Lincoln County leader. [volume] (Toledo, Lincoln County, Or.) 1893-1987, 1894-12-06
The Navy Department

The Navy Department..
Attention is called to the reno,. =,
secretary of the navy, wbirb SI Tl The
very gratifying. progress in the ''Us' "on
struction OF ships for our new NON ooh'
All the vessels now building, inc,mSy' mSy'
the torpedo-boats authorized at tb'oGllg tba Ig
session of congress and excentino iasl "a
first-class battle-ship Iowa wilI iili"g t1e
ably be completed during I'll" -, prob PROD
fiscal year. The estimates for t6l h6ULilihg
crease of the navy for the year endina m
June 80, 1895, are large, but thew r'iirs irs
clude practically the entire sum nao
essary to complete and euuip ali |, ~,
new ships not now in commission so
that unless new ships are authori,s%S
the appropriations for the naval service fIa
for the fiscal year ending June "a
1896, should fall below the estimate,
for the coming year by at least
$4,000, 900. The secretary presents
with much earnestness a nso
for the authorization of three adidt6noI
battle-ships and 10 or II torpedo.bOata
while the unarmored vessels heretoio,a,
authorized, including those now nearins
completion, will constitute a fleet which
it is believed, is sufficient for ordinary
cruising purposes in time OF peace. W.
have now completed and in process Of
construction but four first-class battle.
ships and but few torpedo-bo II We
are to have navy for warlike oper.
tions, offensive and defensive, we Ger.
tainly ought to increase both the nnm.
ber OF battle-ships and torpedo boats
The manufacture Of armor REQUIRES Nv
pensive plants and the aggregation Of
many skilled workmen. All the armOr
necessary to complete the vessels now
building will be delivered before the la
of June fiext. Ii no new contracts are
given out, contractors must dsband
their workmen and their plants mustlie
idle. Battle-ships authorized at hi,
time would not be we'll under wav until
late in the coming fiscal year. and, at
least, three years and a half from The
date of the contract would be REQUIRED
for their completion. The secretary states
that not more than Is per cent OF the
cost of such ships need be included in
the appropriation for the coming year.
1 recommend that provision be made for
the construction of additional battle.
ships and torpedo-boats.
DISPLAYS OF THE YEAR.
During the last fiscal year there has
been an unusual and pressing demand
in many quarters of the world for the
presence of vessels to guard American
interests. In January last, during The
Brazilian insurrection, large feet was
concentrated in the harbor OF Rio de
Janeiro. The vigorous action of Rear.
Admiral Benham in protecting the per.
sonal and commercial rights Of our
citizens during the disturbed conditions
afforded results which will, it is be.
lieved, have far-reaching and whole.
some influence whenever, in like cir.
cumstances, it may become necessary
for our naval commanders to interfere
on behalf of our people in foreign ports,
The war now in progress between
China and Japan has rendered it neCes.
sary or expedient to dispatch eight
vessels to those waters.
THE COAST SURVEY.
Both the secretary OF the navy and
the secretary of the treasury commend
the transfer OF the work OF the coast
survey proper to the navy department
| heartily concur in this recommends
ton.
Excluding Alaska and very small
area besides, all the work OF mapping
and charting our coast has been COM
pleted. The photographic work, which
must be done over and over again BY
reason of the shifting and varying
depths of water, consequent upon the
action OF streams and tides, has hereto.
fore been done under the direction oil
the 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, especially as
the photographic Office of the navy de-
partment is now, and has been lor many
years, engaged in making efficient maps
entirely similar to those prepared by the
coast survey.
PERSONNEL OF THE LINE.
l feel it my imperative duty to call at
tention to the recommendation OF the
secretary in regard to the personnel o.
the line OF the navy. The stagnatlon Of
promotion in this, the vital branch Of
the service, is SO great as to seriously
impair its efficiency. | consider it oil 'ns
most Importance that the young ana
middle-aged officers should before tne
eve of retirement be permitted to reach
grade emitting them to active and I'M
portant duty.
The system adopted few years ago
regulating the employment OF labor AZ
the navy-yards is rigidly upheld, and, ha
fully demonstrated its usefulness and ei
lfciency. 1t is within the domain oil clvn
service reform, inasmuch as workmen
are employed through board OF LABOR
selected at each navy-yard, and are gwen
work without reference to politics anu
in the order OF their application, prefer
ence, however, being given to army anu
navy veterans and those having lornei
navy-yard experience. Amendments
suggested by experience have been mau' @
to the rules regulating the system
Through its operation the work at Ou
navy-yards has been greatly improves "
in efficiency, and the opportunity " u
work has been vastly and fairly awarugIt y,
to willing and competent applicants. ~ ~
is hoped that il this system continues "
be strictly adhered to there will soon W. .I
as natural consequence, such an equan
ization of party benefit as will remO''
all temptation to relax or abandon IL