Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1894-12-04
OUR NEW NAVY.
Vessels Vow Building Will 80 Completed
by the End Of the Fiscal Year

A''cufioI is He'd to the report of the s,cra-
t1ry o' the navy, which shows very gratifying
ior our rev. navy. All the vessels
now building, including tre
three torpedo h,a-s authorized by the last sc" o
-.us OBJ. congress ana excepting the frs; class
hti;i'-sllu Iowa, Will probably be e .tuplprsd
aGTlu- 'hr coming fiscal ar. The cstifnate.; for
u" inrrr4 IT the navy for the year end M,
juno ~ l@'i, are large, hut they include praI..
tCt.ly to-. entire SIM ne cssars to comp etc
and equip all TIL neN ships not now in COM
ut, bog. - trat unless new ships are author
i.ri tAr appropriations for the naval service
FOR tlU t-cit year cndinl. June so 1897, sbould
ir- below IN" ,stiiiiaies Tor the coming year by
tn -'rrr,ary pres ms with much earnest.
Ey~- pea for tn authorization of three adtii-
iona. ut lc.,hip> ana ten or twelve torpedo
.'i,-. W aye ga unarm bred vessels heretofore
dti1ntl'd, including those now nearing com
patton, viii constitute a fleet which, it is
believed Il sufficient for ordinary crui sing pur.
- IN ,.mr OF pssce, we have now completed
Huu ~ process % construction but four tirst-
class httiIc ships and but few torpedo boats
lt we are 10 have navy for warhke operations
increase hpth the number Of bartle-shps and
i9spedJ boats.
Expensive Plant Required.
TIE manuiacture OF arIaor requires expcn.
stF" plant and the aggregation of many skilled
wurSuou. All che armur necessary to c1mp,ete
zoe vessels now building Will be de liyerei be-
f0r. The 1T Of June next. Ii no new contracts
are given cut contractors mus, iii hand their
Nur men ami their plants must lie idle Battle-
1Iip- authorized at this time would not he well
under way until late in the fisca year. and at
ielst 'hrrV years and half from the dat. OF
i4c c"ntract would bc required for their com.
l.stol Tbs secretary states that not more
KAN !, per cent. OF the cost of such ships
u"et be- included In the appropriation,
i1r tu' coming year. l recommend tina:
Provision br made for the construction
- aiitiunal battleships AM torpedo bouts
th' s"'retary recommends . the manufac.
tlrH not only OF reserve supply of ord
sane" asa ordnance material for ships of tho
.,.E uu' ALSO supply for the auxiliary fleet.
uul- luG thor appurtsnalces should he pro-
'...h ala Kept on hand Tor both these pur-
I'~,, we nave not TO-DAY n single gun that
.l'.i D. Put upon the ships Paris or New York
' tH' International Navigation company or
..' "fN'r snip OF our reserve navy. Tn manu-
.'.f1r" 1t gu : ut the Washing ton navy ward
. ~ r.'int satisfactorily ana none Of our
L.' ~ I- wiz b. required to wait for their
-if. 'r ordnance equipment
al important or,icr has been issued by the
-,T''ary oi the navy co-Ordiuatint the duties
p. iAr ''A"ral bureaus concerned i'll the CON
s'I t.i.'u ot saips. his order. it is believed
VIA lire 10 a greater extent than has here
.'.u'' nftu possible the harmonious action of
t'-' several buro rus, and make the attain.
H,H' % tho est results more certain.
tIri.- thr past fiscal year there mas been an
F'g,,l.'l tad pressing. demand in many quarters
20 Oh. word foc tine presence of vessels To-
-"iFu american interests. In January last
luria- The Brazil Instruction large flee: was
S"''utraicd In the harnor o: Rio de Janeiru.
zoe NE'ruu~ action of Rear Admiral Rcnham
p. fr'tc ting the personal and commercial
-At' % oar citizens during the disturbed con-
.''I"l~ auprdcd results which will. il Is be-
. ''d ha.r far-ieaching and Wholesome IN
A'i whenever IN iik. circumstances Il may
p. ~ necessary for our naval commanders 10
..'ft ~ on tshalf OF our people IN foreign
IIIt' The war now In progress between China
any Japan has rendered IT necessary or ex.
waters Both the secretary of tho navy and
tlI' - r. tslry Of the treasury recommend tho
'at'iyr - the work OF the coast survey proper
, ti' navy d"ua tment. 1 heartily concur in
ials fg'l mine n liaflpn.
photographic Work.
* Giinr Alaska and a very small area be-
me- an thr work of M lpping and charting our
'i-' has be,l com irt,.i. The hydro.raphio
N.FN. which must be done over and over again
IF reason OF The shifting and varying tiepths Of
.L,rs ''n-cquent upoa the action of streams
t"' ttt''., h's heretofore been done under the
.I.'' non ~ naval officers in subordnation to
'' 'lIcriutcnd-nt of the coast survey. Their.
M tg b, no good reason why the navy
'L'lld not have entire charge hereafter OF
y. work. especially the photographic
rai.' ~ Tue navy department is now, anu has
IN Tor many years, engaged in making eff
cent mIp- entirely similar TO those prepared
H' thr coast survey.
Zee. II my imperative duty TO call attention
N lu Recommendation OF the secretary in
-lIi % III" personnel of the line of the navy.
li 't1gnation of promote, II in this the vital
- ~ "" service, Is so great as to seriously
.liIs'.r IT. efficiency. / consider 1t of the ut
ms, Importance that the young and middle
t-r'l g. .iiccrs should, before the eve of retire
.i'n.' u" permitted to reach grade emitting
~ IN =" "ctive and important duty. The sy5-
I 80 q fsw Yea ago r. gu!ating the en-
l'N ucut OF labor at the navy yards, is
I--d'y upheld and has fully demon
1''"'l ITS usefulness and expedite ICY.
% Is within tho domain of civil service reforms
.'",hlch a. workinen are employed through y
..'td OF labor selected at each navy-yard and
~ gwen work without reference to politics
aill ~ the order of their application, prefer
-t, however, being given to army and navy
'-l'raiS aud those having former navy yard
"Nt". fence, Amendments suggested by expe-
.i'o nave been made To the rules regulating
system Through its operation the work
. - "F navy yards has been vastly i'm proved in
JUS uesn honestly and fairly awarded
H. wiling and competent applicants.
- nni-d mat II this system continues to be
-'rl fly adhered to there will soon ie as a
.lural consequence such an equalization of
rJfly hcnoht - will remove all temptation to
''1iA or abandon il.