Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1888-12-06
THE NAVY.

Several Years Previous.
WASHINGTON, Dec. I.-Secretary Whit
ney, in his annual report, after presenting
brief review of the condition Of the navy
as it will exist on the 4th Of next March in.
comparison with the same on the 4th of
March, 1885, says that so far as armored
ships are concerned the subject is yet to
be treated in a broad way by the depart
ment and Congress. As result of the
policy adopted and carried out during the
post three years, the conditions at the
present time are such that everything
necessary to q first-c1ass fighting ship can
be produced and furnished to the depart
ment in this country as soon as in the
course of construction any element or
feature is desired; but this has never
heretofore until the present time been
true, and therefore the consideration of
the subject has been necessarily postponed
by the department until the present time.
The efforts OF the department in ship
construction have necessarily, since
March, 1885, been devoted to unarmored
vessels, and as to these the department
is able to report that when the ships in
course OF construction, and those author
lied, shall have been completed, the
United States will rank second among the
nations in the possession of unarmored
cruisers or commerce destroyers,' hav-
ing the highest characteristics Of size
5000 tons and upward-and possessing
speed of 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-fve yes
sells of the class known as unarmored
cruisers.
The attention of the world was attract
ed to 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
istered vessels of the United States had
risen year by year until, in 1861, it amount
ed to 2,642, 1928 tons; and between 1861 and
1866 it was reduced to 1 ,492, 126 tons, or in
other words to the point which we had
reached in 1919, from which decline we
have never recovered. The insurance war
risk upon American vessels during the
war rose in exceptional cases to as high
as twenty-five per cent.
Discussing the production of power by
machinery, Secretary Whitney says that
an examination of the condition of the
department in 1885 in this respect, led to
the conclusion that the machinery of
naval vessels ought to be so designed as
to produce ten-horse power for each ton
of machinery, and it was determined to
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
approximated that result. Bidders were
authorized to bid upon plans thus submit
ted to competition, or were permitted to
submit their own plans, but were obliged
to guarantee the results determined upon
by the department., under severe penalties
for failure. and with compensatinc pre-
miums in case of attaining better results.
All the contracts for the construction of
ships which have been entered into since
March, 1885, call for the production Of
power by machinery equal to the highest
standards. The efforts of the department
in this matter have been cordially second
ed by the bureau chiefs; and it is believed
that at the present time the department
has reached the point where entire reli-
ance can be placed upon it for the produc-
ton of war vessels equal in character to
those of any other country.
Referring to reduction of expenses
during the past three years, it is claimed
that the savings Of the department are pay
ing for the new navy, and on this topic
the Secretary says:
II is gratifying to be able to report that not
withstanding the large expenditures for the
new navy in the last three years. the reductions
in other directions has made the total expendi-
ture less for the three years than for the three
years ending June 30 1884, the ordinary ex-
penses 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 80, 1882, 1888 and 1884 were
I7,979,397, and for the years ending June
so, 1886, 1887 and 1893, SAG, $50, $50. The fs-
cal year ending June 30, 1885, is omitted !,
from the table as not having been wholly |
in either Administration.
Discussing coast and harbor defenses, |
Secretary Whitney says:
In the last annual report of this department. |
considerations were given leading to the con- |
clusion that it would be unwise for the depart |
ment to follow the course of the European |
powers in building unprotected torpedo boats, |
and in the present uncertainty regarding the |
impractieabiiity of submarine boats, and while |
waiting the practical trial of the dynamite gun
boat, it has been deemed wise for the depart |
ment to build light -draught, heavily ar |
mored harbor defense floating battery or ram,
for which designs have been prepared
Considerable space is devoted to q discussion |
of the business methods of the department..
and to the efforts being made to simplify, |
systematic and improve them. Upon this
subject the Secretary says: During the years
OF 1894 and 1885 over fifty per cent. in value of
the supplies OF the department were obtained
ing the last year the proportion OF such pur
chases less than eleven per cent. and in
the course of the next fiscal year it is believed
that the open purchases can be reduced to
about Eve per cent. The naval brokers have
for the most part disappeared, and regular
SponSible dealers are becoming more contrlc-
tors for these supplies. For a time it seemed
impossible to dislodge them. They would
regular dealers, notably for the sup
ply of coal It was quite evident they had
some advantage which did not appear. Care
full investigation showed the quality OF the coal
to be as contracted for. The receiv-
er of the coal was changed ut the Brooklyn
Nayy-yard, and the weights taken by another
civil employe, and nothing suspicious was de-
veioped. Finally. naval officer was detailed,
without previous notice. to weigh personally a
barge load, and it was found sixteen tons short
The gentleman disappeared as bidder for the
department from that time. There was no evil
dence of fraud his part, but inference can
readily be drawn. The system of property ac-
counts for the navy, referred to in the last an
since July 1. The experience of the first quar-
ter shows that it is simple, and that there IS no
difficulty in keeping pace with current work at
the largest stations.
The report says that by careful watch
ing of the disbursement on foreign sta
tons, and calling the attention Of pay OFF,
GERS to the subjects of their drafts, by |
which greatly improved rates have been
the department is able to report
that on the items Of commission, inter-
est and exchange, whereas net loss
Of Sl03, 4a3 was made in the two years and
ten months ending April q, 1885, for the
three years ending June 80, 1888, net
gain of sos was made.
Abiding to naval progress at home and
abroad during the past year, the Secre-
taf.y saws the necessity for increased .,J,1r1.