Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1894-12-13
The Navy Department.

PROGRESS IN CONSTRUCTION.
Attention is called to the report of the secre-
progress in the construction of ships for our
new navy. AL the vessels now building, in
Guiding the three torpedo boats authorized at
at the last session OF congress, and except the
first-class battleship iowa, will probably be
completed during the coming fiscal year. The
var ending June 30. 1896, are large, but they
Include practically the entire sum necessary to
complete and equip all the new ships not now
il commission. so that unless new ships are
authorized the appropriations for the naval
service for the fiscal year ending June 80. 1897
should fall below the estimates for the coming
vear by at least S12.000,000.
PLEA FOR MORE BATTLESHIPs.
The nsecretary presents, with much earnest
ditional battleshipS and ten or twelve torpedo
boats. While the unarmored vessels hereto
fore authorized. including those now. nearing
believed is sufficient for ordinary cruising pur-
poses in time of peace. we have now completed
and in process Of construction but four first
for warlike operations. offensive and de-
fensive, we certainly ought to increase both
the number of battleships and torpedo boats.
1 recommend that provision be made for the
construction OF additional battle-ships and tor
pedo boats
ORDNANCE AND ORDNANCE MATERIAL.
The secretary recommends the manufacture
not only of reserve supply OF ordnance and
ordnance material for ships of the navy, but
also a supply for the auxiliary fleet. Guns and
their appurtenanceS should be provided and
kept on hand for both these purposes. We
have not to-day single gun that could be put
upon the ships Paris or New York of the Inter-
national Navigation Co, or any other ship of
the Washington navy yard is proceeding sat-
isfactorily, and none of our new ships will be
required to wait for their guns or ordnance
equipment.
AN IMPORTANT ORDER.
An important order has been issued by the
secretary of the navy co-ordinating the duties
struction of ships. This order, it is believed,
will secure to greater extent than has hereto
fore been possible the harmonious action of
these several bureaus, and make the attain
ment of the best results more certain.
ACTIVE WORK FOR THE NAVY.
During the past fiscal year there has been an
of the world for the presence of vessels to guard
American interests. In January last during
c con in the harbor Of Rio de Janesro.
The vigorous action of Rear-Admiral Benhanl
in protecting the personal and commercial
rights of our citizens during the distur bed con-
GitionS afforded results which will. it is be-
lieyed, have far-reaching and wholesome in
fiuence whenever in like circumstances it may
become necessary for our naval commanders 20
interfere on behalf of our people in foreign
parts The war now in progress between China
and Japan has rendered it necessary or eX-
pedient to dispatch eight vessels to those wa
tiers.
THE COAST SURVEY.
Both the secretary of the navy and the
transfer of the work of the coast
survey proper to the navy department.
I heartily concur in this recommendation.
Excluding Alaska and very small area be-
sides ali the work of mapping and chartlng
our coasts has been completed The hydro
graphic work which must be done over and
over again by reason of the shifting and vary
ing depths of water consequent upon the ac-
ton of streams and tides. has heretofore been
done under the direction of naval officers in
subordination to the superintendent of the
coast survey. There seems to be no good
reason why the navy should not have entire
charge hereafter of such work
PERSONNEL AND PRoMATIoNs.
feel it my imperative duty to call attention
to the recommendation of the secretary in re-
gard to the personnel of the line OF the navy,
The stagnation of promotion in this the vital
branch of the service is SO grea: as to serious
" impair it's efficiency. consider it OF the ut
most Importance that the young and middle
aged officers should befo the eve of retire.
ment be permitted to reach a grade emitting
them to active and important duty.