The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1884-03-27
OUR NAVY.
THE PRIDE AND POMP OF MAR.
TIAL CHARMS, INSPIRES
COLUMBIA TO ARMS!
While Peace Shall be Our Guiding
Star, IT'S Well to be Pre-
pared for War!
Hurried to DeaIh by Natures Blum
ders, We Fall by Cyclones,
Floods and Thunders
Arthur, to Tighten BismarcA's Car,
Sends Sighted Sargent to
the Gar.
THE PRESIDENTS MESSAGE.
Extensive Naval Prenarattons

LAtcuSIN0 NAVAL freparAGlODSs
WASHINGTON, March 26.-The presi-
dent to-day sent to congress the fol-
lowing message, recommending an ap-
preparation for the construction of
naval vessels: "In my annual mes
sage l impressed upon congress the
necessity of continued progress in the
reconstruction of the navy. l now
deem it my duty to adyise that an ap-
preparation be made at the present
session toward designing and COM
mencing the construction of at least
three additional steel cruisers
and four gunboats, recommended
by the secretary of the navy,
the cost of which, including
armament, will not exceed s., ,282 600,
OF which one-half should be appro-
priated for the next fiscal year. The
Chicago, Boston, Atlanta and Do
minion have been designed, and are
being being built with care and skill,
and there is every reason to believe
they will prove serviceable as modern
cruisers. The technical questions
concerning details in these or addition
al vessels cannot wisely be settled
except by experts and a naval advis-
ory board, organized by direction of
congress under the act of August 5,
1882. and consisting of three line of
ficers, selected with reference only to
character, experience, knowledge and
skill, and the naval architects and
marine engineers from civil life,
of established reputation and
standing as experts in naval
and marine construction, is an
appropriate authority to decide finally
all such questions. l am unwilling to
further delay the gradual reconstruc-
tion of our naval cruisers now so hope
lessly began in conformity with mod
ern requirements. / delayed one full
year in order to secure judicious de-
signs and honest and economical con-
struction, but to relinquish or post
pone further the policy already delib-
erately declared will be, in my judg-
ment an act of national imprudence.
Appropriations should also be made
without fnrther delay for furnishing
four double-turretted monitors, the
Puritan, Amphridite, Terror and Mo-
nadnock, and for procuring their az
mament and that of the Miantonah.
Their hulls are now built, and the
preaching completion, except that
of the Monadnock, OF the Pacific
coast. This should also be built and
armed, and heavy guns for all procur-
ed at the earliest practical mo-
ment. The total amount appropriated
to date for vessels is S., 5,346.941, a
sum not exceeding $685. 1853, includ-
ing $S66,755 for four powerful ritled
cannon, and for the remainder of the
ordinance and outfit, will complete
and equip them for service. Of this
sum only 100000 need be appropri-
ated for the next fiscal year. 1t is not
expected one of the monitors
will be a match for the heaviest
broadside ironclads which certain
other governments have built at cost
of four or five million each, but they
will be armored vesselslof an approved
and useful type, and possess such sea-
going capacity and offensive power as
will fully answer our immediate ne
cessities. Their completion having
been determined upon in the recent
legislation of congress, no time should
be lost in accomplishing the necessary
object, a gun foundry board has been
appointed by the directors of congress,
consisting of three army and three
navy officers, and has submitted its
report duly transmitted up to goth of
February, 1884, recommending that
the government should promote the
production at private steel works OF
the required material for heavy can
non, and that two government factor
les, one for the army and one for the
navy, should be established for the
fabrication of guns from such
material. An early consideration and
report is recommended, together with
such action as will enable the govern.
ment to construct its ordinance on It's
own territory, and so provide the arm
aments demanded by considerations
which concern our national safety and
honor.
(Signed) CHESTER A. ARTHUR,
President United States.