The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1892-12-15
UNITED STATES NAVY.
Cecretary Tracys Annual Report
Shows Wonderful Progress.
A Fleet Fully Worthy to Bear the stars
and Stsipes-Americau Armor Plate
In the Best-Estimates for
the Fiscal Year.


In the Best-Estimates for
the Fiscal Year.
GOOD RECORD
WAsI[INGrON, Dec. 12. - Secretary
Tracy in his report to the president
starts out with a list of vessels in the
navy, and points with pride to the
work accomplished during the present
administration. He says:
''On the 4th OF March. 1889, the feet of the
United States navy. apart from few old ships
long since obsolete and fast going to decay con-
sisted OF three modern steel vessels. of an ag-
gregate tonnage of 1883 tons. and noun ting
thirteen 6-inch and four Singh guns. the forgngs
for which last, as well as the shafling for the
vessels had been purchased from abroad as
they could not be made in this country
''There have been total OF nineteen vessels
OF the new navy put in commission ,iurn. this
administration. OF an aggregate tonnage of ST.
S33 tons. mounting altogether Two Finch,
six io-inch. sixteen S-inch and eighty.
two 6-inch suns. all of which, with the
exception Of five of the earliest, have been
manufactured in this country Three
new steel tugs have also been cons truccd and
put in service during this period. There are
eighteen vessels in process of cons tructicn and
certain to be completed should their armor be
tonnage of $40: tons and mounting alto
gether twelve 13-nch, six Finch. sixteen 10
inch. thirty s-inch. ihirty-two 6-inch. thirty
eight 5-inch and thirty-tOEr finch guns all of
which have Gecn are to be manufactured
in this country. During this period twenty fl We
vessels will have been launched. thirteen OF
them. including the three tugs. during the cur
rent year and Of al the new ships the con-
structiun OF which has been begun during the
present administration only two will remain ON
the stocks on the 18th Of March next.
Our new navy, INCLUDING all vessels built or
authorized now consists of the following YES
sells: One sea going battieship first class
Iowa. Three coast-l?ne battleships ttirst-class,
massachusetts. Indiana. Oregon Two battle
ships second class, Maine, Texas Six
doubleturreted harbor-defense vesseIs-Puri-
tan, Monterey. Man tOnOmoh. Monadnock. Ter
ror, Amphitrite. Two armored crusers-New
York, Brooklyn. Ore ram. Two protected cruiS-
ers Of extreme Speed-Coiumbia. Mnnea polls.
Fourteen cruisers Olympia. Baltimore, Chi
cagO, Philadelphia San Francisco. Charles ton.
Newark, Boston. Atlanta. Cincinnati, Raleigh.
Detroit. Montgomery. Marblehead One dis.
patch vesSei-DOlphin Six gunboa ts--G York
town, Concord Bennington. MachisS, Castiue,
Petrol. One dynamite ycssel-Fesuvius. One
practice yeSsei-Bancroft Two torpedo boats
Gushing. No. :, making total OF forty two
vessels.
progress in the production of these things and
says the progress noted. by which the United
States has emerged from It's condition OF help
lessneSs at sea and by the employment of its
own resources has diStancCd its most, expert
enced competitors, marks an epoch in ma val de-
yelopment not only of this country but OF the
world.
Coming down to detailed statement as to
armor tests the secretary tells of the work ac-
cOmplished, of the tremendous test to which
the Harvey nickel-steel armor plate was sub
jected. as the result of which improved meth
DDS were Introduced in the Harvey process. and
continues:
the result has never been equaled even
approached before by any armor plate. Amer
ican or foreign. 1t has demonstrated that
the United States, in the reconstruction OF
its new navy which ten Years ago had no
existence even on paper, is enabled to
place upon each and all of it's armored
vessels material the like of which the
world. up to this time has not seen: and thai
While vast sums have been spent in plating the
sides of foreign men-ofwar with an inferior ma.
terial, this country will employ for tine purpose
an armor which Isl not only far more efficient.
but which represents unquestionably. having
reference to the dimensions of plates thus far
tested the highest development Of modern
| science. and development reached 10y its own
| independent efforts.
'roi'owing the example of the United States
the English government four weeks ago held !:
| trial of The new American armor and it is clean
| from the. highly successful results of the trial
| that the United States. instead OF being the las
in the race IN The construction of vessels of wal
| or of borrowing it's best ideas from abroad. has
| set an example in this respect which Other
maritime powers will speedily follow.
| The aggressive policy of foreign nations con
| tinues. and this country. whether it will OF
| not. will soon pc forced into position where
| it cannot disregard measures which form
standing menace to its prosperity and security
| On the iSthmus our commerce is engaged III q
desperate fight to maintain its foothold. II
| the south Pacific repeated annexations and
protcctorates are extending the power and in
1lucnce OF the maritime states of the ole
| wCrld Subsidized lines of fast steamers are
! completing the circle of maritime communi
! cation the eastern and western coasts OF
| the Dominion of CANADA and fortresscS daily
| increasing in strength surrounding ON
coast upon the south and east Under these
circumstance il is imperative to the welfare OF
| this country that the policy of naval recon
| struction, so successfully carried on in the
| paSt. should suffer no interruption in the
| future
Much space is devoted to interesting details
as to the opera tidns of ships in commission the
last year in Behrsng sea and elsewhere: on tht
work of the marine hospital bureau in connec
ton with cholera quarantine etc. Interesting
statistics are given as to the growth of the GOV
eminent toward establishing naval militia the
| creation of which is characterized one of the
most important steps in our recent naval prog
ress.
The estimates in the report for the fiscal veal
ending June 80. 1891. for navy and marine corps
including those for public works and increased
navy, are S24 47l ,49s being s2713,lH less thar
those for the last fiscal year.
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