The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1888-12-14

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brief review u The condition ~ The navy
a. Il viii exist On the 9Th ~ next March In
comparison with the same on the ith of
March. l>S5. says that % far a. armorci
ships are concerned the subject Il VET a.
b treated In broad way by the depart
ment and Congress. As result of the
policy adopted and carried our during the
post three years, the conditions AZ the
present time arc such that everything
necessary 20 = frst-clnss fighting ship can
be produced and furnished % the depart
mcnt In this country as soon rs in the
course Of construction any element or
feature IL desired: hut this has never
heretofore until the present time been
true, and therefore the consideration os
the subject has been sarily postponed
by the department. until the present time.
The efforts OF the department In ship
construction have necessarily. since
March. lS>5. been devoted 20 unnrmored
vessels, and As 90 these the department
is able 20 report that when the ships In
course ~ construction and those anth0r-
lied, shall have been completed. the
United States will rank second among the
nations in the possession Of unnrmorcd
cruisers or commerce Destroyer hav-
ing the highest characteristics ~ size
5000 tons and upward-and possessing
speed q nineteen knots and upward The
importance which has been placed upon
this branch Of naval armament will be
appreciated from the statement that En-
gland and France possess sixty ves-
sells OF the class known as unarmored
cruisers
The attention Of the world was attract
ed 20 the destructive effect which was pro-
duced upon the commerce OF the United
States by the cruisers fitted out under the
auspices Of the confederacy In the war Of
the rebellion. The total tonnage Of the reg
isfered vessels OF the United States had
risen year by year until in 1861. IL amount
Cd 20 2.6s-. rs tons; and between 1861 and
1856 II was reduced 70 l,492,136 tons, or in
other words 70 the point which we had
reached In 1859, from whici. decline we
have never recovered. The insurance war
risk upon American vessels during the
war rose in exceptional cases 70 as high
As twenty-five per cent.
Discussing the production Of power BY
machinery. Secretary Whitney says that
an examination Of the condition az the
department in 1Ss5 in this respect, led 70
the conclusion that the machinery Of
naval vessels ought 70 be so designed as
10 produce ten-hcrse power for each ton
Of machinery, and II was determined %
make that the standard. and to enter into
no contracts that were not based substan-
tally thereon Plans Of machinery were
purchased abroad. which upon trial had
Appropriated that result Bidders were
authorized 20 bid upon plans thus submit
ted to competition or were permitted "a |
submit their own plans. but were obliged |
70 guarantee the results determined upon
BY the department. under severe penalties
for failure, and with compensafing pre-
miums in case II attaining better results |
All the contracts for the construction OF /
ships which have been entered into since \
March. lssS. call for the production Of |
power BY machinery equal 20 the highest I
The efforts Of the department |
IN this matter have been cordially second |
"a by the bureau chiefs; and il il believed !
that u the present time the department. |
has reached tho point where entire reli- \
ance can be placed upon il for the produce !,
ton Of war vessels equal In character 10 |
hose Of any other country
Referring 20 . reduction % expenses
during the past three years. It II claimed l
hat the savings Of the department arcpay- |
Ing for the new navy, and on this topic 4
the Secretary Says
II 4 gratifying 70 be able 70 report that not
wifhssanding the large expenditures for the
neu navy % the last three years. the refnctlons
IN other directions has made the total expenti-
lure less for The three years than for the tnrec
years ending Jusc -. isss- the ordinary e.
penscs Of the department having been reduced
over twenty per cent
A table Is included in the report which
shows that the expenditures for the years
ending June 30. 1ss2. 1873 and 1874 were |
4s-91.3.- and for the years ending June