Evening journal., 1897-11-23

Wnere he naQ been occupying the hlHn-
est position in The American dip.o-
Matte corps. Noble-hearted Delawarean
that he is. the hearty greeting given
him by his fell0w-citizens who have in
the past heaped honor after honor
upon him and received in return most
honorable service, pleased him very
much and his strongly unmarked features
relaxed into a smile.
He opened his remarks by aclSnowl-
edging his keen appreciation of the
honor conferred upon him by the peo-
pie of his native city in selecting him
20 make The formal presentation OF
the handsome offering. He dwelt at
length upon the purposes and work OF
the American navy, both In time CT
peace and in time Of war. He review
cd the glorious work Of the American
navy in THE wars OF the past, and re-
ferred particularly to the achieve
ments of Delawareans in the naval arm
Of the service during those conflicts
which so nearly affected the honor of
the nation. He traced the gradual de-
velopment of the navy Of the United
States up to the present point Of its ef-
ficiency, and spoke Of the part which
The gunboat Wilmington would play in
defending the lives, liberties and prop
eIty Of the citizens Of this country
whenever the eXigencles or the Occa-
sion demand It, In conclusion he pre-
sented oCCmmanderTOCd i'm behalf OF
the citizens OF Wilmington the punch
bowl and glasses.
Commander Todd, the chosen repre-
sentative of the United States govern
mont, received the gift. 1t was several
minutes before he could make himself
heard, the greeting he received was 80
hcarty.
The commander Is a man OF fine phy-
siuue and a little above medium height
He is Of rather light complexion, with
face bearing the impress Of refine
ment, culture, determination and BRAY
cry.
He thanked the people of Wilmington
for The many kindnesses that he and
his officers and men had received an
their hands, and said that the good Of
fees rendered would be long remember
ed by them all no matter where the
demands Of the service might send
rhem He dweh upon the handsome
character Of the gift, and declared that
II would be cherished amid defended as
one of The gunboat's most valuable pos
sessions.
The silver Offering was then formal
ly placed In his custody, and the cere-
monies were over.
The mayor requested the audience to
remain seated until the naval and
military detachmenss had marched out
OF The Opera House.
In ids antique oak case The beautiful
gift was carried cut and placed on the
float prepared for rs reception. II was
then escorted to the gunboat and for
mally Installed in the officers cabin.
WILL GO TO SOUTH AMERICA.
The Wilmington VIII remain at her
anchorage here until Monday, when
she will leave. according TO orders. for
South America to report at Monte
video Hitherto the American navy
has never had warships OF sufficiently
light draught to ply in Southern rivers
where the water is shallow
THE CONGRESSIONAL APPROPRIA-
TION.
In 1898 Congress became convinced
that the efficiency Of lhe new Amerl-
can navy demanded the building of
several light-draft protected gunbOats
1t passed an act, which was approved
on March 8, of that year, providing alp-
preparations for the fiscal year, endine
June 80, 1894. In IL was an item aii-
thorizing The construction OF three such
gunboats, to be known as No. z, No.
and No 3.
In accordance With this act plans
were prepared, and advertisements
posted, inviting proposals for the con
strqictiOn Of these vessels The bids
were cpened at the Navy Department
on October IL, 1898. The proposal Ci
the Newport News and Shipbuildlne
and Drydock Company, of Newport
News, Va, was accepted TO build the
gunboass at cost Of S2S0OO0 EACH
The contract for No.7 was signed on
January %, 1894, while the contract.
for No. and No. were signed ON Jan
uary % cf the same year.
The Wilmington was then known a:
light-draft protected gunboat No. s
The keel was laid at Newport News
Va. On October l6, 1894 The work on
this boat, together with that on itl
complnions, continued for some timl
without amy names being given them
and they were known in the depart
ment by their Numbers.
For some time the Evening JOurna
had been urging Deiaware's claim .,
have man-of-war named after her
and the demand met with popular ap
proval. Our representatives i'm Con
gress were urged to interest them
selves in the matter and to call the ai.
ten;ion cf he adm nistration o the ia
that Delaware's naval heroes had play
ed in the naval battles of oar country
Senator Gray, an important figure il
the Cleveland administration, intercsI.
ed himself in the matter. He was no
only the senator from This state bu
also a personal and political friCnl C
President Cleveland and Secretary O
the Navy Hilary Herbert. He suggest
ed to the president that cne of Tn
boats he named in honor Of Whining
ton. uhe metropolis of his state and tn
place CT his residence. La5-r en-, whsl
Senator Gray was making a social cal
at the White House the m61ter cam
UP again, and the president and IN
secretary cf The navy decided to nam
the gunboats No became the Nasl
vile. NO the Wilmington, and No
the Helena
SILVER SERVICE MOVEMENT.
Just as socn as It became known tbs