Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1888-12-05
UNCLE SANS NEW NAVY
CONDITION. IN WHTCH III WILE BE
LETT BIZ THE DEMOCRATS.

New Vessels and Improved Armor-Great
improvements, and Yet the Expenses
Much Less Than Under Republican
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES for the
Coming Years Expenses secretary
Whitney's Report.
WASHINGTON, November 30.-Secretary
Whitney presented his annualreportto the
President. After giving a briefsreyiew Of tile
committees OF the navy as it will exist on
the fourth day OF March, 1889, in compare
son with the same as it existed on the
fourth OF March. 1885, and furnishing a
list OF the armored vessels heretofore
authorized by Congress, the Secretary says:
$50 far as the armored ships are Con-
cerned, the subject is to be treated in a
broad way by the department and Con-
gress. At the present time the conditions
are such that everything necessary
to q first-class fighting ship can
be produced and furnished TO the
department. in this country, as soon as, in
the course OF construction, any elegant
feature is required; but this has never, un-
til the present time, been true. Therefore,
consideration OF the subject has been neces-
sarily postponed by the department until
the present time. The efforts OF the de-
partment in ship construction have. neces.
sarily, sin e March 1856, been devoted to
unarmored vessels, and as to the others,
the department is abs to report that when
the ships in the course of construction
and those authorized. shall have been com
pleted. the United States will rank second
among the nations in the possession of un-
armed cruisers. our commercial destroy
ers' having the highest characteristics, viz:
OF size 5000 tons and upwards, and pos
sessing a speed OF nineteen knots and up
wards.n
A FLEET OF FIRST, CLASS CRUISERS.
The Secretary quotes authorities as to
the value Of this class OF vessels, and then
continues: "We cannot, at present, pro-
test our coast, but we can return blow for
blow, for we shall soon be in condition to
launch O. feet of large and fast cruisers
against the commerce OF the enemy, able
to infiict most serious and lasting injury
thereon"
With regard to the production of power
by machinery, the report says: 1.-The
standard in 1885 was ten-horse power to
ten OF machinery. ALI contracts since have
been upon the highest standard and etthe
present time the department has reached a
point where entire reliance can be placed
upon it for production OF war vessels equal
in character to those OF any other country.
at is gratifying to be able tc report
says the secretary, that, Notwithstanding
the large expenses for a new navy in the
last three years, the reductions in other
directions made the total expenditures Of
the department less for these years than
for those TIN ee years ending June 80, 1884,
the ordinary expenses of the government
having been reduced over 20 per cent. The
total expenses OF the department for the
three years ending with June Both. 1884,
compared with the three wears ending June
Both. 1888, were $47, 979,397 and S46,-
$50 ,630."
Under the head OF
COAST AND HARBoR DEFENSE VESSELS
the secretary states: in the last annual
report OF the department, consideration
was given leading to the conclusion that it
would be unwise for the department to fol-
low the course OF European powers in build
ing unprotected torpedo boats, and in the
present uncertainty regarding the practica.
bility OF submarine boats, and while await.
ing the practicability of dynamite gun
boats, it has been deemed wise for the de-
partment to build one light-draught,
heavily-armored harbor defense floating
battery or ram, for which design | nave
been prepared by advertisements for this
vessel to call for the submission of bids in
February next. The characteristics will
be found stated in the table OF armored
vessels"
A considerable space is devoted to the
business methods and Introduction Of the
system of the department in a chapter de.
voted to naval progress during the year at
home and abroad, and in it is the state.
ment that the necessity for increased num-
bers OF
FAST PROTECTIVE CRUISERS,
whether for purposes of protecting or de.
stroying commerce, or for service, for with
the fleet as scouts has been emphasized dur
ing the naval maneuveres of the year and
fully recognized by all naval powers, but
with an increase in the number OF cruisers
it has been recognized, in view of the re-
cent introduction of high explosive pro
~jectiles and the increase OF poweraud rapid
fire and other guns. that renewed attention
must given to an armored feet and the pre-
yailing opinion IN England, France,
Italy, Germany aud Russia is strongly in
favor of additional arsnored ships 20 be
built at an early date. In these new vessels
the armor will be much more widely dis
tributed, and will protect the battery and
crew as well as the water line and ma
chinery.
The destructiveness of a high explosive
she'll fire against the unprotected sides. has
the peculiar advantages Of the
Monitor type for coast defense service"
The secretary considers the subjects Of
improved powder proiectile and torpedo
saying fn, regard to the latter, that
the recent naval maneuvres abroad show
they must still be regarded as most
useful ior coast and harbor defense.
The estimate for the navy and marine
corps for the current fiscal year amount to
$3.50, 003, 624; those for the next fiscal
rear to $26, 767, 677; appropriations for
he current fiscal year, SIS, 942,4S7.