The Helena independent. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1875-1943, 1891-03-02
Why Congress Authorized But One
New War Vessel at This
Session.
Those Already Begun or Provided
For Will Probably COST
@1eoOooOo.
Monsters Of tho Sea Which Each Coat I'm
the NeighborhOod OF Three
Million Dollars.

WASHINGTON, March 1.--Only one new
war ship is provided for in the appropria-
tion bill which has just been agreed upon
In conference. Yet this Ia no sign Of wan
ing interest in the navy on the part Of con-
Rress since this one vessel is to cost more
than the entire fleet Of Roach cruisers with
which the modern establishment was start.
cd few years ago.
The cost OF the Chicago was 1885, 900;
that of the Boston, $619. 600; that of the
Atlanta, $4,000 that OF the Dolphin.
S315,OW. The new vessel, which is unar-
mored. has its limit Of cost fixed at 81, 75O,-
GOO, and one like it is now under construc-
tion at contract price of $2,725,0OO, ex-
elusive of premiums for extra speed. Thus
cruiser No. 13, as the new YES
sci will no doubt be called until
she receives her final name, will prob
ably cost about ~ much as the four ves-
sells just enumerated with the Petrol
added. Their aggregate displacements
are upward of ID, 900 tons, while hers will
be about 1850; but the enormous 10000
horse power Of the new vessel exceeds by
many thousands the combined power of the
five ships Just mentioned. And with her
extraordinary maximum speed of twenty
two knots she il to have other qualities,
including coal endurance and protection
for her machinery, such as mark very
great advance over our pioneer cruisers Of
six or eight years ago, and are proportion
ally expensive.
While this single additional vessel ia to
be SO remarkable IN efficiency, the naval
appropriation as a whole is much larger
than last years, which sauthorized much
greater additions to the navy. This re-
suits from the fact that the install
vessels will be very heavy during the COM
ing year. The vessels recently begun are
very expensive. The Indiana and the Mas
eachusette will cost $3,12O,OOO each; the
Oregon, $3, 1850, 600; the New York, which
will be our biggest and finest ship at the
will cost 81, 1885, 600; Cruiser No. II. $2,725,-
600; Cruiser No. Ii. probably about the
same. Thus these six vessels will cost for
hulla and machinery an aggregate Of about
$H, 600, and the speed premium payable
on them will probably carry the total above
Wis 100000, exclusive of batteries. When
the construction OF the new navy was be-
gan the largest vessel proposed cost less
than $500, 600; but now, with no fewer than
Blk authorized, costing an average of 3d.
900, 900 each, the annual bill until they are
finished will be heavy, apart from further
additions.
1t had been thought that congress might
direct the supply Of few more torpedo
boats, which can be built for ABOUT $1O0, 200
each. But the path in this form Of naval
construction is perhaps not wholly clear as
yet. The torpedo craft have rivals for
favor in the Ericsson submarine gun,
which has yet to be tested under an appro-
priatlon made by congress, and also in the
pneumatic or air torpedos supplied to the
Vesuvius, as yet not fully tried with explo-
sives on that vessel. Perhaps the fifty sec
ond congress may have more light on these
matters, and torpedo boat No. 2 will then
also be ready or nearly 80. But the new
torpedo cruiser of 100 tons. to cost not more
than $500 may never be built. It is
quite certain not to be built at that price,
as there was not q solitary bid for it under
The call for proposals; ana now the navy bill
has been passed, with no attempt to in
crease the price. The navv department first
made this estimate of cost for vessel of
less speed than congress con-
Guided to exact. As any large addition in
horse power on given displacement and
weight OF machinery costs enormously for
The quality of material. the contractors
dropped the plan. But the navy depart
ment's refraining from asking an increase
Of the limit of price to $4OO, 600 or 100000
10 itself suggestive. Possibly vessel of
that type is no longer deemed necessary.
After all, it 10 better suited to European
waters. where it will have fleets of torpedo
boats to attack. The coal carrying restric-
lions of such craft would give it but lin
tied use here, even in time of war, and its
cruising. service in peace could be Of very
little value.