Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1884-03-27
OUR NAVY.

iis PRESIDENTS SPECIAL MESSAGE.
Washington, March 26.--The presi.
dent to-day sent to congress the follow
ing message recommending an appro.
priatlon for the construction OF naval
vessels:
"lnmy annual message Impressed
upon congress the ecessty of con-
tinued progress in the construction of
the navy. / deem It my duty TO adj
wise that an appropriation be made at
the present session toward design
ing and commencing the construction
ten of at least three addi-
tional steel cruisers and four
gunboats recommended 10y the secTe.
tary of the navy, the cost OF which, TO
include armament will not exceed
81, 2s3, 900. of which one half should
be appropriated for the next fiscal
year The Chicago, Boston, Atlanta
and Dolphin have been designed and
are being built with care and skin,
and there is every reason 10 believe
they will prove serviceible
mo Tern cruisers. The mechanical
questions concerning the details of
these or additional vessels cannot wise
y be settled except by experts and
the naval advisory board organized 10y
the direction OF congress under the act
OF August 5th, 1889, and consisting Of
three line officers, selected with refer
ence only to character, experience,
knowledge and skill and naval archi-
tects and IA marine engineer from civil
life OF established reputation
and standing as experts in snaval or
marine construction, with appropriate
authority to decide iiually all such
questions. | Lam unwilling to see the
gradual reconstruction of our navy
cruisers, now happily begun In con
formity with modern requirements,
delayed for one full year for any I'M
substantial reasons. Whatever condi-
tons congress may see fit TO impose
in order TO secure judiclous
designs and honest and economical
construction will be acceptable to me,
but to rellnquish or postpone the pol
ley already deliberately declared will
be, in my Judgment, an net of national
imprudence. Appropriations should
also be made without delay for finish
ing the four turreted monitors, the
Puritan, AInphritite, Terror and Mon
adnock, and for procuring their arma-
ment, and that of the Miant0nOmah.
Their bulls are built and the machine
ny under contract. and an appropria-
ton for completion exists for that of
the Menadnock, of the Pacific coast.
This should also be built, and armor
and heavy guns for all procured at the
earliest practicable moment. The
total appropriated to date for vessels Is
S3, 546, 9ll, and sum not exceeding
S3, SIS, 76g, including $3.50, 1928 for four
powerful rified canon and for the re-
mainder of the ordinance outfit, will
complete and equip them for service.
OF the sum required, only S20OO,OOO
need be appropriated for the
.IeXt Iiscnl wear, lC IL
not expected that one OF The monitors
will be match for the heaviest broad |
side iron-clads which certain other |
have constructed ~ n
cost OF four or i've millions each, but |
they will he ariuored vessels OF an APP
proved aud useful type, and possessed
of such sca-going capacity and oiien-
sive power Us fully answer our imlno-
having been determined upon
in recent legislation of congress, no
time should be lost in accomplishing
the necessary object. The gun 1oun-
dry board, appointed by direction of
consisting of three army and
three navy officers has submitted its
report, duly transmitted Goth OF Feb
ruary, 1854, recommending that the
should promote the pro
iuction at private steel works of the
required material for heavy cannon,
aud that two government factories,
me for the army and one for the navy,
ihould be established for the fabrication
If guns from such material. An early
of the report Is recoh-
nended. together with such action as
will enable the government TO con-
truct It's ordnance on its own terri
DRY, aud so to provide the armamentH
by considerations which
oncern the national safety aud honor.