The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1884-03-27
OUh MAVY(:)
rhc president Makes au Appeal for its
Completion,


Completion.
WASHINGTON, March 2G.-The President
today ssnt to Coneres, the following mes
sage recommending appropriations for the
construction OF naval vessels:
I'm my annual message l impr ssed
upon Congress the necessity OF continued
progress in the reconstruction OF the payy,
l now deem it my duty 10 advise
that appropriations be made at the
present s's'ion toward designing
and commencing the construction
at least, Of three additional steel cruisers
and four gun boats, recommended by the
Secretary Of the Navy, the cost OF which,
including the armament, will not excsed
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 be.
ing built with care and skill and
there IL every reason to believe
they will prove creditable aad serviceabls
modern cruiaers. Technical questions
concerning the details Of these or addi-
tional vessels caunot wisely be solved ex.
cept by experts and the Naval Advisory
Board, organized by direction Of Congress
under the act OF August 9th, 1882,
and consisting three line oficers,
a naval constructor and naval ea.
gineer selected with reference onIy to char.
acter, experience, knowledge and skill,
and naval architect and marine
engineer from civil lie OF established rep-
ntation and standing as experts in mariue
or naval construction Is appropriate.
authority to decide finally all such oueh-
tions. l am not willing toseethe general re-
construction oil our navy cruis-
ers, now happily begun in conform.
ity with modern requirements, DELAY.
ed one full year for any uusubstantial
reasons. Whatever conditions Congrers
may see Fl! to impoae in order to secure ii.
dicious designs, and honest and econom.
ical construction will be acceptable to mp,
but 10 relinquish or postpone the policy
already deliberately declared will BIZ, in
my Judgement, an &C. OF National impru-
dence. t1'.s5
Appropriations should also be made
without delay Tor finishing the four
double turreted monitors. Puritan, Am phi
trite, Terror aud Monaduock, aad
Tor procuring their armament,
and that OF the Wiantoaou,ah.'
Their hulls are built, and their machinery
is under contract and approaching CON,
pletion except that Of tho Monadnock on
the Pacific coast. This should also be
built and armor and heavy guns Of all pro-
cured ct the earliest practicable moment,
The total amount appropriated to this time
for the four vessels is s. SIC. .84i, q sum
not exceeding , s3.S3S. .769, including
SS66, 125 for four powerful ritlai
cannon and for the remainder OF the ordi-
nance outti. will complete and equip them
for service. OF the sum required only
100000 need be appropriated for the
next fiscal year. 1t is not expected that
one Of the monitors will be match for the
heaviest broadside ironclads, which
certain other governments have cor.
structed ut a cost Of 81 900, 600 or S.. 100000
each, but they will be armoied vessels Of an
approved and useful type, aud possessed OF
such sea going capacity and offensive pow.
er as will fully answer our immediate
necessities. Their completion having been
determined upon in the recent legislation
Of Congress, no timo should be los, in ac.
complaining the necessary object. ~ ri,lf 4