The indicator., 1894-12-01
OUR NEW WAR SHIPS
SECRETARY HERsERr's REPORT
Detailed Statement of the Condition OF
the Navy.-Report OF Progress in the
Work of Butl-ing New Ships.

Washington. d. c., Nov. 2I.-The re
port of the secretary of the treasury
made to-day says in part:
The following new vessels have been
completed and tried since the date of
my last report:
Marblehead, 1S.44 knots per hour;
Columbia, 22.So knots per hour; olym-
pia, 2l.6o knots per hour; Montcom-
cry, 1906 knots per hour; Minneap-
oils, 23,o7G knots per hour
The lndiana, Texas and Oregon have
had unofficial preliminary trials under
the direction of the contractors. and
the Maine had her official machinery
trial ON October II. 1894. her engines
developing an indicated horse power
| of 9,22i3 for four hours. and showing
an average speed of 11.i5 knots
l'n the subject of torpedo boats. three
of which We're authorized to be built,
the report says that the department
has carefully considered the questions
relating To the development of this
type OF vessels. both at home and
abroad and has finally decided upon
the construction Of torpedo boats OF
the general type OF the Ericsson, with
To attain an average speed of not less
than 24.5 knots on the acceptance
trial.
No speed premiums will be provid.
ed for in the contracts for the building
of these vessels says the report. I'm
the contracts for the construction of
Eunboats Nos. .. $ and ., small pre-
miums and penalties were provided
for. This system undoubtedly had its
advantages when adopted. but rptlec-
tion has convinced the department
that the time has come when. with the
experience that has been gained, it
may with profit be abandoned"
The report enumerntes seventeen Of
the largest governments of the world
to show that the smallest number OF
terbedo boats possessed by any of them
is twenty-five, while the United States,
with more seaconst and more ports
than anyone of these nations. has of
this class of naval vessels, now every
| where recognized rs Indispensable.
only six, and in this number are in
cluded the three about TO be built
Progress of work on the new navy is
recorded as follows:
Work on the first-class battle ship
Iowa is progressing as rapidly as the
requirements of good workmanship
will permit, and it is expected that the
vessel will be completed during the
latter part of 1896
The tifStclaSs battle ships Indiana,
Massachusetts and Oregon are well adj
vancci toward completion. and will be
In condition for acceptance by the gov
ernment within the coming year.
The second-class battle ship Maine
will be ready for commissioning before
the end of this fiscal year She is be
ing built at the New York navy yard.
and her recent machinery trial at sea
indicates that She is TO be II gratifying
success.
The second-class battle ship Texas is
practically ready for her machinery
trial, and should be completed and
ready for commissioning a few months
later
Work on the arnored cruiser Brook
lyn is progressing favorably and it is
expected that this vessel will be com
pletcd during the early months of 1896,
Rapid progress is being made on the
dpuhlc-turrcted monitors Puritan and |
Monadnock, and these vessels will
probably be ready Cor trial before the
end Of this fiscal year Work on the |
double. turrcted monitors Terror and |
Amphitritc is so we'll advanced that ,
in case Of nn emergency. these vessels
could be prepared for service within u
few months.
The armored ram Katahdin will |
probably be completed during the early |
part of the next fiscal year.
The ordnance work Ht the Washing
ton gun factory. the report says, has
continued satisfactorily. OF the twelve
13-inch guns ordered. len have been
completed A larger reserve of ord
nance and ordnance stores is recon-
mended.