The Emmett index. [volume] (Emmett, Idaho) 1893-1925, 1893-12-16

The report OF the secretary OF the navy
contains a history OF the operations OF
his department during the past year and
exhibits a most gratifying condition Of
the personnel of our navy. lie presents
satisfactory account OF the progress
which has been made in the construc-
ton OF vessels and makes a number OF
recommendations, 10 which attention II
especially invited During the past six
months the demands for cruising vessels
have been many and urgent. There have
been revolutions calling for vessels to
protect American interests in Nicaragua.
Guatemala, Costa kica, Honduras, Ar
gcntina and Brazil, while the condition
OF affairs in Honolulu has required the
constant presence of one or more ships.
With all THESE calls upon onr navy IL be-
came necessary, in order 40 make up a
sufficient fleet 10 patrol the Behring sea
under the modus vivendi agreed upon
with Great Britain, TO detail TO that ser
vice one vessel from the fish commission
and three from the revenue marine.
Progress In the construction OF new
vessels has not been as rapid as was an
ticipatcd. There have been delays in the
completion of unarmored vessels, but
for the most part they have been such
a. are constantly occurring even in
countries having the largest experience
in naval shipbuilding. The most serious
DELAYS, however, have been in the work
upon armored ships. The trouble has
been the failure of contractors 10 deliver
the armor as agreed. The difficulties
seem now, however, TO have been all
overcome, and armor is being delivered
with satisfactory promptness.
As result OF the experience acquired
4 4. Il
terial men, il is believed that the dates
when vessels will be completed can now
be estimated with reasonable accuracy.
Great guns, rapid fr'"r Guns, torpedoes
and powder are bslns y. o.uptly supplied.
NEW VESSELS COMPLETED.
The following vessels OF the now navy
have been completed and are now ready
for service:
The double-turreted coast-defense
monitor Miantonomah, the double-tur-
retcd coast-deiense monitor Monterey, |
the armored cruiser New York, the pro- |
tectod cruisers Baltimore, Chicago,
Philadelphia, Newark, San Francisco,
Charleston, Atlanta and Boston, the
cruiser Detroit, the gunhoats Yorktown,
Concord, Bennington, Machiaa, Castine
and Petrol, the dispatch vessel Dolphin,
the practice vessel Bancroft, and the
dynamite gunboat Nesuvius. OF these
the Bancroft Machias, Detroit and
Castine have been placed in commission
during the current calendar year.
The following vessels are in progress
of construction; The frst-class battle.
ships Maine and Texas, the cruisers
Montgomery and Marblehead, and tn,
coast-delcnse monitors Terror, Puritan
Amphitrite and Monadnock, all of which
will be completed within year; thu
harbor defense ram katahdln, the pro
tected cruisers Columbia, Minneapolis
Olympia, Cincinnati and Raleigh, all OF
which will be completed prior TO July l.,
1895; the frst-class battlc-ships Iowa,
Indiana, Massachusetts, and Oregon,
which will be completed February l,
1896; and the armored cruiser Brooklyn,
which will be completed by August of
that year. II is also expected that the
three gunboats authorized by the last
congress will be completed in less than
three years.
DEMAND FOR MORE VESSELS.
Since 1886 congress has at each ses-
sion authorized the building of one or
more vessels, and the secretary OF the
navy presents an earnest plea for the
continuance of this plan. lie recon-
mends the authorization OF at least one
battle-ship and six torpedo-boats
While | am distinctly in favor of con-
sistenty pursuing the policy we have
inaugurated OF building up a thorough
and efficient navy, | cannot refrain
from the suggestion that congress should
carefully take into account the number
OF unfinished vessels ON our hands anC
the depleted condition of our treasur.
Ia considering the propriety of an ap
preparation at this time TO begin neN
work.
The method OF employing mechanics
labor az navy-yarls through boards {
labor and making efficiency the sole ties
by which laborers are employed and COZ
tinued. is producing the best result
and the secretary is earnestly devotin
himself to It's development. Attentio
is invited TO the statements OF his repo
in regard to the workings OF the system
Secretary OF the Interior.