The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1894-06-30
NO CAUSE FOR PRIDE
YET IF WE KEEP ON WE WILL SOON
HAVE A NAVY.
Our War Vessels Contrasted with Those of
Other Great Powers-sonne Curious Facts
Strange Fluctuations In American Ship
ping-A Remarkable Decline.


WASHINGTON, June 28.-When the av-
erage American citizen walks through
the beautiful halls of the naval depart
ment and sees the fine models of our war
vessels, when he notes the activity there
and at the navy yards, or even when he
reads of the magnificent record for speed
made by our new ships, his heart swells
with pride, and ne anticipates a speedy
return of the glorious days of our navy
the days of Paul Jones. Hull and Law
renee, of Perry, Decatur and the heroes
Of our civil war. National pride is a good
thing, but lest it becomes excessive let
MS look at the actual facts and contrast
our navy with that of other nations,
at the close of the fiscal year. In his
first message to congress, December,
1885, President Cleveland says: ''AI1
must admit the importance of an effect
i've navy to a nation like ours having
such an extended seacoast to protect.
And yet we have not a single vessel of
war that could keep the seas against
first class vessel of any important pow
er.
A Contrast with other Nations.
AT the opening of the present congress
Secretary Herbert quoted that statement
and said that we had not even yet in
commission ''single vessel of war that
could keep the seas against first class
vessel Of any important power" but that
four such were in process of construc-
ton. In 1885 there was no establish
ment in this country that could turn out
arTnOr for modern vessels, none that
could forge a modern gun of more than
six inch caliber. none that could make
automobile torpedoes, modern rapid fire
guns or powder for the highest power
guns. Secretary Whitney at once began
the work for these and many other need
ed things, and we ere just beginning to
realize the results. Some of the con-
trasts are astonishing. We still have
but three torpedo boats proper, while
England has 227, France 223, Italy 179,
Russia 1855, and so on down to little
Portugal, the lowest in the list, which
has 9. Even China has 80 and Japan
80, and in all foreign countries there are
now 1877 in process of construction, all of
greatly increased size and speed These
should not be confounded with the tor
pedo cruisers to be named hereafter.
We have completed, approved and in
commission 10 full arlnored vessels of
which we are justly proud. beginning
with the famous Puritan, built by John
Roach. 1t Is pity that no general sys-
tesn was adopted in naming our vessels,
as is shown by such list as the Man
din, Ajax, and so on, i've languages be-
ing laid under contribution and the gods
and heroes of every age from Agamem-
non to Ericsson. Striking a balance on
those soon to be completed and the old
ones barely fit for use, it may DO said
we have 10 single turret monitors, 80
unarmored steel vessels of every class,
8 iron steam vessels, 16 wooden steam
vessels, 6 wooden sailing vessels and 10
I
10 war vessels of every kind in process of
construction at the beginning of this
congress six have been completed. and
the secretary says that all viii be in ac-
tive service by the close Of the fiscal year
1895. The total appropriation for the
naval department for the year now end
ing was $22, 1O4, 061. IS. while that for the
coming year-at least, as it passed the
house-is $50. 2SO. S66.27.
What 1T Costs Let a Navy Rot.
A glance over the figures since the
foundation Of our government presents
some very curious contrasts and eznpna-
sizes some points which have been the
subject of much scandal, but have never
been explained. A satisfactory history
Of the naval department for the 10 years
succeeding the war has never been writ
ten. and it Is too soon to write it. The
government in 1865 owned over COO YES
sells Of all kinds, and naval movements
necessarily ceased at once, and yet the
naval appropriation for the fiscal year
1865 was $43, 1855, 662, and for the four
years ending with 1863 the aggregate
was $3.50, 900 600 Much of this is Of
course accounted for by the payment of
retiring sailors and officers and back
claims. 1t was therefore promised and
confidently expected that naval expen ses
would be rapidly reduced. In fast, they
rapidly increased until the apprOpria-
ton for the fiscal year 1874 was $50, 932,-
$751; All this time the navy was run
ming down so rapidly lat it became a
subject for jeers and laughter, and to
the enormous appropriations should in
justice be added the amount realized by
the sale of old material. To realize the
contrast take notice that for the fiscal
year 1899, when the Harrison admins
trarion was straining every nerve to
hasten the completion Of the vessels au-
thorized, the appropriation was but $751;
541, 645, or but a trife more than for
1874 The people can easily understand
why it should take over $50. 200, 900 per
year to build a splendid navy, but why
it took as much to let navy rot is as
yet unexplained.
The figures for the early years Of our
history are laughable in comparison.
In 1894 the total appropriation was but
SCI, 4OS, and when the ederalists got
excited over the prospective war with
France and became, as the Jeffersonians
said, perfectly reckless, they expended
for the year 1900 only s., AS, TIC.
Twelve years passed before that sum