The state chronicle. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1883-1893, 1889-04-26
NEWS FROM WASHINGTON,
W NJ. &. WHITNEY. THE RECON-
STRCCTOR OF THE =. NAVY.
Easter Tide in the Nations Capital--The
Happy Marriage OF Il North Caroline
lan--Nore APPOINTMENTS Personals.


| Republican organs to take away from the
last Democratic administration the credit
| due It for the great improvements Secre
| tary Whitney made in the American Ma
| w. 1t would be well for Democratic pa
| pers to keep the facts in the case well in
| hand, and not allow the Republicans to
| claim unchallenged the honor of causing
the stars and stripes to be respected on the
seas and IN foreign ports for the first time
| in twenty five years.
While the war ships Chicago. Boston,
Atlanta, and Dolphin were in course Of
construction Secretary Whitney was called
to preside over the Navy Department. lie
found Immediately available an appropri-
alton contained IN an act approved March
4, 1881 of s., 995, coo for the construction
OF two cruisers to cost 81, 100, 000 each, a
heavily armortd guuboat to cost $500, 600,
and q light gunboat to cost T215, 600.
He convened board on ''additonal yes
seis, Of which Commodore Walker was at
the head. The plans of the cruiser Charles
ton were purchased abroad. Mr.. Whitney,
upon famiharzing himself with the work
which was IN progress, saw at once the de
fects IN the new ships already referred to.
Independent IN action and quick to resolve
he decided upon plan which was as bold
and daring as Il WAS necessary. He began
to accumulate information in the way of
plans showing the latest advances III the
art of ship building throughout the world.
Believing il 10 be the true policy of the de
partment 10 gather such information from
every quarter, be Inspected designs from
naval constructors abroad He asked moth
ing more than plans. lie proposed to de
pend entirely upon the resources Of this
country for the construction Of the vessels.
1t was in pursuance of this policy that
II
cruiser Charleston from plans purchas
ed together with those of the Bal
tlmore. from the firm Of William Arm
strong X Company. Of New Castle Eng
land and which were identical With those
OF the cruisers lust finished for the Japan
ese government, Eaniwa and TnkachIho.
the fastest and most Formidable cruiser,
then ahsat. by this step Secretary Whit
ney ay.,lied himself Of tie latest develop
meuts OF the ship building art and mod
ern engineering abroad one Of the facts
that int fenced his action WAS that the Ell
gines for these ships are from s, 0U0 10 4
O0o horse power and tlat no marine en-
gines Of greater than :. 090 hor,,. power
had previously been bailt IN this country.
The poor engine power OF our vessels W.tS
one cause. of the Samoan disaster
In 70 thIS time All The crui>trS winch
Were, being built or which had been ;tu
thorized bv Congress were Of the unarned
type In 1856. however. Congress for the,
first time authorized the building Of ar
mored battle ships Mr. y hituey invited
plans from al! snip builder, and ntl..! AZ
chitects for the proposed aim0red vessel
Texas. 4 number Of designs were sub
mltted and the board Of naval officers re-
ported that IN their opinion vessels bulit
upon the plans Of the Texas would be de
SlrahIe or tht. Cuited states fleet These
plans were the work of William John. of
the Barron ship building Compan~ Eng
land Mr.. whitney accepted them aAd
paid the 81, 600 reward v Which lie had ot
tered. The Maine Was designed by the
Bureau Of Construction ana repair.
In 10 this time the eXperiIutnt regard
ino the Texas !, uncertain. A soon a, the
plans wer. critically examined the doubt
va, EXPRESSED that the weight of the yes
sell would exceed her uI.,laceneur. and
-ba+ -ha woul8 sirL- ~ s,1n ~ launcbe1
Tba ,yai,,ht hos hnwaver been racaIrnIat.
"a 81 the Norfolk navy yard where rbe
vt.ssal i being Iald. and il is reported NAT
there i a small margin Of safety. Tpop
this rerort The, construction of the ship h.l,
been ordered continued. but naval otfio ers
4ra nor tf,,l,r ,bair fears
II addition - the appropriation for t4;e
Texas me Maine, and the Baltimore the
Act authorized. the construction Of a dvn4-
mite cruiser 10 be eauipped with three H.