Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1891-12-10
Report of Secretary Tracy is
Completed and Made
Public.
Account of the Work Done on New
Vessels During the
Year.
Future Development Should be in the
Line of Heavy ArmOred
Cruisers.

the work done on the new vessels COM
pleted or in process of construction. Dur
ing 1891 four vessels, the Newark, Con-
cord, Bennington and Miantonoma were
completed and placed in commission.
The double turreted monitor Miantonomah
has already been put in commission. The
other vessels of this class. the Terror, Am
phit1ite, and Monadnock will be ready to
receive their armor as soon as 1t can be
delivered, and their completion can be ex
pected by the spring of 1893 The coast
defense vessel Monterey was successfully
launched April %, 1891, and is now ready
to receive her armor- The Maine has made
fair progress since her launching a y ear ago.
The work on the hull of the Texas has been
especially satisfactory, and the ship will
be ready for launching next spring. The
armored cruiser New York was launched
successfully on the I'd inst, and her cate
of trial may be fxed about January, 1893.
The work upon the battle ships Indiana,
Massachusetts and Oregon is going on
rapidly, the two former having their
frames erected up to the armor belt.
According to present probabilities they
will be ready for service early in 1894.
The progress of work upon, the unarmored
vessels Of the navy is equally satisfactory.
n
1890 showed the superiority of nickel-steel
and the the department accordingly decld-
ed to adopt it, and made arrangements
with the contractors looking to that end.
1t remained, however, to give a thor
or Oh trial to the first armor of domestic
manufacture before beginning to place it
upon the vessels, and for this purpose it
was decided to order typical plates which
should be made the subject of an expert
mental test. This trial was to ascertain
two points: first, whether our domestic
manufacturers could produce an armor
that would stand competition with the ma
terial manufactured abroad; and,
second, which of the various modes of
treatment suggested would give the best
results. In reference to the latter point
the questions to be considered were the
relative merits of rolling and forging in
the manufacture, and the effect of new
method of treatment named from lis in
ventor, the Harvey process, designed to
harden the surface of the plate while re-
tanning the toughness of its body.
Of the six plates tried three were fur
nished by the Bethlehem Iron company
and three by Carnegie, Phipps & &c.
The trial definitely establishes the fact
that armor Of excellent quality may be
produced by the rolling process and that
forging by means of the hammer, the
greatest source hitherto sof expense in
manufacture, is no longer to be regasded
as an absolute necessity. The importance
Of this fact can hardly be overestlmated,
for it raises a probability that within
year or two the armor- producing capacity
of the United States may be quadrupiea in
case of necessity.
The old wooden ships of the navy have
now practically passed out of existence.
| They no longer count even as a nominal
factor in naval defense. The sole reliance
of the United States today for the protec-
ton Of exposed seaboard is the new fleet.
The course of events during the past
| year has shown anew the necessity of
continuing the development OF the navy.
| The demands upon it have been constant,
and they are constantly growing: The
rapid extension of commercial relations
has doubled the Importance of our inter
ests, especially in the Pacific. 1t was said
few years ago by keen foreign
observer: ''Some day or other there will
be a great rivalry of three or four
nations in the Pacific for the commerce of
those seas, and the country which has cul-
tivated its strength with view to that
contingency will carry off a chief part of
the prize" The rivalry has already begun,
sharp competition.
| believe that public opinion in the
United States desires to see this country
provided with an efficient naval protection.
The press, which represents the best
intelligence of the county, speaks on the
subject with clearness and emphasis. 1t
believes. and the country believes with it,
| that this protection is an obligation upon
the national government.
1t is not the seacoast states alone that
have direct interest in naval efficiency.
If, when war comes, we are not In posi-
ton to protect the transportation of our
foo} products, the foreign market will be
closed. By the blockade of such great
outlets as Galveston, New Orleans and
Mobile in the gulf, and the Chesapeak and
Delaware and New York On the Atlantic,
the great industry of the interior will be
paralyzed.
There are elements of danger at all
times for American interests, and at any
moment these elements may be rendered
tenfold more active by European war.
Our situation as commercial neural be-
tween mighty contestants, to some OF
whom our exports of beef and pork and
grain and cotton will be necessity, while
to others they will become main object
of attack, is one for which we must make
an adequate provision beforehand.
The progress of construction durlng the
last eight years has clearly shown the ne
cessity of early authorization.
After considering carefully the additions
that have been hitherto made to the navy,
and its future necessities, the department
has reached the conclusion that there
should be no departure from the policy
pursued up to this time of building large
armored vessels.
The tendency of naval construction all
over the werld, at the present time, In
the matter of cruisers is TO yard the con-
struction of large vessels. This is caused
by the necessity Of uniting in a single
vessel battery composed of high
power guns of at least S-inch cal
, iber, associated with numerous rapid
fire guns; protection IN the form OF
either vertical side armor or protective
deck or both las in the New York;, suf.
fciently heavy to withstand the attack OF
he rapld-fre battery of an adversary
high speed and, finally, great coal endur'
, ance.
The general estimates for the support O.
the navy, including public works and tht
l marine corps, which were sent In last yea
showed reduction, as stated IN the re
port of that year, of over 81, coo, 900 be
:. ow the estimates Of the previous year.
d The estimates fer the same purpos
}, herewith transmitted snow further re
e ductlon of $241 ,O53 below the estimates O
= last year and a reduction of IS, 360.9S be
e low the appropriations for the curren