island, and with the exception of one
which was inferred in the national cemetery.
were forwarded thence to the destination in
asseted BY fsiends Tho Organization and
conduct OF the relief expedition reflects
great credit upon all who contributed to its
success. In this, the last of the state mes
sages that l shall have the honor to transmit
TO the congress of the United States l can
not too strongly urge on its attention the
tuty OF restoring our navy as rapidly as pos
sible to the high state of efficiency which
formerly characterized it. AS the long peace
that has lulled us into sense of fancied Sc
curity may at any time be disturbed. it is
plain that the policy of strengthening
This arm of the service is dictated by consid-
eratlons OF use economy, of just regard for
our future tranquility and of true apprecia-
lion OF the dignity and honor of this repub-
ic.