The morning call., 1893-12-01
MAKING GOOD PROGRESS
America Now Stands Independ-
ent of the World.
MAKES SHIPS AND ARMS THEM.
Can Be Built at Home Better Than
Foreign Nations Can Build
Them.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30.-The annual re-
port of the Secretary of the Navy states
that since the last report there have been
launched the following new vessels:
Columb bia, tonnage 1850; Marblehead, 1000;
Olympia, $500; Cincinnati, 1888; Katah-
din, 21S3; Indiana, 10, 200; Massachusetts.
10.200; Minneapolis. 1850; Oregon, 1O, 200.
The following new vessels have been
completed. accepted by the Government
and placed in commission during the cur
rent calendar year: Monterey, tonnage
4l3S; Bancroft, S3S; Eachias, 1850; De-
.roit. 2000; New York. $50; Castine, 1850.
The preliminary trials of the Monterey,
Bancroft. Detroit, New York, Machias,
Castine and Columbia resulted success
fully, as also did the final trials of the
Monterey, Bancroft and Detroit. 1t is a
source of qualification to the department to
state that on the preliminary trials the
speeds attained were. in most cases, in ex-
cess OF the minimum speeds required by
the several contracts.
The following show the results attained
by the builders: Monterey. contract
speed 16 knots, attained speed 13 06 knots
Bancroft, contract speed u, attained a. 81;
Detroit, contract IL, attained 1871; New
York. contract 20. attained 81; Machias,
contract Is. attained 1916; Castine, con-
tract 13, attained 1861; Columbia, con-
tract 81, attained $3.50.
The increased horsepower or speed over
designed rates obtained by contractors in
these ships has untitled them in some cases
10 large premiums, and this has attracted
much comment. 1t has been assumed that
these premiums when paid were mere
gratuities, or that they were at any rate
all clear profit to the builders, the Govern
ment being without any sufficient con-
sideration therefor. The system OF allow
ing premiums for increase over and impos-
ing penalties for failure to attain contract
rates was not thus intended, and it is not
believed to have so operated.
Ii is shown in the report that the United
States, when all the vessels now building
are completed, will have forty-one ships of
all sorts available for war purposes, Civ
ing her the seventh rank among the navies
of the world. comiug after England,
France. Russia, Italy. Germany and Aus
tria in the order named.
OF the old wooden ships of the navy but
eight remain in active service as cruisers.
and one, the Hartford. is now being re-
paired for service. With the exception of
the Hartford and the Kearsarge, which are
specially excepted by act of Congress. all
of these vessels will disappear from active
service within three years under the oper-
ations of the 10 per cent limit. None of
our wooden vessels can be taken into ac-
count in the considera ton of an effective
navy.
After careful consideration the depart
ment requests authority to devote the
S450,000 authorized for the construction of
a vessel similar to the Vesuvius to the con-
struction of three torpedo-b boats, and it also
recommends that Congress should SO in
crease the limit of cost Of the swift torpedo
cruiser, authorized by the act of June 30.
1890, as to enable The department to have
this vessel laid down during the next fiscal
year.
OF the vessels of the new navy now being
built the Secretary says:
The difficulty experienced until re-
Gently in procuring armor has caused long
and uDlooked-for delays in the construc
tion Of armored vessels. Secretary Whit
ney, on the 1st day of June, 1887, ontracted
with the Bethlehem Company Tor the armor
required for the construction and connie.
ton of four moniiors-the Puritan. Terror.
MOnadnock and Amphitrite-and two sec
Ond-class battle-s ships-the Maine and the
Texas. Three hundred tons were to be
ready by February 1, 1890. and deliveries
were to be made thereafter at the rate of
300 tons per month. Deliveries under this
contract were to commence in January.
1890, and be completed in September. 1891.
Had the contract been complied with all
the above ships might have been In COM
mission at the present time. AS it is, none
of them are completed. Three firsr-cIass
battle ships have been in the meantime
authorized by Congress. Secretary Tracy
on the 20h day of November, 1891, con-
tracted with Carnegie 81 Co. for $500 tons
of armor. Deliveries were to begin July |.
1891. and be completed about A pril 1, 1892.
"Of the II, 800 tons covered by the two
contracts, only 19A9 tons had been deliv
cred on the first day of March last. When
new Industries are inaugurated time is re-
quired to perfect plants, and these cannot
be operated successfully without expert
ence. Our armor-makers have encoun-
tered even greater difficulties than thew
anticipated, but these difficulties have
been overcome, and deliveries of armor
are now being made with satisfactory ra-
pidity.
Surveying the whole field, we find much
to be proud of Ia the knowledge that we
can furnish the material for, and build,
modern ships of war as quickly and, with
out any doubt, as well as any country in
the world. l feel confident that some of
our shipyards rival the best in Europe.
"The work of reconstruction on the coast.
defense battle-ships Indiana and Massa-
chusetts, of 10. 200 tons each, is progressing
satisfactorily. The former vessel is the
more advanced toward completion, and il
is anticipated that she will be ready for
trial by June of the coming year.
THE coast-defense battle-shjp Oreoon