Telegram-herald., 1889-09-27
TEN NEW CRUISERS
Their Construction 10 be Recon-
mended by Secretary Tracy.
PLAYS FOR IMPROVING The NAVY
The >scretsrs Ihiuks his Department
saould azss More Power IA Dests~
lax PlAHs-t ongrr>s N0t oSaL
ined ~ JudSe.

WAsHISSroS, sept 26.-fhe following
dispatch was telssraphed 10 tie Hra.a
lzsi gas.
Ia hls forthcoming report Secretary
Tracy wlll recommend 90 Congress the
adylsab.llty of constructing ten add
tionai steel cruisers. Hitherto IN all
the efforts t0 bulld up tAe new navy
the matter Of the size 0I new ships, ~
lar az tonnage and horse power ARE
concerned, has been settled upon py
Congress, ana tile general scheme ~
tie vessel had been lad down IA 4
cOmmttee-r0om. IL il proposed now
that more power be given 10 the Navy
Department.
Ii las ALWAYS been maintained by
naval officers that the practice OI Con
gress IN appropIlAung 10 much money
Tor ship 20 many tons burden 10 show
- much horse power OF sucn speed n
radically wrong. Congressman can not
no matter how thoroughly they IA
vestgate the sublect-be a cOnvers2nt
with the requirements Ot the service a.
are the officials OF the Navy Depart
ment. TINS subject has been carefully
gone over by all the bureau chefs,
and the conclusion arrived al = that
the department should have entire
control OF the vessels, estimate the
necessary tonnage for type OF
vessel, but adapted 10 the needs OF the
service, and have Il constructed upon
basis agreed upon by the board Oh OH
GERS appointed for the purpose. 1t IS
believed 10y the department officials II
TINS plan Is adopted 10y Congress II VIII
result in securing a much better and
more efficient class OF vessels than can
be obtained under the present system.
Ii is stated at the Navy Department
that no order has been ISSUED by the
Secretary TO have the keels of the new
30O0-tOn cruisers lald down at the navy
yards at New York and Norfolk. All
that hsa been done IN the matter l. 10
call for a preliminary estimate from
the chief of the Bureau OF Construction
and Repairs a. TO the cost of building
these vessels at either the New York,
Norfolk or Mare Island yards. The
englneer-in-chlef has also been asked
for an estimate OF cost for additional
machinery TO increase the facilities of
the plant at the yards named.
No orders of any description for
the construction of the vessels have
been given. Secretary Tracy and At
tOrney General Millex nave had several
informal consultations on the subject
in regard to the extent Of the limita-
tons and extent OF the Appropriation
for building these vessels IN the navy
yard, but as yet have come to no con
cluson. The matter VIII be brought
up at the Cabinet meeting on TUESDAY
next If Secretary Tracy can get all ms
papers IL the mattep arranged.
Secretary Tracy has arrived at no de
cisiOn, so far as the Navy Department
is concerned, in regard 10 the proposed
speed-trial OF the cruiser Baltimore
over the measured mile at Newport.
The Secretary Is very anxious TO have
the trial take place before the weights
in the ship are removed, 50 that be can
incorporate the performance OF the
vessel IN his report, but be does not
feel authorized TO expend the necessary
money. 1t Is believed in naval circles
that the trial would be of inestimable
value 70 the service, as 1t would induce
Congress to make liberal appropriation
for the construction of add tlOnal new
cruisers. Ii was learned, however, at
the Navy Department that the con-
tractors, William Craup q Sons, had
agreed to make the trial.
The ship viii be put IN the dry dock
and her bottom scraped and painted.
This will bee finished on Monday next,
when the vessel VIII Toe sent 10 New
port.
The cost Of sending the vessel there
Is not of so much Importance % the
Cramps rs was the fact that II viii take
$50 OF their skilled mechanics from
their works for "a week. These men
are now employed upon the machinery
of the new cruiser Philadelphia and on
merchant vessels.