New-York tribune., 1891-03-06
WASHINGTON GOSSIP.
WHAT IS REQUIRED TO MAKE THE UNITED
STATES A FIRST-CLASS NAVAL POWER.
PRESENT CONDITION OF THE woRK-THE ERA
OF TRAINED NAVAL CONSTRUCTORS
RAPIDITY WITH WHICH GUNS


reached what is called the middle point of it's
development To complete it and to put it upon
the footing of first-cass Power would require
an expenditure of about S65, 900, 900 more. Thus
far the Government has either expended or au.
thorized 10 be expended $7O.O00,0O0. This repre-
scnts round sum of $l35. 900, 600 for complete
Navy The interest this amount at IL per
cent. practically the interest paid Government
loans represents the cost to this country of this
most valuable kind of insurance. The amount is
small in comparison with the security given.
I asked Secretary Tracy last night to give me
his idea of how many more ships were needed than
we now have to complete what he would call Il
sufficient Navy for all practical needs lie said
that he would add from six TO nine more battle
ships each of 10000 tons. These would cost
81. 0OO, 600 each. This is as cheap as they can
be built in England. lie would duplicate the
Ncw-Yorl, which would cost $3,jOO,0O0. lie
wonld add from four to six harbor-defcnce vessels,
costing each 81, 800 900, and twelve torpedo boats
each costing $4,000 This would make Navy
the superior of any nation, not even excepting
England in point Of availability and practical
qualities.
We have to-day already completed and author
lied forty-one war-shipS. These are all vessels
of modern class and will be well armed Twenty
be turned out within the next two years.
One of the most remarkable developments in
the Navy has been in the ordnance service. Com
mander Folger, who is in charge of the ordnance
work at Washington, is one OF the best
ordnance officers in the world. Through his
skill and knowledge great economy and great
rapidty in doing work have been attained. No
better illustration can be given Of this than in
the speed with which rifed gun can be turned
out to-day from the works \ gun which used to
take from two TO three weeks to rife can now
have the work done in fourteen hours Guns of
a quality equal TO anything in the service of any
nation are now being turned out in great numbers
at the Washington Yard. One of the means of
future defence for the harbor of New-York will
be found in this modern equipment. One of the
dread features of a possible war with any great
naval power to-day is the dcfenceless condition
of the city of Ncw-Nork 1t is an undisputcd
fact that any one of the great batte-ships of the
leading European Powers could come over and
take up position at her outside of the range
of the guns of the present forts and destroy the
city. Shells could be thrown into the city from
a point nine miles ont 1t is not generally known
that this danger does not exist to-day in the same
degree that it did short time ago There are
now being turned out Of the works at Washington
guns with range of twelve miles, carving the
magnificent steel proicctes which could pierce
the armor Of any European vessel at present con-
structed
These guns could be shipped over TO New York
and mounted within two days time. In the
event of a war with England and that possibility
has been presented at various times during the
Behrng Sea controversy, it would be found that
the lakes constitute another line of weakness.
Here under the treaty with England, we main
tain only one warship. This is the Michigan an
old wooden vessel of no account in modern times.
England has a large number Of small torpedo boats
OF draught so light that they could 60 through
the Welland Canal. She could have sent short
time ago a fleet of these vessels along the lakes
and could have destroyed number of the lake
cities To-day this would no longer be possible
The guns being turned out at the Washington
Yard could be shipped quickly TO Ogdensburg
and two of them properly manned and protected
could sink these little torpedo boats fast as
they could come up. This evolution in gunncry
is one of the most magnificent results Of the new
| naval development and calls attention 20 the fact
that there is no such improvement or development
| in the other arm of power-the War Department.
In another way the Navy Department has been
greatly strengthened, and that is in the education
| of its naval constructors. Formerly naval con-
structOrs were appointed from civil life They
were always good ship-carpenters, and at the time
when the Department began TO build new navy
represented the best that was to be obtained in
| the old field of wooden shipbuiding. They knew
| nothing, however, Of modern Ship construction.
| The first two plans of the new ships were pur
chased abroad Since that time, however, the
| Department has developed It's own constructors.
and while it copies the best things abroad, avail
ing itself of the experiments made there, yet the
| improvements upon those plans and the methods
Of application should be credited TO the fine corps
| of naval constructors Of to-day. The modern
naval constructor is graduate first Of the Naval
| Academy. The authorities there pick out the men
| who graduate at the top Of the class, make them
naval constructors and then send them abroad for
three or four years to study in the best schools Of
| Europe These young men are fine physical spec-
mems and represent the best knowledge attainable
in modern naval schools. There to-day only
| fourteen of these men, There have been gradu-
| ated eighteen from the academy during the last
| eleven wears or this number. three have died.
| and one. Lieutenant Nixon, has resigned TO accept
| n place at $1,000 year in the employment of
the Cramps The large percentage of deaths
| would seem to indicate that the young men have
| 10 undergo too severe a strain Of study But the
| naval authorities do not charge up these deaths
| to overwork These young officers are to-day en-
| Moved in the various yards where the Govern
ment is building new ships. One of them Bowles'
| is in charge Of the work at Norfolk. Nixon was
| the inspector of the work at Cramps. The grad
| uates who become naval constructors are highly
| equipped men. They have unusual training IN
| the way of administration, and come out with
an education Of superior character for the ral-
| road. steamboat or shipbuilding business The
result is that they are constantly tempted with
large offers from private life The majority OF
them. however. remain in the Government service
| until they think that they have compensated the
Government for the splendid education which has
| been given them.
| One of the great reforms made in the Navy DO