New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-11-19
BUILDING UP THE NAVY.
WHAT THE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED VESSELS ARE
CAPABLE OF DOING.

wasb:nrton Nov 1S.-Chief Cons. ructor Wilson has
submitted his annual report to the Secretary OF the
Navy lie says that the plans and specifications for
twenty two knot torpedo cruiser being prepared.
and with the letting OF the contract for this vessel and
first class torpedo boat the Bureau will have finished
ell the work authorized BY recent legislation. so far as
the designing is concerned. lie expresses qualification
at the apidty and quality OF the work the armored
cruiser Maine and says that there will be no question
AS 10 her completion within tho limit OF cost mas
much rs the torpedo boat Intrepid, now at New York.
Is much dilapidatcd and unworthy OF "cpair, 1t Is
recommended that she be so!d The report says that
with The gradual appearance OF the new steel Navy
has come the rapid retirement OF the wooden fleet.
When the Chicago Boston, Atlanta and dolphin were
begun the serviceablc wooden steam vessels numbered
thirty seven there eleven new steel vessels
and one frstclass torpcdo-boat In commission, and
only eighteen wooden vessels. In about years
the wooden feet will have practically disappeared or
have been utilized receiving and training vessels
AS the repairs 10 the Nipsc, the surviving vessel Of
the Samoan feet would cost $23945, doubt is ex-
pressed as to the expedicnry of repairing her. The
Despatch, formerly used as the Presidents yacht has
only years lease OF life unless extensively re-
paired The following vessels having been surveyed and
the cost OF repairs ascertancd to be in excess OF the
20 per cent limit recommended to be sold: Brook
yn Saugus, Spcedwell Rescue, Ossipcc, Juniata and
Quinnebaug.
The vessels arc described in the report in the
mlnutest detail. The harbor defence Ammen
OF 1850 tons is TO be heavily armored and fitted
with powerful removable steel ram head, but is TO be
without armament. Much space is devoted to II de-
scrpton of tie three great coastllnc bait ships de-
signed with view Of meeting in battle vessels carry
ing the heaviest guns and armor. The armament oi
these vessels will consist Of four 13-nch 3o-calibrc
breechoadlng rifles eight 5inch breech loading rifles,
four 6inch breechloadng rifles, twenty 6pound rapid
fire guns, SIX 1pounder rapid-re guns, two eating
and six torpedo tubes guns. All modern appll-
for offensive and defensive purposes are carried
and the coal capacity is sufficient TO carry the vessel
10000 miles at ten knots an hour.
OF cruiser No. IL the threecrew CRUISER Con-
structor Wilson says: In cruiser No. IL the United
States will possess q vessel having sustained sea
speed Of twenty one knots. We have here vessel
which can overhaul and sink any merchant vessel now
aAoab In appearance the vessel resembles closely
ordinary merchantmen. Its function Is to destroy
the commerce an enemy: therefore her general ap-
pearance is such u enable her to gel within rang
before her character Is discovered AS q whole TINS
vessel will represent the latest Idea Of powerful, eco
nomical protected commerce destroyer.
1.-THE bureau with great satisfaction presents this re
view of what has been done ard Is doing III the build
ing up of a navy suited to the needs OF the United
states The requirements have been severe a.
those of any nation in the world and the fact that in
most cases such requirements have been exceeded and
I'm all cases realized shows that class per class our
vessels are second to none.'