St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-12-05

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SCI. 10. which leaves a balance undrawn of
81. OsS. .O75. O9: to this should be added the
net amount uneXpended in the hands of
nav officers on said June 80, 1885, S1.265,-
570. "a, leaving an aggregate balance unex-
pended of So, 1858, 645.73, which stood to the
credit OF the department at the beginning
of the present fiscal year. That is, the to-
tai net expenditure for the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1855, was that much less than the
appropriations. The appropriations availa-
bic for the present fiscal year. commencing
July l, 1885, are S13, $50, T04 S5. The
amount drawn by warrant from the treasury
from July l, 1885, to Nov. l, 1885, deduct
ing that refunded, is S4, 2S5. 764. 30. The
amount drawn by warrant during the same
period OF last year was $4, 3S3, 244.9 93. The
amount of appropriations applicable to the
current expenses of the fiscal year ending
June 80, 1885, was 3.4S5, 537.33.
ESTIMATES.
The estimates for the navy for the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1887, amount to S35.-
104. Cos. Is, in which sum are embraced eS-'
mates for new objects, not those ordinarily
for the service, amounting to SIG, ,069.-
950.24, leaving for the customary purposes
of the service sig, 034, 744.91. They en-
brace for increase of the navy, $40. 503, 77O;
for the completion and armament of the
double turreted monitors 81, 202, ,656, and
for public works and improvements at the
yards and stations, 81, 26S, S37.41. Under
the head of additional new cruisers the re-
port says: At its last session congress au-
thorized the construction of two additional
cruisers and two gunboats. at an aggregate
cost of not exceeding 81, 955, 600. No ap-
preparation for the armament of these ships
was made, the preparation of which re-
quired at present longer period than
would be probably employed in the con-
struction of the ships. 1t was decided to
proceed, in accordance with the law, with
the work incident to the construction of the
Ships The various plans for cruisers are
then mentioned. Within the next thirty
days it is believed that the plans will be
sufficiently advanced as to justify the COM
mencement of the advertisements, and it is
perhaps well that attention should be called
to the fact that the ships are likely to be
finished at a period long prior to the proba-
BILE completion of their armament.
THE DOLPHIN. BOSTON, ETC.
Speaking of the work upon the Dolphin,
Boston. Atlanta and Chicago, the secretary
says that there has been much delay. The
Dolphin. as she now is, should be regarded
as a pleasure boat rather than as dispatch
boat. The absence of one of the most or
dinary and approved devices for protection
against hostile fire in her design take her
out of the category OF war vessels. The
vital parts of the Dolphin are so exposed
that under fire she would be quite useless;
yet her design is chargeable to the govern
ment. At the present time it is quite pro-
ftless to discuss her characteristics. She
doubtless would not be thought worthy of
duplication at the present time by any one.
As to the Boston, Atlanta and Chicago, the
eleventh clause of the contract provided for
the contingency of work being stopped
upon them, and the provisions of the con-
tract have been pursued; the ships have
been taken possession of by the govern
ment: an inventory of the amount of work
performed has been made; the valuation
also had, and the government is proceeding
to complete them where they stand i'll the
yard. employing the foremen and force of
the contractor. 1t is of no use to discuss
the character of the boats, their merits or
dement's. Under the present circumstances
all that the government can do from
business point of view is to complete them.
Whatever they turn out to be they will
demonstrate i'll practice.
DELAY IN PROMOTIONS.
Some remedy should be found for the
long delay in promotions and the inequality
therein which will result from the working
out of the present laws. l refrain from any
discussion at the present time OF the sub
ject of future appropriations for material of
war. Indeed, so many and most formid-
able implements of war have become now
so well established and approved that at
the present time any movement on the part
of our government in any direction would, if
ivra tly oxaanfah of inaa1pnIohln
importance to our naval strength and
power. Cruising ships, however, we
must have, unless the policy of continuing
repairs upon worthless ships is to continue.
or unless we are to abandon the national
duty of affording the security and protec-
ton of our presence and power throughout
the world wherever our people sojourn.
OUR NAVAL SERVICE.
numbering altogether, including line Off
GERS, engineers, chaplains, pay officers.
naval constructors, ETC.. on the active list,
1850, consists of a body of accomplished
men representing high standard of per-
sOnal character, who are deservedly re-
spected and honored throughout the world.
This, unfortunately, cannot be said with
equal justice of the navy department, and
whatever dissatisfaction the country has
ever experienced with the naval arm of our
government will be found to have had its
origin, not in the naval service, but in the
naval administration, and even there
dissatisfaction should be limited
to certain branches only of
the business of the department
Returning to the second branch of the func-
tions of the department, that of material
and construction, we encounter difficulties
of yet more serious character. 1t is here
that the department has most lamentably
failed. The rapid advance of the art of
naval warfare and the singular fertility of
human genius in devising new and even
more formidable implements of destruction
are rendering the problems of this branch of
the public service daily more complicated
and difficult. At the present moment it
must be
CONCEDED THAT WE HAVE NOTHING
that deserves to be called navy. 1t is
questionable whether we have single
naval vessel finished and atloat at the
present time that could be trusted to en-
counter the ships of any important power
single vessel that has either the necessary
armor for protection, speed for escape, or
weapons for defense. This is no secret;
the fact has been repeatedly commented
upon in congress by the leading members of
both parties. confessed by our highest
naval authorities, and deprecated by all.
Such is not the kind of navy which this
country, with its extensive coast line its
enormous territorial area, and incalcula-
bic commercial resources, requires, nor
such as it is entitled to have. This
country can afford to have, and it
can not afford to lack, a naval force at least
so formidable that its dealings with foreign
powers will not be influenced at any time,
nor even be suspected of being influenced.
by consciousness of weakness on the sea.
While still striving to build up its merchant