Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1892-12-15
UNITED STATES NAVY.
Secretary Tracy's Annual Report
Shows Wonderful Progress.
A Fleet Fully Worthy to Bear the stars
and Strlpes-American ArmOr Plate
Is the Best-Estlmates for
the Fiscal Year.
A GOOD RECORD.

WASHINGTON, Zee. L. - SeCTcVdry
Tracy in his report to the president
starts out with list of vessels in the
navy, and points with pride to the
work accomplished during the present
administration. He says:
"OH the 4th OF March, 1889, the feet of the
United States navy, apart from few old ships
long since obsolete and fast going 70 decay, con-
sisted of three modern steel vessels, of an ag-
gregate tonnage of 1853 tons, and mounting
thirteen 6-ineh and four Sinch guns, the forgings
for which last, as well as the shafting 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 during this
administration, of an aggregate tonnage of 81
S33 tons, mounting altogether two Finch,
six l0-inch, sixteen 8inch and eighty
two 6-inch guns, al of which, with the
exception of five Of the earliest, have been
manufactured in this country. Three
new steel tugs have also been construed and
put in service during this period. There are
eighteen vessels in process of construction and
certain to be completed, should their armor be
delivered within the next year, OF an aggregate
tonnage of 93,407 tons and mounting alto
gether twelve 13-inch, six 12-inch, sixteen 10
inch, thirty S-inch, thirty-two 6inch, thirty
eight 5-inch and thirtyfOur finch guns, all Of
which have been or are to be manufactured
in this country During this period twenty-five
vessels will have been launched, thirteen of
them, including the three tugs, during the cur
rent year, and of all the new ships the con-
struction of which has been begun during the
present administration only two viii remain on
the stocks on the 4th OF March next
"Our new navy, including all vessels built or
au thorized, now consists of the following YES
sells One sea-going battleship FIRST class
Iowa. Three eoast-line battleships (drst-class)
Massachusetts, Indiana, Oregon. Two battle
ships (second classl-Maine, Texas Six
double-turreted harbor-defense vessels-Puri-
tan Monterey, Miantonomoh, Monadnock, Ter
ror, Amphitrite. Two armored cruisers-New
York, Brooklyn. One ram Two protected cruis-
ers of extreme speed-Columbia, Minneapolis.
Fourteen cruisers-O Olympia Baltimore, Chi
cago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Charleston,
Newark Boston, Atlanta, Cincinnati Raleigh,
Detroit Montgomery, Marblehead. One dis
patch vessel-Dolphin Six gunboats-York-
town, Concord, Bennington, Machias, Castine,
Petrol. One dynamite yessel-Vesuvius. One
practice vessel-Bancroft Two torpedo boats
Gushing, No. ?, making total of forty-two
vessels.
The secretary details at length noteworthy
progress in the production of these things and
says the progress noted, by which the United
States has emerged from its condition OF help
lessness at sea and by the employment Of its
own resources has distanced its most expert
enced competitors, marks an epoch in naval de-
velopment not only of this country but OF the
world
Coming down to a detailed statement as to
armor tests the secretary tells of the work &C
complished' of the tire seSdous test to which
ec s nf as the result Gas meh
DDS were introduced ino be hrvey process, and
continues: nOtv
Tine result has never II equaled or even
approached before by g. armor plate, Amer
lean 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 a material the like of which the
worldSup to this time has not seem and that
while vast sums have been spent in plating the
sides of foreign men-of-war with an inferior ma
terial this country will employ for the purpose
an armor which is not only far more efficient,
but which represents unquestionabIy, having
refa7enes TO the dimensions of plates thus far
tested, the highest development of modern
science, and development reached by its own
independent etorts.
Following ii example of the United States,
the English government four weeks ago held
trial of the new American armor, and it is clear
from the highly successful results of the trial
that the United States, instead of being the last
in the race in the construction of vessels of war
or of borrowing its 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 WIFI or
not, will soon be forced into position where
it cannot disregard measures which form
standing menace TO its prosperity and security.
On the isthmus our commerce is engaged in
desperate fight to maintain its foothold. In
the south Pacific repeated annexations and
protectorates are extending the power and in
flucnce of the maritime states of the old
world. Subsidized lines of fast steamers are
completing the circle of maritime communi-
cation on the eastern and western coasts OF
the Dominion OF Canada and fortresses daily
increasing in strength are surrounding our
coast upon the south and east Under these
circumstance it 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 operations of ships in commission the
last year in Behring sea and elsewhere; on the
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 as one Of the
most important steps in our recent naval prog
reSs-
The estimates in the report for the fiscal year
ending June 80 1894, for navy and marine corps,
including those for public works and increased
navy, are s24,47l 49S, being s2,7l5i4l less than
those for The las q fiscal wear.