Passaic City record., 1893-12-09
UNCLE SANS new NAVY.
THE ENCOURAGING REPORT
OF SECRETARY HERBERT.


Power of the World-Nine New
Ships Have Been Launched and
Six Placed in Commisslon-NaVa
Militia.
The annual report of Secretary of ihe Navy
Herbert, shows that the following new YES
sells have been launched during the past
year. Columbia. 1850 tons, Marblehead,
2O00; Olympia. $500 Cincinnati, 1888; Ka-
tahdin, 2183 Indiana, 10,200 Massachu-
sets. 10000, Minneapolis, 1850 Oregon.
1900. ''The following new vessels says
the Secretary, 'have been completed
cepted by the Government and placed in
commission Monterey, 413S tons Bancroft,
83S ;Machias 1850 Detroit, 200o New York
8130 Castine. 1880 The preliminary trials
of the Monterey, Bancroft, Detroit, New
York, Machias, Castine and Columbia re-
suited successfully, as did also the final trials
of the Monterey, Bancroft and Detroit
''The increased horsepower and speed
over designed rates obtained by contractors
in these ships have entitled them in some
cases to large premiums, and this has at
traeted much comment. 1t has been as
sumed that these premiums when paid were
mere gratuities, or that they were. at any
rate, all clear profit to the builders, the Gov
ernment being without any sufficient consd-
GRAFTON therefor. The system of allowing
premiums for increased rate over and impos-
ing penalties for failure to obtain contract
rates was not thus intended, and it is not be-
licved to have so operated.
ssThe progress thus far made in our Naval
Department is clearly shown in the follow
ing list, which gives the number and type of
effective war vessels which this country will
possess when those now building are COM
pleted.
'Armored-Battle-ships first class, being
built, four; battle-ships. second class. being
built, two armored cruisers being built
one in service, one; coast-defense vessels
being built, four, in service, two barbor-
defense ram being built, one: total being
built. twelve in service. three total fifteen
Unarmored-Protected cruisers being
built, five in service, eight; cruisers being
built, two; in service, one; gunboats author
vessel in service, ono; total authorized
three, total being built seven in service
sixteen total twenty-six.
ga comparison will show that the United
States now ranks seventh as naval power
ssOf the old wooden ships of the navy but
eight remain in active service as cruisers
and one, the Hartford, is now being repaired
Tor service. With the exception of the Hart
ford and the Kearsarge, which are specially
excepted by act of Congress. all of these YES
sells will disappear from active service with
in three years under the operations of the
ten per cent limit. None of our wooden
vessels can be taken into account in the
consideration of an effective navy
The Secretary requests authority to de-
vote the $3.50, 900 authorized for the con-
struction of a vessel similar to the Vesuvius.
to the construction of three torpedo-boats,
and recommends that Congress increase the
limit of cost of the swift torpedo cruiser au-
thorized by the act of June 80, 1890, so as to
enable the department. to have this vessel
down dIrinO Tha
Secretary adds
I'VE can build modern ships of war as
quickly and without any doubt as good as
any country in the world. I feel confident
that some of our shipyards rival the best in
Europe"
the battleship Indiana will be ready for trial
next June, and that the coast defense battle
ship Oregon will be ready for commissioning
in a short time. The second-class batteship
Maine is expected to be ready for sea trial
in about six months as we'll as the second
class battleship Texas. The double-turreted
monitor Puritan it is expected will be ready
for trial about July next the doubls-tur-
reted monitorsTerror ,Amphitrite and Monad-
mock during the first half of the next year
the protected cruiser Olympia within the
coming week the protected cruisers Cincin-
natl and Raleigh sby next March, and the
cruiser Marblehead, of 1000 tons, is SO far
her acceptance trial will take place within
short time.
The armored harbor defense ram Katahdin
will be ready tor trial about January 1, 1895,
the torpedo boat Ericsson by the end of the
present year the sea-going battleship Iowa
by February l, 1896, and the armored cruiser
Brooklyn about six months later.
tbs Secretary recommends the use of
smokeless powder for small arms. OF the
naval militia the Secretary says in part
sit is exceedingly gratifying to see so
many of our patriotic citizens thus volun
tarily organizing and laboring to fit them
selves for naval duty. Our long and exposed
sea coast and difficulties attending enlist
ment of sailors for our merchant marine
make this organization of great National inn
portance and the department will do every
thing possible under existing laws to foster
and encourage it. The number of men in
that service is as follows: Massachusetts,
5S9 Rhode Island. 119. New York, 40,
Pennsylvania. 15G, Maryland, 1870; North
Carolina, 262, South Carolina, 204: Califor-
mia, 301 Illinois, oil total, 2376."
The Secretary estimates the amount OF
money needed by the department for 1895 to
be 1927 ,6S5, ,914.02. of which $12. 455, ,025. 90 is
for increase in the navy The apparent
available balance now On hand is $246. .457. sc.