Kansas City journal. [volume] (Kansas City, Mo.) 1897-1928, 1898-03-16
Torpedo Boat Plans offered.

The agent in this country of the Thorny-
craft Torpedo Boat Company. of England.
Mr.. Platt, has submitted to Secretary Long
\ proposition for the sale to the govern
ment of designs and complete working
drawings of the magnificent torpedo boat
destroyers built by his firm. Predicting that
the department would find il absolutely
impossible to buy any of these craft in
Europe at this juncture. Mr.. Platt has
urged the propriety of having the govern
ment here start Immediately a number of
shipbuiding firms to work in the construc-
tin of these boats. The particular pattern
submitted is that of the torpedo boat de-
stroyer Fame. built for the British govern
ment. This craft, the type of those so
strongly desired by the navy department
just now. is OF more than 30 knots speed
and 200 tons burden. large enough to be
thoroughly seaworthy. and carrying suf-
ficient coal TO run 1000 knots, at economi-
cal speed. This advantage is not possessed
by any OF our boats. and i:s Importance is
fully illustrated by the difficulties con-
fronting the efforts os the Spaniards to get
their torpedo boat fiotilla across the At
lantic to Cuba. Based upon the statements
OF shipbuilders who have been approached
on the subject, the department has satis-
fed itself that number of these boats can
be built in from six to eight months. We
have now under construction in the United
States four boats rated az thrty-knotters
but. with the exception of the one built at
the Union Iron works. which is so per cent
advanced toward completion. very little
ton.
Dry Tortugas improvements.
More than half million dollars is to be
spent by the navy in making Dry Tortugas
q more valuable strategic point. 1t is pro-
posed 10 mount a few modern guns on the
site of Fort Jefferson and man them by
couple of batteries. Plans being prepared
In the bureau of yards and docks under
the supervision of Rear Admiral f. O. Mat
thews. chief OF that bureau. and Command
er Bradford. require the construction in
thirty days OF two coal houses near Fort
Jefferson for at least 10000 tons of coal.
II is also proposed to build two coal
wharves, erect an electric light plant for
rearchlights and operating cranes and
make other improvements to transform the
Key into a magnificent coaling station. The
total cost of Improvement at Fort Jefferson
will be about Si55.00o
yards OF coral from the channel around
Fort Jefferson, and enable battleships to
steam 10 the wharves to coal. The present
arrangements at Key West are bad. Light
gomery and the Detroit, can coal there.
but vessels of the Iowa or Indiana class
have 10 anchor off the station about eight
miles and have coal brought to them in
lighters There is no coal on Dry Tertu-
gas. but III there were battleships would
have TO anchor about a quarter of a mile
out and coal from lighters.
Bids for the coal houses and wharves at
Dry Tortugas will be opened tomorrow and
specifications will require the completion of
the sheds within thirty days. 1t is also
proposed TO rush work on additional sheds
completed.
provements at Key West will be about $lI5,-
900.
Contractors AnnoyingIy Tardy.
The war department is greatly disap-
pointed and annoyed at the dilatoriness
shown by the contractors who have under