The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1895-12-05

Sureu ITas u5en suOJeCJeu 70 'tne sever
est tests, with results entirely satisfac-
tory.iEA large number of heavy gun
mounts have been built and show graf
flying results.
The principal work during the year
in the domain Of projectiles has been
the development of semi.armor pierc-
ing shell, which, while strong enough
to pierce q considerable thickness of
aermor, also has capacity for large
bursting charge.
The department has decided to con-
struct and exhaustively test SUBJ
marine boat of the Holland type, and
q contract has accordingly been entered
into with the John p Holland Torpedo
Boat comgany of New York.
The high cost of the armor thus far
purchased has been due to the yery
large expenditures for the extensive
plants necessary to modern armor
manufacture. Now that these plants
have been erected, it is confidently ex-
pected that in future contracts a con-
siderable reduction from former prices
will be obtained.
The department has been strongly
urged from many quarters to recon-
mend the construction of new docks
not only at Norfolk, but also at Ports
mouth, n. H., at Boston, at League
island and at Mare island. This would
be extravagant, as it would necessitate
the SUPPORT of too many organizations
and too many foremen and leading
men. Therefore the work should be-
concentrated. 1t would be wise to in
vest this mony in ships and not in
building docks. A skilled force of
workmen could thereby always be held
by the department.
Coal for the navy has been purchased
at a great red action, and by reason of
this and other economies in expendi-
ture it is estimated that, notwithstand-
ing the fact that more cruising has been
done than usual, about $25, 900 will be
turned back into the treasury from the
appropriation equipment of vessels" +"
Marines have been deemed necessary
bn board battleships by the depart
ment, and it is ST rggested that they man
portion of the guns on board ship as
well as handle small arms. 1t is pleas
ing to state that during the past year
the hazing of cadets at our naval acad-
emy has entirely ceased. During the
past two years our naval war college
has made distinctively forward step,
and the increasing interest in the naval
militia movement in the lake and sea-
board states gives such promise that the
department recommends that steps be
now Gnkcn " esIapIIsn UnIS arm OF tn0
national defense on definite footing.
The estimated pay of the navy for
1896 will amount to o. ,472, ,S48; the ap-
preparation is $7,649, ,329; for 1897 tho
estimate is $780, s78 The total run
ming expenses, as estimated, are as fol-
lows: For 1896, $50, 962. .096 90; appro-
priation for 1895, current year, $29, ,394. :
! 026. 3d. estimate for 1897, 500, III, 168. 20.
Including several minor items, the ap-
! preparations made amounted to $29,-
4l6,o773l. The appropriations for our
rent expenses for the fiscal year end
ing June 80. 1895, exclusive Of public
works, amounted to Ga, 2l2, SOL. 81. and
the available balance on Nov. l, 1895,
was $942, $3.50. 48.
The department indulges the hope
that the bids for the two battleships,
the construction of which was author
lied by the last congress, and of their
armor, will be considerably lower than
the prices at which the battleships now
building and their armor were let.