Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-01
Name. Tonnage. Date.
During the coming winter four more will be
added to the list, namely:
NEED OF A TORPEDO,

This country has been thus far absolutely
without a successful automobile torpedo. This
fact has been referred to more or less from
time to time, in reports and papers, for several
years past but it does not seem to have re-
ceived the attention which its gravity de-
manded. Vague hopes and expectations that
something would turn up gradually fixed them
selves upon the Howell torpedo as the probable
solution of the problem, although it was still
in an experimental state. Finally, on January
s. 1889, contract was made with the Hotchkiss
Ordnance Company, the manufacturers of
this weapon. for 80 torpedoes, of which ten
were to be delivered by June !. 1890, and all by
September l of the same year. This contract
has not yet been filled, owing to the loss of two
torpedoes at preliminary trials and the failure
of the company thus far to produce weapon
that fultills the requirements Of the contract
An extension of the contract time has been
granted, and the manufacturers hold out eX-
pectations that they will be ready for another
trial and for making deliveries by the lst of
Notwithstanding these expectations, the ne
cessity of possessing practical torpedo was so
great and the question whether the Hotchkiss
Ordnance Company would be able to produce
one answering the requirements of the contract
so doubtful, that the department would have
fallen short of its duty had it not made an ef-
fort to meet, in some other way. the necessities
of the situation. Negotiations have therefore
been undertaken with the Whitehead Torpedo
Company with a view to demonstrating the
manufacture OF their torpedo, the most sue
cessful yet produced in the world. Favorable
terms have been made and an order will shortly
be placed with an American firm for number
of Whitehead torpedoes. If the Hotchkiss
company shall finally succeed in producing a
| torpedo to answer the necessary conditions, the
two designs will be subjected to competitive
tests, with view TO ascertainIng the expedi-
encY of definitely adopting one or both of them
for service use. In the meantime the bureau
Is continuing its investigations with other de-
| signs.
OF torpedoes other than automobile one, of
the Patrick design. torpedo electrically di-
rected from the shore, has undergone sue
cessful test. Two others remain to be supplied
to complete the three ordered February 26 1889.
1t is proposed to use these torpedoes for pur-
poses of instruction in connection with the
Naval War College.
ESTIMATES AND APPROPRIATIONS.
+ The general estimates for the support of the
navy, including public works, and of the ma.
rine CORPS have been cut down to the lowest
possible point and show a total of 81 352 594 sc
less than the estimates of last year and Sl55,
S76 30 less than the appropriations for the cur
rent year On the other hand, the estimates
for increase of the navy snow an enlargement
prior year The estimates for this purpose for
the year ending June 30, 1871, were u. Ss6, 500;
the estimates for the current year are SlS, AL
229 nearly double that amount. BY far the
largest part OF this increase is Tor payments
upon outstanding contracts.
The appropriations under this head for the
current year fell short of the amount estimated
therefor by 81 266, 500. The appropriations as
well as the estimates were doubtless based on
the supposition that at the ordinary rate OF
progress in naval construction the reduced
amount would be sufficient, and that the ships
newly authorized would require nothing dur
ing the current year. AS result. the appro-
priation will undoubtedly fall short by about
s., 600, 900 of the amounts REQUIRED to continue