Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1891-10-10
NAVAL DEFENCE OF THE LAKES.
Csngrcs win be Asked t. Buih I've
Reyense Cutters.

INV Yoak, Oct. . la viev Of ~ h.
cfeasirg inrcrtsnss - printed sus . -
Weh ceecn Esp uch o. yessrrasv. Of pro
viding o. On early este fcy q raval defence
Of the Commerce asd seapofss en- he sReas
lake, Congress vii. be Ssxed this winasf b
suthcr'rs, in Ediitian - sone general plan
to be rroyoesd by TIE secretary OF the
navy, the building If two modern type
revenue cutters for those waters
TIE revenue cutter force On the lake
ecnsists Of four vessels. thus distributed
One vessel to Lake Michigan AID Superior.
one TO Lake Huren, enc b Lake Erie, and
one to Lake O ,s4fio. The two req vessels
resided are forsplace The Bib ard johnson,
which are .. rrs.eat stsii snsd on Laks On
tario sad Miehigas. Bob the Bib and
Johnsen sre ia ne urserviees BILE corditiou.
The 10, msr hiss been ca duty all summer.
This his been owing to her unseGrofthi'
ness. The johnson il an old side wheeler
built ~ far back - 1855. The Bib vas
br:ls in 1864. The Johnson 10 still In ser
vice, but lacks speed, sea qualities, and al
re essen.i ais Of An efficient vessel. Within
recs nj years il Mss been . hard eRoft keep
ilg her in ct condition for work.
Ia calling for two rev vessels the
Treasury Department, II 10 expected, VIII
have IN mind the building Of . type service
sbie for &C. We and efficient operations In
r, event Of any fut.,-e contingency. II
o, eds but the libsYsl support OF Contf to
provide for at less: two efficient euuboats
for the lakes uoder the nsms OF revenue
cutters and in zine further to replace the
II ma ming three cutters by more modern
type craft /Aa appropriation vas asked OF
the last Congress by tie Treasury Depart
meat TO bella rev vessel t, replace the
johnson. IL was opposed By Senat
EImauds on the ground ,bst the sum asked
tor was t, o email a d thatii could not pre-
vide vessel TO be relied npnn for Efficient
Sc vice 10 the eveas Of trouble with Great
B, .t,in. The appropriation failed 10 pass
The treasury department has now In
mind type OF vessel to take the JOhnso's
place which will measure 500 tor. in dis
placement ard have length Of 1876 feet.
beam of from 20 to "a fest and dfsught
Of 10 feet. The iype vessel IL to be pro-
y.ded with two fets Of tip!e expansion
engines, have . sseaming radius Of 5000
miles ct 10 kaots per hour and . gusran
ieed me ximr n speed Of l6 knots. oir-
iers are 10 provide accommodation for
seven officers in the wardroom and so men
forward The vessel Is to be flush deck
fore ard sfr, with nothing on the spar deck
except the pilot house and an overhead
bridge. The battery will be Hotchkiss
rapid f ing guns.
In order =, provide for tso such vessels
it is recognized that Congress will have to
make q more liberal appropriation for the
construction work of the revenue marine
than has been its custom in the past. Under
existing sreaty regdlationa with Great Brit
ain the United States is permitted to main
tain On the lakes, in addition to one war
ship, four revenue cutsefs. There Ia no
s,ipIlas on in the treaty about the type OF
the revenue cutter to be employed and it
was nth this knowledge that Senator Ed
munds opposed any appropriation
for a ike CT tier that did not carry without
it q suffice ct smGuut to insure the build
ing of desirable vessel. In the opinion
Of Senator < imurds it is an uneconomic
measure 70 bald any vessel for revenue
cu,.er duly Of type not available for ser
vice in lime ef war
As the drawing no Of the designs for the
new vessels will be in the hands of reau-
lar eff GER, the spp)r,loument committee
will have al opportunity to receive expert
assurance OF the d'sirseility Of the type
ssked.
In addition to do;rg efficient revenue
cutter duty in ume of peace the new ves-
sells cIu resdly be dstsiled to assist 10
impa, ing practical instruction to lake
| naval reserve organizations.