New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-10-25
STRENGTH OF THE NAVY.
TT NOW CONSISTS OF ONE HUNDRED AND
FORTY ONE NEW AND OLD VESSELS.
CONSTRUCTION WORK DELAYED BY EXHAUSTION
OF OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
MADE BY CHIEF CONSTRUCTOR
IICIBORN.

,,.,,,or oc. AIN his annual report 10
Secretary Long Philip Hchborn. Chicf 'onS''uc'o
Of the Navy, says that the strength OF ''s ->a'.
on October ! was III vessels, Including oot" nc"
and old ships In the last few months OF the ias'
fiscal wear 2 considerable amount Of WORK on YES
cola authorized Nv Congress had to lie suspehueu'
owing to lack Of funds. This caused hed'3 :"
on the rev appropriations At the beginning ~ -.
present fiscal year. and assures the 'XhauS'o" -
those approximations before July next d. nv
latest. Mr. Hichborn says this Is oiS0'i ee
state OF affairs as the exhaustion means "hoiS
sale reduction of the navy-yard forces and the dis
charge OF competent and trained n en- ne po'"''
TO the advantage and economy OF having al 'eds'
one vessel budjng at each important navy yaro
Probably the most desirable type OF vessei tor ''
nurnoss intended particularly in view OF the pres
ant state of the srmor question would be
eb.stb.d cruiser Of comparatively light draught
and great coal endurance. with quarters for nas
officer
Attention Ia called to the urgent need o. improV-
Ing the navy yard plants IN the interest OF 'ho
economical execution of work. and estimates sie
submitted for each yard. The plants at New-forK
Norfolk and Mare Island require additions atera-
tons and repairs to keep them up to proper
state Of efficiency while the yards AZ Boston POTS
mouth and League Island. although not acuVeN
engaged should he put IN a condition tnat "ou'o
enable them to work simultaneously Of snort no.
tice should occasion require. plant at fuse'
Sound IL also said TO be necessary.
In the last year the Government accepted nnahS
four ships, Massachusetts the oregon the
Ericsson and the Brooklyn While eleven vessels
have been accepted preliminary and subject 70 hhai
test. viz, the Iowa the Nashville. the wilmington
the Helena the Anna polls. the Nicksburg the New
port the Wheeling, the Marietts the Porter ana
the Foote.
Particular attention IL invited 10 the good re-
suits attending the construction Of the Iowa TX -
shown that this efficient vessel - ahi" TO carry
212 ton. more than calculated from her DE-
signed draught. The changes In her case o ss
only about per cent OF the contract price. " tne
gunboats the report says that their FIRST cost was
remarkably low, agsresatng about S..""" .o
the nine, or rot more than the cost OF hrst-
class armored cruiser. The cost OF their name
nance, particularly with copper bottoms ana cum
siderable sail power. should be minimum. 9,
The Chief Constructor who has charge or DOCK.
ing ships makes an urgent plea for more ana
better docks, saving that the Navy mas oeen az
serious inconvenience in the last SIX months lor
lack of proper facilities for docking Datte-
He believes that the necessity for additional DOCKS
il most urgent 81 Mare Island and on the Allan
docks at Norfolk and League Island would be de-
cded advantage Further consideration Is also
urged OF the merits ~ Agiers La. - drydock
site and It is urged that all the docks should be
ready In two years.
Chief Hchborn. under the head OF arnor re-
news his suggestion that the Department should no
longer make separate contracts for ehips ana their
arnlor but should permit the shipbuilder TO supply
the arm0r