Los Angeles herald., 1891-09-21

Although our war ships under con-
struction are habitually delayed beyond
the time specified in their contracts,
says the New York Sun. vet even with
the allowances which must be made for
delays, as shown by unvarying expert
ence, it is quite certain that there will
be goodly addition to the navy during
the year 1892.
We shall have, to begin with, the
Monterey, now under construction at
the Union iron works. She was launched
some time ago, and her contract calls
for completion next June. She is to
pay penalties for non-completion at the
rate OF $50 day during the first three
months, 800 day during the next
three, and 5000 thereafter. The only
thing likely to delay her would be a
lack of armor; and with the great Fits
burg works now supplementing the
Bethlehem, less apprehension is felt on
that score. The 12-inch guns for this
vessel will no doubt be built on time.
The Union iron works are also con-
structing cruiser No. 6, very fine YES
sci, which, however, is only to be
completed in 1898, and also the battle
ship Oregon, which is to be finished in
the latter part OF that year.
Coming from the Pacific to the Allan
tic yards we find that the five great yes
sells undertaken by Cramp & Sons in
Philadelphia are all due only in 1898.
These are the fast cruisers No. l2 and
No. ID, the former known as the Pirate
the battle-ships Indiana and Massachu-
setts and the armored cruiser New York
The last named, which might be
launched during the coming winter, is
to be completed January l., 1898.
At the Columbian iron works are
cruisers No. 8 and No. 10, which will be
launched probably during the coming
autumn. Their hulls and machinery
are well forward, and their contract
calls for their completion next Nav.
The fact that this establishment was SO
far behind on the little Petrol may
create doubt in regard to the compile
tion of these larger vessels, but they
will probably be ready next year. The
penalty on them is $25 a day for the
first three months, with $50 for the fol-
lowing three months and $75 for the
next six months, which would undoubt-
edly cover all delays.
AT the Harrison Loring works in Bos-
ton is the third vessel OF the class Just
mentioned, cruiser No. II, of 2000 tons.
which is also to be completed next Nav.
under the penalties already spoken Of.
She is to cost $61 SOC more than either
of her sister ships. which would allow
margin for delays, and she is somewhat
behind them, but will probably be com
pleted in 1892. This firm is also build
ing three tugs, at $32, ,43S each, which
which are to be completed, under the
contract, December 20, 1891. If not
finished at that date they will form the
first addition of 1892.
At the Bath Iron works are gunboats
No. and No. 6, which are to be
completed next April. They are to be
launched this autumn, and the ma
chinery is so far advanced that there is
very little doubt OF their being ready
next summer at all events. Their PEN
alties are like those of cruisers 9, 10 and
IL. The same Maine shipyard is at work
on the ram for harbor defence, but she
is not to be counted upon for next year.
Still another vessel under construc-
tion at private yards is the Naval
academy practice vessel, building by
Samuel Moore's Sons, at Elizabethport.
She is to be finished, under her contract,
next July, and may probably be counted
upon, although the first war ship was
undertaken by this firm some time next
year.
In the government yard at Brooklyn
are the Maine, the Puritan, the Terror
and the Cincinnati; while at Norfolk
are the Raleigh, the Texas and the Am
phitrite; the Monadnock is at Mare
island. OF these vessels those that can
probably be counted upon for next year
are the Cincinnati and the Raleigh, and
possibly the Maine. The two former
are to be ready for launching during the
coming autumn, and the Maine was
launched several months ago.
Taking these vessels together it will
be obvious that the coming year will
see noteworthy addition to our navy,
and when the great review of 1898 is
held in New York harbor there should
be fine feet of modern craft to rep
resent the United States.