The Daily Texarkanian., 1894-10-24
COST OF THE NEW NAVY,
The New Fleet to be Completed this
Year.

CdAs
That much talked of, much paid
for new navy" of Uncle Sans is
nearing completion. That next
year is final pay day in most of the
Dig dock yards is evidenced by the
estimates for coming appropriations
submitted to the treasury depart
ment by Secretary Herbert.
The total estimate for the entire
naval establishment is $50, 1852, O2O. 40
as against $25, 5S5, 826.72 appropri-
ated for the current year. OF this
sum 81, S79, O22 is needed for meet
ing payments which will fall due
during the coming fiscal year on ac-
count of construction work and
steam machinery, For ordnance,
including armor and armament, the
sum of s., 237 $40 is asked for, max
ing the total for the increase of the
new navy $13, 116, 500, as against
50, 955, 025 appropriated for the cur
rent fiscal wear.
This increase in the amount re-
quired under the head of increase
of the navy becomes necessary
largely because the final and largest
payment on the new battle ships
and big cruisers become due during
1895. There is also a considerable
increase on account of the new dry
dock at Puget Sound and improve
ments at the naval station at Cost
err Harbor Island With the eXcep-
ton of the two latter projects, for
which $3.50, 900 and $1S3, 600, respec-
lively, are asked, the Secretary of
the Navy has turned down all rec
concentrations of bureau chiefs for
increase over current appropria-
TONS
Secretary Herbert has endeavor-
ed to keep the estimates of the Ma
Wy Department down to the lowest
ebb, and in many instances the es.
Inmates are lower than in prior
years. With regard to the new
navy, however, there could be no
cheese pairing unless the Govern
ment placed itself in the attitude
of refusing to meet its obligations.
Next year will be pay day for the
new navy and the Secretary, know
ing that he will have to act as pay
master, is only taking the necessary
course to obtain the funds.
Unless Congress at it's next ses-
sion should authorize the construc-
ton of additional vessels, the APP
preparations for succeeding years
will be practically nil. AS the mat
ter stands now, an appropriation Of
only 100000 will be necessary in
1896 to wind up the payments on
the vessels of the new navy.
The fact that the estimates for
the new navy are unusually large
this year will not by any means be
a bar to recommendations for the
construction of new ships. On the
contrary, it will be used as an argu-
ment in favor of legislation for new
vessels. In his annual report Sec
rotary Herbert will point out that
the present work is now nearing a
close and unless provision is made
for new vessels, the ship building
and armor plate establishments
which have extensive plants built
expressly for the purpose of govern
ment work will be compelled to shut
down and thus throw a large mum
Der Of men out Of employment.
This will be particularly the case
with the armor plate firms, whose
plants will be of little if any value
for private work, But this recon
mendation may meet ears as deaI
as those turned to the Secretary
supplication last winter. 1t will b.
for Congress to decide whether OF
not Uncle Sam needs any more bat
tie ships to sail in times of piping
peace.
1