Southwest-sentinel. [volume] (Silver City, N.M.) 1883-189?, 1892-08-09

The compromise reached on the
Navy Appropriation bill will add
to the new feet two vessels of the
highest type of efficiency. 1t may
be something of a disappointment
that still more was not accom-
plished; but the lavishness of the
Billion Congress seems to have
enforced frugality even in this
matter of great National impor-
tance. Indeed, it was not only by
postponing appropriations for the
battle ship until the next session
that the authorization for it was
secured. On the other hand, the
House accepted much the most
important portions of the additions
proposed by the senate. 1t is
sometimes said disparagingly that
the senate added a dozen vessels
to the bill and the house only
granted one. But this one ship
selected by the house from the
senate's list may cost nearly a mil
lion dollars more than the ten
smaller craft that the senate pro-
posed. In fact, the limit set for
the battle ship is 100000. 1t
will also cost far more than the
coast defense vessel proposed by
senate, while being itself a most
efficient coast defender, as we'll
as seagoing line : of battle
ship. Again, the armored cruiser,
which the house had already or
dered, is to be a very expensive
vessel, the New York costing $2,-
995,000, while the. limit for the
new vessel of this type is SO, 100000,
and she will be superior to the
New York.
1t will be seen therefore, that,
while only two vessels have been
authorized by congress, they may
be worth two dozen torpedo boats
and small gunboats such as nu-
merically swelled the senate's list.
Secretary Tracy has described the
New York as San unusual combi-
nation of great offensive and defen-
sive power, with extraordinary
coal endurance and a high rate of
speed" She can go twenty knots
an hour, and at a less speed can
! make a voyage of $4,000 miles
without recoaling. She is built
in fact, as the secretary says ''tC
keep the sea, and thus destroy the
enemy's commerce, and not only
his commerce, but any commerce
; destroyer he may send out. -Four
such ships distributed in various
quarters, would put an effectua1
stop to the depredations of as many
fleets of ordinary cruisers. Fol
general purposes Of service in wal
she is believed to have a wider
field of usefulness than any othel
ship yet designed for the Navy
The secretary also speaks of th'
New York as magnificent vessel
in which the highest efficiency O
the cruiser type is reached-iI
fact, the best all-round vessel o
any type" But the new armoreC
+ cruiser, as planned, is likely to b,
> 1000 tons larger than the New
v York. She will have four barbett,
O turrets instead Of two for he
> heavy guns, and these will be pro
@ tected by 10-inch armor. he
q protective deck will also be an i'm
a provement on the New York
is and her battery power will un
o doubtedly be superior.
3. OF the three battle ships now
fl be joined by fourth, Secretar
4, Tracy has said that "there ar
1t others in existence of greater siz'
il but none of greater power or eff
ig cieny" Their battery is eth
II heaviest and most effective carrie
ie today by any ship aaoat or pre-
IN jected," while their water-lin
A.? armor of nickel steel is eightee
at inches thick The main batter
lr Of one Of these vessels throws owe
II three tons weight of projectiles 4
or a single discharge, and the proie'
lg tiles Of their l3-inch guns can pc.
th forate twenty-five inches Of ste,
ar at the distance of a mile. The
Of secondary batteries discharS
three hundred ane thirty proje
ly tiles per minute. II is alread