Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1893-12-13
NAVY DEPAKrMENr.
Facts and Figures Regarding the Naval
Strength OF the CountrY.

Strength OF the Country.
The report OF the secretary of the navy con-
talns history OF the operations OF his de-.
partment during the past year and exhibits
most gratifying condition OF the per ;onnel or
our navy. He presents a satisfactory account
OF pro raSS which has been made in the con-
struction OF vessels and makes a nun Der of
recommendations which is especially inyited
DufInE the past six months the demands for
cruising sessels have been many and urgent
inere nave been revolutions calling for yes
qua, Gudtemala, Costa Rica, Honduras Argen-
tine and Brazil, while the condition OF affairs
IN honolulu has required the constant pres
ence OF one or more ships With all these
Calls upon our navy ii became necessary in or
qer 10 make up u Sufficient fleet, to patrol the
i,enFln! Sc under tie modus vivendi agreed
upon Win Great Britain to detail TO that SER
vice one vessel from the fish commisS on
ana three from the revenue marine
frogress IN the construction of new vessels
nas NOT been as rapid as was anticipated
There have been delays in the conn. elton of
uharmed vessels, but for the most part they
nave been such as was constantly occurrin in
countries hIyiny the lar est experienca ic
naval ship building The most serious DELAYS,
however nave been in the work upon armored
SHIPS The trouble has been the failure of
contractors to deliver armor as agreed The
dlf3cuitins seem now, however to have been all
overcome and armor is being delivered with
satisfactory promptnesS.
The foliowin vessels OF the new navy have
oeen completed and are now ready for service:
The double turreted coast defense monitor
tense monitor Monterey, the armed cruiser
New York. the protected cruisers Baltimore.
Chicago. Philadelphia, Newark, San Fran
cisco Charleston Atlanta and Boston, the
cruiser Detroit, the gun boats Yorktown, Con
cord Bennington, MachiaS CastiEe and
t,etrel. the dispatch vessel Dolphin the prac-
ticc Vessel BANCROFT and the dynamite gun
beat Vesuv1uS. OF these the Bancroft. Macbias
Detroit and Castine have been placed in com
mission during the current year
The followln, vessels are in process of con-
structlon: The second ass battle ships Maine
and Texas, the cruisers Mont gomery and Mar
blehead and tao coast defense Monitor Terror
Puritan, Amphrite and Monadnock all of
which Will be completed within one wear
The harbor defense ram Katahdin and the
protected cruisers Columbia Minneapolis
Olympia, Cincinnati and Rllei h, all of which
will be completed prior to July. 1895, the first
class battle ships Iowa. Indiana Massachu-
settS and Oregon, which will be completed Feb
ruary l. 1896 and the armored cruiser Brook
iyn. which will be completed by August of that
year. 1t Is also expected that the three gun
boats authorized by the last congress will be
completed in less than two years
Since 1885 con reSS has at elch session au-
tborized the build n OF of one or more vessels
and the secretary of the navy presents an
earnest plea for the continuance of this plan
lie recommends the authorization of at least
ole oa;i.eshlp and SIX torpedo boats. While
/ am distin tiy IL favor of consistently pur.
suing the policy we haze OF buildn up thor
OH and efficient navy, l cannot re rain from
the su gestion that congress should carefully
take into account the nuICOer OF unfinished
vessels on oGr hands and the depleted cond-
tlon of our treasury III considering the PRO-
prlety OF an appropriation at this time 10 be-
gin new work.
The method of employ rg mechanical labor
at the navy yards through boards OF labor
and maxim : efficiency the sole test by which
laborerS are employed and. continued is pro
ducing the est results, and the sec cetary is
earnestly devottnt himself to its develop
ment Attention is invited to the statements
OF his report in regard to worlin; of the sys-