The sun., 1896-10-24

What Is Expected Of Congress-A Torpsae
StntIon-RnnnrNn Guna.


Stntion-RessrVe Guus.
WARRINGTON. Oct 23.-with tho resssem-
bling OF Congress now not many weeks away.
the attention OF the navy is beginning to turn
again to what may be obtained from legislation
during the coming winter. As to the personnel
Dill, the interval between the two sessions APP
parently has not brought the opposing opinions
nearer to an agreement, and II would not be
surpr s.ng IL the whole matter were left for n
new Congress TO take up and dispose Of. Tho
shortness of the coming session and the many
grave public problems with which II will be
concerned, may also tend to putting the person.
mel bill aside, especially as no agreement has
been reached among those most concerned in IT,.
Little doubt Is felt that some additions will
be made to the new navy. Thesen OF security
and OF effective power produced even now by
our steel fleet Is strong motive for completing
the construction programme. II appears from
the report of the Auditor of the Navy that
about $4,000 900 has thus far been voted by
Congress for the increase OF tho navy and about
nine-tenths expended. The exact figures are.
respectively. Slol $3.50. 1881 and $50 $40 T3a.-
ID. These look like large aggregates but 1t
must be remembered that the appropriation
for our first steel vessels was made fourteen
years ago. so that the annual average is far
from excessive. especially when the total
nual expend lures have come to average half a
billion or more
Among the interesting proposals made in the
annual reports is that of Chief Constructor
Hichborn for establishing at the Navy Yard In
Boston a torpedo boat station. Efforts have
been made for some time by Congressman from
Massachusetts to increase the Importance OF
that yard. and at last comes n proposition
which may be defended on other grounds than
local desires. The additions TO our torpedo
fvap ItnIh
require the fitting upo some special stations
for them. and he holds that the Boston yard
could be used economically for this purpose.
and asks for appropriation Of $1,000 1t
would seem Advisable that. on a coast so extern
siye ns ours. there should be torpedo defence
tion. One OF these would thus evidently
Sor, SS the EnGiand sNmnd sns east and
Cod. and Of this Boston would naturally be the
centre As 1t will soon be found necessary to
form reserves OF torpedo boats as well as of
larger vessels, since we have not the men and
do not wish to incur the cost Of keeping them
al , IN commission ami in time Of peace: for torpedo
sheds. Hence 1t will be necessary to pick out
stations for this, purpose along the coast where
at short notice for local defence. Probably the
Ramsay board will have something to say
this t point. and Its views can be taken In con
From Newport. meanwhile: came protests that
that point should be the headquarters Of our
As to guns, in addition to supplies for the new
battle ships. Leading itcm recommended by
Capt. sampson. the Chief OF Ordnance. will be
tho completion OF the reserve supply of merchant
vessels that may be called upon to serve as
auxiliary cruisers. The liberality OF Congress
IL Is said. Tor this purpose, and 100000 moro
VIII finish this part OF the naval work. About
twoscore such cruisers can now be counted on.
and while many OF them have good speed ard
some OF them very high speed all carry
batteries powerful enough to enable them to
CAPTURE mcrchantmen.
II has been intimated that Can't Sampson de-
slres sea service at the end of his present term
or assignment as Chief Of Ordnance. which has
been so successful and fruitful. and that in that
NJ the Washington yard may succeed him as
head Of the bureau.
The Carnegie establishment at Pittsburgh
Will try to profit by the recent comparatively
unsuccessful trials OF their l0-inch and l2-inch
plates at Indian Head. The plates were OF
trerne tests provided. and. although perforated,
and one OF them cracked, vet broke mn the pro-
Jectiles. still they did not do as well as the
Rrhi0r makers had expected. although they
could not be called inferior; and II is believed
that improvements on the process employed in
their manufacture. which was not wholly the
usua! one. can be made.
. At many navy yards and stations work on the
local structures and plant Is going on. At
League Island gain has been made by de-
taken from An obstruction in the Delaware near
By. thus accomplish hing n double purpose Put
the low. narshy site Of League Island from the
outset showed that It would require a vast
amount OF money for its redemption. and large
sums must still be laid out before the point even
Of full security is reached. At Brooklyn Nor
folk. Washington. Port Royal, and Mare Island
more or less work Is going on.