The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1886-11-23
BY TELEGRAPH.
Our Navy.

WAsHISGToS, November 81. - The
chief of the Bureau of Construction and
Repairs in his annual report states that
the cruisers Atlanta and Boston are IN
the navy yards. Brooklyn, n. Y. They
have been decked and their bottoms
cleaned and painted and independent
OF the work which had to be done by
government 70 tit them for sea, altera-
lions and additions have been aud ere
being made 70 them as called for from
time TO time by the advisory board.
The Chicago IS still a. Chester,
aud the work on her Is
now being pushed rapidly towards
completion. The chief constructor
SAYS the appropriation OF S95 S5l. made
under the act OF July 25, lsS6, will not
be sufficient TO complete the work on
these vessels, and in order that 20 delay
in its prosecution may be occasioned by
lack OF funds. he has asked for an addl-
tional appropriation OF $4,000, which.
it is expected, will complete the vessels,
provided no further alteration nor extra
work involving any considerable expen-
diture Of money and time are recon-
mended by the advisory board. The
Ldckdirdnnd, now at Mare Island Navy
Yard. California, while not yet con-
demned, cannot be repaired for active
service. and 10 Is suggested that she
be converted into receiving
ship. to replace the old line-Of-
battle ship Independence, which is now
unfit for further use as receiving ship.
The Tennessee, the only hrst-rate
wooden vessel 10 active service, can De
kept in service but few months longer.
She is undoubtedly IN very bad con-
dition, her main vale strakes are so
badly decayed as to preclude their
being recalked; her lower mastheads
are so badly decayed that il is not con-
sidered prudent to carry a press of sail
upon them. The Shenandoah also has
been surveyed, and found TO be beyond
repair.
The number of servicesble yes
sels IN the navy has thus been
reduced TO two first-rate, ten
second-rate, twenty third-rate, and
seven fourth-rate vessels. The lat
ter class includes two torpedo rams. In
addition TO these vessels, the naval list
comprises thirteen iron and twelve
wooden sailing vessels, used for receiy-
ing and transport ships. The new yes
sells completed and authorized TO De
built, are summed up as follows: The
Dolphin, complete; two, the Boston and
| dfAnufl, Armament lnCOnpicbcf AVE.
the Chic00O and the monitors, incom-
plete: FIVE, the Baltimore, Charleston
and Nslrdrk. and two gunboats under
advertisement, and four, an armored
cruiser, a battle ship, pneumatic dy-
Mantle boat and q torpedo boat, not
vet designed. Plans and specifications
nave been completed for two composite
\ built, fine modelled vessels, to be iced
as training ships. and they could be
commenced at once if the appropria-
ton were made for them. The board
| appointed to design plans for the com
pietion of double-turreted monitors has
nearly finished its specifications. The
| chief constructor recommends that IN
| the event Of any one OF the large vessels
provided for at the last SEES
sion of Congress being built
| at navy yard, it should be
built at the Brooklyn yard, as that
| ward is now in condition TO commence
any such vessel and carry on the WORK
with some rapidity. Great necessity
/ exists for better docking facilities In al
our navy yards. This is rendered more
| important on account OF the frequency
with which steel unsheathed vessels VII
REQUIRE to be docked TO clean and paint
| their bottoms. In the event OF for
eign war this great deficiency Touio
be seriously felt, perhaps more so thar
any other Of our present wants. II Is
| therefore, worthy OF grave con-
sideration, whether immediate steps
should not be taken to place our navy
wards in this respect, in most thorough
condition of effectiveness.