The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-12-07

CTT1 HE present Immediately effective
ii force of The navy consists of four
II hattleShips Of the first class. two
ii Of the second, and forty-eight 9TH
Cr vessels ranging from armored
cruisers to torpedo boats. There are un-
der construction five battlcships of the
lirst-class. sixteen torpedo boats and one
submarine boat. No provision has yet
been made for the armOr of three of the
five battlCships, as 1t has been impos-
siblc to obtain aTmOr AT the price fixed
by congress 1t is of great Importance
that congress provide them with armor
as until then IN" ships are of no fighting
value.
The present naval force especially in
view of its increase by the ships now
under construction while not as large as
that of other powers, is a formidable
force, fits vessels are the very best of
each type: and with the increase that
should Ue made from time to time in tho
future. and careful attention to keeping
il in a high state Of efficiency and repair
Il is Well adapted to the necessities of
tho country.
Tho great increase Of the navy which
has taken place in recent years was JUS
tilted by the requirements for national
defence, and has received public uppro-
baton. The time has now arrived how
ever when the increase, to which the
country is committed, should for tiIno
take the form of Increased facilities
commensurate with the increase Of our
naval vessels. 1t j. an unfortunate fact
that there is only one dock on the Pacific
coast capable Of docking our largest
SHIPS and only one on the Atlantic coast
and that the latter has for the last six or
seven months been under repair and
therefore incapable. Immediate steps
should he taken to provide three or four
DO }ks of the desired capaCity on the At
lantic coast; at least one on the Pac'nc
COtst aud a floating dock in the gus.
This Is the recommendation of cOmpeG-
Cnt board appointed to invcstigtts the
subject. There should also be ample pro-
vision made for powder and projeatiles
and other munitions of war, and an on
largCd number OF enlisted men. 1t is nee
essary to our navy yards for the repair
and care of our increasing number of
vessels. AS there are now on the stocks
five battle ships Of the largest class
which cannot be completed for a year or
two, / concur with the accommodation
oc the secretary of the navy for an an
preparation authorizing the construction
Of one battleship for the Pacific coast
as at present there Is only one i'm com
mission ana one under construction. while
on the Atlantic coast there are three in
commission and four under construction.
Tho territory of Alaska REQUIRES the
prompt ana early attention of congress-
The conditions now existing demand ma
telial changes in the laws relating TO
the territory. The great influx of popu-
latiOn during the past summer and fan.
and the prospect of still larger immi-
grafton in the spring will not permit us
TO longer neglect the extension of civil
authority within the territory, or post
pone the establishment of a more thor
ough government
Need of Land Office.
\ general system of public surveys has
not yet been extended to Alaska. and an
entries thus far made i'm that district are
upon special surveys The act of con-
gress extending TO Alaska like the min
ing laws Of the United States contained
the reservation that It should not be
construed to put in force the general
land laws of the country by act APP
proved March 3, 1891, authority was Civ
en- for entry of lands for town site pur-
poses, and also for the purchase of not
exceeding one hundred and sixty acres
then or thereafter occupied for purposes
Of trade and manufacture. In the ensu-