The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-11-28

Here are enumerated seventeen coun-
tres and the smallest number of torpedo
haas possessed by any of them is twenty
tse while the United States, with more
kseoast and more ports than any one of
.Asse nations. has of this class of naval
Esssels. now everywhere recognized as IN
eispensable only six, aud in this number
are included the three now about TO be
ssili.
Work on the first-class battleship Iowa
a Progressing as rapidly as the require
msnis of good workman ship will permit.
and il is expected that the vessel will 10
completed dufiag the latter part of 1896
The nrst-ciass bsttleships Indiana. Massa-
eansetts aud Oregon are we'll advanced
iosard completion, and will be in condi-
hon for acceptance by the government
within the coming year. The second-elass
haitleship Maine will be ready for COM
miss.oning before the end of this fiscal
year. She is being built at the New York
navy yard, and her recent machinery trial
at sea indicates that she Is 10 be crafty
Ing success. The second-elass battleship
Texas is practically ready for her ma
ehinery trial, and should be completed and
ready for commissioning a few months
Brooklyn is progressing favorabiy. and it
Is expected that this vessel will be COM
plssed during the early months of 1895
Rapid progress is being made on
Tie doahle-turreted monitors Puri-
tan aud Monadnock. aud these ves-
ssis siil probably be ready for trial
before the end OF this fiscal year. Work
on the donble-turresed monitors Terror
aad Amphitrite is so well advanced that.
"a case Of an emergency, these vessels
could be prepared for service within few
months. The armored ram kstahdin Will
Probably lie completed during the early
part Of the next fiscal year. The protected
cruiser Olympia has been successfully tried
ADD is nov practically ready for commits
SEEMING. The progress OF work on the
sAiee ganhoats. Nos. :. s and 9. now being
eai'i at the Newport News Shipbuiiding
AL Dry Dock Company's works, is such as
'oind,eate that they will be completed
villain the contract time. Such an exam
saasion as the department has been able 10
aaAe, with the information ST its disposal.
sFpesrs 20 justify the conclusion that these
"ssels have been contracted for at price
TT ion fully As low IS Is paid Tor similar
eofk Ia France and England.
ahe secretary recommends that the old
klgaie Constitution. "Oid lronsidss." now
usd As q receiving ship a. the Ports
aSath, \. H., navy yard. be repaired aud
'seaSht 10 Washington city, and kept st
'se nsvy yard - an object of interest 10
ne many thousands OF patriotic Ameri-
sans annually visiting the capital of the
'sasian.
The nsw vessels contain Ear 700 much
heodwofS The recent battle OF the \ ala,
saese modern wsvships ware set on IRE
y exploding shells, shows the danger Of
s'iaE much eoo3 IN construction. Net
ca1y does tAc wood take FIRE, bat dying
sFiateFs are dangerous in the extreme. II
Aas Formerly though that woodwork was
sssSsssvy lu order 70 prevent aceumula-
Aea ct moisture and thus preserve toe
ass4tA Of tie crew: but cork paint serves
s'e same purpose as wood In ships out.i
NsssaiieT ttT.c wood will De used.
TIE eaTesu system in the department IS
a.. eat responsibilities and duties have
yea 50 t,str b1sed that the department q
ee5s Efficient tAau ever before.
Noosress ssoa.t give careful attention 70
s"e orcnAucr 7c4llrements 81 vessels that
- aao.e o. oe called into service a. auxit-
sizes in uue of way. IN accordance with
- As OF Congress approved March ),
~, ana May H. lSe2 providing thst
s.s>iaess registered under the provisions
sAd acts caa lie used by the United
s'Asrs s. Transports % cruisers. To men
'.oa &c Others, see Paris and New orS,
tas lnn}au Lee are nov receiving large
as O. money annually on condition fhSs
80 no.d themselves IN readiness 70 serve
government u hcaever aetn&ncoG.
e-en taey hauled down the Eng.i>A q