The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1896-02-11
NEW TEXAS"
BATTLESHIP
Must Undergo Extensive Repairs, Ac-
Cording to Report Of the To-
spectiOn Board,
RISING TIDE OF ExpENs
Antiqusted Machinery Viii Have to De Re-
placed With Aodera Appliances-ltem
Alter Item Of rxpense-Coast De-
leases Again Taken Up.

OF the board which has been Inspecting
the defective second-class battleship
Texas, Just received at the navy depart
ment estimates that the total cost OF the
necessary alterations In the Texas will
approximate $4,000, and the time TO put
her in good condition In the neighborhOod
OF three months. The department II now
considering the report. having already ap-
proved the recommendation for making
alterations In the hull so as TO make the
scantllng heavier This work Will cost
$4,000. An order 10 replace the anti
quated steam pumps by modern appar-
atus II expected In a few days, Ths
estimate OF cost for this work IL $1,000.
The report covers the defects to be
found In the hydraulic apparatus for the
turr.ts OF the ship. The board considers
that the location Of this apparatus should
be changed. and recommends that Il be
located in the redoubt. Now II Is near
the bottom OF the ship. This change was
recommended by Captain Glass, who
commanded the vessel. but was opposed
by Naval Instructor Bowles who built
her. The changes that win have to be
made In this feature OF the ship will also
cost about $4,000.
Naval officers on duty at the depart
ment who know what they are talking
about say that II the cost OF the changes
in the Texas does not exceed sa0,000 the
government viii escape lightly. 1t is
the intention OF Secretary Herbert tc put
the Texas In a seawortiy condition. no
matter what the cost Of the changes may
be, and he will give orders 10 this effect
In the next few days.
II Is learned today that the report OF the
court OF inquiry which recently investi-
n. -
New York navy yard vindicates the Off
GERS and subordinates against whom
charges were filed. The court found.
however. some small violations OF the
regulations. and Secretary Herbert win
issue within u few days an order TO clear
up the regulations SO as TO prevent mis-
takes in their construction In the future.
Lieutenant T. H. Stevens has been
recommended for promotion to the grade
OF lieutenant commander Secretary
Herbert has approved the findings OF the
board which examined him. and his case
has gone to the White House for execu-
tive action.
Captain r. d. Evans. commanding the
battleshlp Indiana, who directed the
practice with the guns OF that vessel
had an interview with the secretary dur
ing his stay in Washington recently. and
said plainly that superposed turrets were
out OF place on board ship. Captain
Evans had been told understand. that
the board OF Inspection and survey. which
will inspect the Indiana on the 18th inst.
viii remain on board the vessel for n
week and that It VIII pay particular at
tentlon TO the battery location OF the In
diana. II is the intention of Captain
Evans to fire the S-inch guns OF the ship
over the lS-inch turrets to demonstrate
that no IN effects will result from the
blast. He would have so fired the guns
during the recent practice had he not
been afraid that the wooden pilot house
would be destroyed,
IL may be that as a result of the report
OF the board OF inspection and survey, in
case II is highly favorable TO the Ind-
ana's battery. Secretary Herbert viii re-
consider his determination With regard to
double turrets and give the Kearsarge
and Kentucky batteries of the Indiana
type.
Bids have been opened at the navy de-
partment for furnishing torsings for IN,
i3-inch and S-inch guns of the new battle
ships, the KearSarge and the Kentucky.
The forgings will amount to about a mill
ion and half pounds on both classes OF
guns. In the 13-lnch class the Seth
lehem Iron Works offered to furnish forg-
ings at 27,4 cents pound. TO he COM
pleted la S65 days. The Midvale Steel
Works bid 21.5 cents pound, completed
in $50 days In the S-inch class the Mid
vale company was the lowest bidder, IS
cents pound. to be completed in 2TU
days. The bid of the Bethlehem firm in
this class was 2Sis cents pound, to be
completed in $50 days.
Rear Admiral ]. @. Walker appeared
before the senate committee on coast lie
fenses and presented many arguments in
1avor of the immediate carrying out of
The plans for efficient coast defenses He
urged that the work OF building up an
invincihle navy go hand in hand with the
construction of great defenses on land,
for by such combinations only could this
country, with its enormous coast line,
successfully withstand attack by any
great maritime power
Secretary Herbert has asked congress
or an appropriation of SS50O00 for the re-
pair and construction of naval vessels, to
be Immediately available The original
appropriation for this purpose is nearly
exhausted, only $4,000 of 1t remaining for
work already or to he hereafter author
ICED.
Commander T. T, Jewell has been or
dered to relieve Commander Charles
O'Neil, in command of the Marblehead;
Past Assistant Engineer w. NJ. Parks. to
duty at the Columbian Iron Works.