Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-12-10
UNCLE SANS NAVY.

Its Condition Reported Upon by score
tary Tracy-He shows the Necessity of
Continued Development.
WASHINGTON, Dec. TN his annual
report to the president Secretary
Tracy, Of the navy, presents details Of
construction of new vessels and dis
cusses development of armament, pro-
jectiles, torpedoes, etc. He shows
that during the last twelve months
the vessels Of the navy have
seen n ore active employment than in
many years. In presenting the years
history of the several squadrons Secre-
tary Tracy repeats the details of the
attack at Valparaiso upon seamen of
the Baltimore, all of which has been
given to the public In showing the
need of increasing the navy the secre-
tary says:
The course Of events during the last 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
interests. especially in the Pacific
1t IS apparent that the mercantile competi-
tors Of this country are today enlarging their
fields Of activity with a more aggressive
energy than ever before. No one can fail to
observe the indications OF systematic effort
10 take advantage OF the disturbed condi.
lions now prevailing in many Of the
smaller states. Il this movement naval
ascendency plays q large part The
consequences are not far to seek The estab-
lshment of complete commercial supremacy
by European power in any state Of the west
ern hemisphere means the exclusion Of Ameri-
can influence ami the virtual destruction. as
far as that state is concerned, of independent
existence. With the great maritime powers il
is only step from commercial control 10 ter
ritorial control
III that most important agency IN the com
mercial development Of the United States, the
Nicaragua canal, were completed the strategic
situation would be largely modified AT the
present time the two seaboards are SO remote
that each requires its separate system OF
naval defense Each has its vulnerable points
and each has neighbors that are well
prepared for offensive movements. There is
a CIRCLE of insular fortresses facing
cur Atlantic seaboard, the sole object OF
whose existence is % maintain naval outposts
at our doors. There are states in the Pacific
and not large states, either, whose fleets are
more powerful than any force that we could
readily bring to meet them. To protect either
seaboard, even when our present authorized
feet is completed, will involve stripping the
other at a critical moment"
During the past year four new YES
sells have been placed in commission,
making a total of thirteen since March
4, 1889, as follows: The Chicago, York
town, Petrol, Charleston, Baltimore
Cushing, Vesuvius, Philadelphia, San
Francisco, Newark, Concord, Benning-
ton and Mianitonomah.
The vessels remaining under con-
struction are as follows: Puritan,
Amphirite, Monadnock, Terror, Maine,
Texas, Monterey, New York (cruiser
No. 81, Cincinnati NO. y, Raleigh NO
s., No. 8, Detroit (No. 10), No. IL,
practice vessel, harbor defense ram,
gunboat No. 3, gun boat No. 6, Indiana,
Massachusetts, Oregon, protected
cruiser No. 10, torpedo cruiser, torpedo
boat No. 2 and protected cruiser No. 49,
The naval militia is discussed and the
distribution OF the funds provided is
noted. The number of men mus
tered is l,149 in six states. OF the
cost of the navy the amount charged
to completed ships, fifteen in num-
Der, is SIS, 1856, 354. 81. OF the twenty
four uncompleted vessels the expendi-
ture has been 81, Ass, 794. %, and the
total cost when completed will be
$50, 920, 2S2-03 The report recommends
the consolidation of revenue marine
and navy.