The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-04-07
SHIPS TO DEFEND---MEN TO COUNT.
Floating Fortresses For the Protec-
ton of the Exposed Coast.
Tons of Blanks To Be Given to the
Census Enum orators.
Some of the Invitations Received by
the Popular Speaker.
Especial TO the Press l

Especial TO the Press.1
WASHINGTON, April 5.-The House has
already passed the appropriation bills for
the army and for coast defense; and now
will go on before long to the bill which at
the present time is the most interesting OF all
OF the bills to provide for the public defense,
the naval appropriation bill, which provides
Tor the building of the new navy. This bill,
reported by Mr. Boutelle, chairman of the
| naval affairs committee, provides for the
construction Of several new vessels deser-
wing of attention as something different from
anything yet authorized.
AT present the heaviest vessels authorized
for the new navy are the Maine, of 6,64S
tons. the Texas, of 5000 tons, and the
Monterey, low free-board coast defense
vessel of 5,4o0 tons. But even these will not
be when completed, such frst-class fighting
ships as can take the sea and hold at bay or
defeat such heavily armed and armored
foreign vessels as would inevitably be sent
against us in case of war. In the opinion of
the committee we have now reached point
in the development of our facilities and
capabilities for building modern ships of
war where we are fully warranted in COM
menciDg the construction of moderate
number of ships powerful enough to afford
real protection to our coasts and harbors
Such vessels must be able to go to sea, to
drive off an enemy, to break blockade, or
prevent the bombardment of our ports
While objections, both practical and senti-
mental, are urged against the construction
of fleets of great battle-ships to cruise all
over the globe, reason and sentiment COM
bine in favoring the establishment of a
powerful squadron of defense that will be
able to protect our own country from any
assault that may be made by sea. 1t is not
our policy to seek to rival in numbers the
great naval ornaments of Europe, but the
committee conceive the purpose of our people |
to be that such ships as we build shall be |
the best of their kind, and that we must |
have some fighting ships that can stand |
against any that they may have to en-
counter.
With this view, the committee recommend |
the construction of three sea-going, coast |
line battle-ships, designed to carry the /
heaviest armor and most powerful ordnance /
upon displacement OF about eight thou i
sand five, hundred tons, with coal endur- |
ance of about five thousand knots at the /
most economical rate of speed, and to have |
the highest speed attainable without sacri- /
hce OF offensive power. Such vessels, by the /
saving In weight of coal as compared with /
those designed for cruising long distances
from their base Of supplies, can carry much /
heavier armor and guns, and yet have suffi-
Client endurance to go to any part of our
coast or adjacent waters, from Nova Scotia |
to the lsthmus. and a fleet of such battle
threatened point on our sea-board. Such /
fleet OF sea-going ships would be infinitely /
more economical than the attempt to main
tain a sufficient force of smooth water iron
clads in each of our important harbors, amp
they would be able to seize and destroy the |
bases of supplies on or near our coast upon
which foreign naval aggression would de-
pend.
In addition the committee recommend the
construction OF an armOred cruiser of about
1900 toms to have speed of not less than 20
knots. This vessel is of a very formidable |
and effective type of cruiser, intended to |
carry side and defective armor and heavy
high power and secondary batteries. For
the protection of our commerce from foreign
cruisers and for destroying the commerce of |
an enemy the vessels of this class are most
valuable
The cost of these three great coast line bat
tie ships is limited to $4,000,000 each; and
each of them will be giant capable of meet
ing anything that any foreign nation can
send against us. Inasmuch as our cities are
Franc, Germany, Russia, Italy, Turkey,
Austria. Holland, Spain, Japan, Brazil,
Chill and probably China. also, the posses
sion Of these three ships will be a matter of
thew viii be hnse Vesses probaby tb beted
around at the water line with armor II
inches thick. In two turrets will be huge |
guns, 60 ton, 13 inch caliber.. breech loading
and having range around bow and stern.
There will probably be two of these guns in |
each turret, four in all. Besides having II
inches or so of armor of their own the tur-
rets will stand in armored redoubts. Be-
sides these there will probably be secondary
single military mast rising from the deck
will be fitted with Fighting top" in which
will be canon. This is the general design
upon which the new battle ships authorized |
designs have not been made yet the features
can only be described in a general way.
But the appropriation bill authorizes this
construction merely. No specific appropria-
tion is made in this bill for the new ships.
An item of five million dollars is approprl-
ated for carrying on the work on the vessels
already authorized. as for the Maine, Texas
and Montery, and for beginning the work on
the newly authorized vessels.
Among the items in the naval appropria-
tion bill are $3.50 for increasing the water
supply at kittery navy yard, $6,0S0 for COM
pletIng the hydrant system at that yard; |
$4,000, to be Immediately available for re-
constructing the. buildings Nos. 45 and 46;
tools SO as to improve the condition Of the |
yard for building and repairing iron and |
steel ships 1t is not improbable that before |
long as the government goes on with Its navy |
that vessel may be built at Kittery.
This House bill probably embodies the pol
icy of Congress with regard to tie navy for |
the next two years at least. The Senate has |
on its calendar bill providing for scheme |
upwards of fifty million dollars. But this |
House bill is on much more modest scale, |
and contemplates the expenditure of not |
half that amount. AS it is the fixed intention |
Of this Congress to keep within the limits of |
the last Congress in the matter of appropri- |
ations, the more moderate naval plan seems |
most likely OF adoption, aside from its mer- |
its, which carry weight themselves.
The Next Census.
Hon. James S. Wright of Paris, superin- |
tendent of the census for the western dis
trict of Maine. has returned to Maine after
spending week in Washington. During
this time he has visited the census office a
number of times, and had conferences with
Supt Robert P. Porter and his assistants in
regard to the work. Mr. Wright is already
well advanced with his work in Maine, and
when the time comes to pull the string on
the first Monday of June the enumerators of
the western district will be ready for the on
slaught on peoples affairs. 1t will require
the services of about 10000 enumeratorS to
take the census throughout the whole nation.
In county like Cumberland or York about
40 or 30 enumerators will be required to
number the people in the time given. For
the towns and small cities the enumeratOrs
are to have one month in which to do their
work. But in all cities over 10000 inhabi-
tants the numbering must be done in ten
days after the first Monday of June. The
entire work of enumeration must be COM
pleted on or before the first of July. Prob
ably about 16 enumerators will be required
to get enumeration of Portland in the time
given.
There is great amount of work going on