Custer chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, Black Hills, D.T. [S.D.]) 1880-1890, 1885-12-19

catios Of business principles has been insisted
upon in the treatment of these subjects, and that
whs'evcr controversy has arisen WAS caused by
the ~exactlon on the part OF the department OF
contr tct ooiIgatlons as they were legally CON
strued.
IN THE CASE or THE DOLPHIN,
with entire business to The. contractor, IN agree
ment has been entered into providing for the
ascer ainmeNt by a judicial inquiry OF tho conn
plete or partial compliance with the contract IN
her construction, and further providing for the
assessment OF any damages To which the govern
mont may be entitled on account Of a partial
failure TO perform such contract. or the payment
Of the sum still remaining unpaid upon her price
in case q full performance is adjudged. The
contractor, 10y reason Of his f,ilure in business,
being unable TO ~coliplets the other three vessels,
they were taken possession OF by the so7erninrnt
in their unfinished condition, under u clause IN
the contract permitting such a course, and are
now in process OF completion in the yard OF the
contractor, but under tho supervision or the
navy department.
| Congress. in It's last session authorized tho con-
struction Of two additional new cruisers and we
eunbOate, az a cost not exceeding in the aggregate
S2se5,tol The appropriation for this purpose
having become available ou the LIST day OF Juiy
last. steps were al once taken for tho procure
ment OF such plans for the construction of these
vessels as would b. likely To insure their useful-
ness when completed. These are of the utmost
importance, considering the constant advance
in the art Of building vessels Of this character,
and the time is not last which is spent IL their
careful consideration and selection.
ALI must ADMIT the
IMPORTANCE Oh AN EFFECTIVE NAVY
to a nation like ours. having such an extended
sea coast to protect. Net we have not a single
vessel OF war that could keep the seas against Il
fi~rst-class vessel OF any important power. such
! e. condition ought not long. n 10 |continue. The
nation that cannot resist aggression Is constantly
exposed to IL. Its foreign policy L. Of necessity
vrak <, and 2. ra-utiatiuns trc ccDauc I'd wi h dis
advantage breaus' it ia nnt IN condition 70 en-
force the terms dictated by its sense OF right and
justice.
Inspired ne / an by the hope shared by all
patriotic citizens that the day is not far distant
when our navy will be such US BELTS our stand
ing among the nations of the earth, and rejUiced
at every step that loads in the direction Of such
n contamination, deem il my duty 10 especially
direct the attention of congress 10 the close OF
the report Of the secretary of the navy in which
the Illuminating features o. the present orSanI1a-
ton Of this department IS exhibited and the
startling abuses and waste of hls present method
are exposed. The conviction is forced upon us,
with the certainty Of mathematical demonstra-
ton, that before we proceed further in the
restoration of Il navy we need
A THOROUGHLY -REoRGANIzED ANY DEPART.
MENT.
TIE fact that within seventeen years more than
S75.tp,UDO have been spent in the construction,
repair, equipment and a. mament of vessels, and
the further fact that instead OF an effective and
crcditAbie feet we have only the discomfort and
apprehension az q nation undefended by war yes
sells, added to the disclosures now made, do not
permit MS To doubt that every attempt 10 revive
our navy has thus far. for the most part, been
IUlkUlitCleu anu al III tlDIls " VIA hlI'bAl'll
have been little better than blind groupings and
expensive, aimless follies. Unquestionably, if
, { are content with the maintenance of q navy
department simply as an ornamen 10 tho govern
ment, a constant watchfulness may prevent some
of the scandal and abuse which have found heir
way into our present organization and It's lncura-
BILE wasle may lie reduced To the minimum. But
If we desire to
BUILD SHIPS FOR PRESENT USE
instead of naval reminders of the days that are
past, We must have n department organized for
the work. supplied with al the talent and in
geuuity our country affords. prepared to take adj
vantage of the experience of other nations, eys-
tematized so that all Efforts shall unite and lead
in one direction and fully imbued with the con
viction that war vessels though new are useless,
unless they are TO combine all that the ingenuity
of man has no to this day brought forth relating
10 their construction. earnestly com IN the
portion OF the secretary report devoted 10 thls
subject 10 the action of congress-, in the hope
that the suggestions touching the reor.anizsilun
Of his department may be adopted rs the first
step toward the reconstruction of our navy.