Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1892-10-18
NEW NAVAL SHIPS AND DOCKS.
Appropriations the May Department Will
Probably Ask For

WASHINGTON, Oct lT.--it is now time
to conjecture On the policy which Secretary
Tracy of the navy department will adopt il
submitting his estimates to Congress
Ii is likely that there will be more liber.
aiity shown in the matter of distributing
funds for the support of the navy during
the year 1891, for which estimates must
now be made. Mr.. Tracy has not vet made
up his mind what he will ask of Congress
in the way of new shins. but it is pretty
certain that he will not depart from the
general scheme of equipping the service
with formidable floating batteries. The
estimates in the bureau of steam engineer
ing and of construction and repair will be
governed by the decision of the department
IN the matter of new ships.
The bureau of ordnance, whose chief is
engaged on his annual report, which Is
promised to be more interesting even than
his last years document, will include esti-
mates for the further enlargement of the
ordnance shops at the Washington navy
yard. 1t is likely that Commodore Folger's
recommendation, made in previous years,
that the so-cailed dynamite cruiser Nesu-
wins be converted into torpedo chaser,
will be renewed. In this idea of putting
the Nesuvius to some practical use the
commodore stands pretty much alone,
so far as encouragement from
the department officials goes Since
the earliest intlmation of such con-
version of the Nesuyius there has been no
Indication on the part of the secretary that
he favored the plan. He is not credited
however, with opposition to the chang; in
fact, il is said that he finds much in the
Vesuvius as she stands at present to criti-
else
If Commodore Farduhar, the chief of the
bureau of yards and docks, has his way
there will be made by Congress provision
for two more timber dry docks, of which
the navy stands in great need. bne will
be constructed on the Pacific coast
probably at Mare Island. 1t will he built
large enough to accommodate the big battle
ships and the huge ocean steamers which
have been admitted to American registry
and which, in the event of war. would be-
come cruisers of the nited States. 1t is
felt that some arrangement should be made
to care for them in case of accident As
things are at present, there is no govern
mcnt dry dock large enough to take in such
steamers AS the City of Paris and if dam
aged it would be difficult matter to repair
likely that the other dock will be built Mt
Portsmouth, \. H., or at the Boston navy
yard, certainly on the New England coast
somewhere.
At Portsmouth there is only one timber
dock. and that is decaying with age, and it
has long been the intention of the depart
mcnt to replace it with new one. Some day
the officials who are conversant with the
STATE of affairs expect to hear of irreparable
d5msge to naval vessel by docking at
Portsmouth. At Boston there is
one dock, a granite affair that is
: affected by the changes
in weather. which are quite severe in that
latitude The dock i'll New England will
be on the large scale which modern changes
in naval construction has necessitated.
In addition to the docks the departments
will recommend one or two buildings at the
New York navy yard for the use of the
steam engineering department there. There
will also be an estimate in the sccretarys
report for continuation of the sea wall at
Cohb'S Dock ut New York. 1t is found
that the wharting at this place is in IA very
bad condition, and further protection of the
island is Necessary.