The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-04
OLD MONITORS TO BE TESTED.
Relics of the Civil War VIII Be Given
OverhauIing.


an OverhauIing.
WASHINGTON March 3.-In the course
of the inquiry into the naval resources of
the United States, an order has been issued
to make a test of the machinery of the old
war monitors at the League Island navy
yard These are single turreted craft that
are armed with big smooth bore guns in
turrets that could likely be pierced by the
modern high-power rifles of the battle
ships, but they would still be of service in
an emergency. There are eight of these
monitors at League island, and the govern
ment owns several others that are now
loa. ed to the naval militia organizations of
some of the States. Those at League island
are the following: Canonicus, Mahopac,
Manhattan, Catskill, Jason, Lehigh, Mon
tauk and Nahant. They are all between
1,SO0 and 2,100 tons displacement and draw
very little water, so they can take up adj
vantageous positions on shoals command
ing channel approaches. The intention is to
turn over the old engines and work the ma
chinery that is made to turn the turrets,
if it can be made to work at all.
1t is denied at the Navy Department that
any request has been made upon the New
port News Shipbuilding Company to hasten
the launch of the battle ships Kearsarge
some time ago. All the department has done
in the matter is to authorize delay of ten
days in the execution Of the contract for
dredging at the Norfolk navy yard in or
der that the contractor might employ his
plant to clear away the silt that has ac-
cumulated in front of the launching ways
upon which two big battle ships now lie
The contractor will get at this work March
IA, and must finish by the oath. 1t is said
at the department that no useful purposes
will be served by Fastening the launching
of the battle ships, as large part of the
work of fitting out ship is more speedily
performed while she is on the WAYS than
when she is afioat. These two battle ships
the largest ever built for the United States
navy, are to be completed and turned over
to the government within ten months. If
finished under the terms of the contract
They are now under construction by the
Newport News Shipbuilding Company. and
are to be launched on the oath inst. On the
lst or February the monthly statement is
sued by the Bureau of Construction showed
them to be So per cent. finished. This com
pany, prominent naval officer said to-day.
would have to work hard and disregard the
eight-hour a day rule in order to complete
them in the contract time
The coal mining companies throughout
the country, especially those near the sea-
board. have been prompt in their offers to
the Navy Department to furnish coal in the
event of trouble with Spain, and the de-
partment has taken steps to ascertain the
probable supply and its location, ETC., avail
able in of an emergency demand. This
branch of the naval supply comes under
the Bureau of Equipment, and aside from
the steps above noted the officials will not
admit that anything unusual has been done
Captain Bradford, the chief of the bureau,
did say, however, to-day, that no extraor-
binary contracts for coal had been entered
into as a result OF the explosion over the
Maine disaster, nor any greater amount
purchased than was usual for the navy on
a peace footing.
There was a conference between Secre-
tary Long and Representative Boutelle
chairman of the House naval committee, to-
day in reference to the regular naval bill.
1t had no connection with emergency meas
ures. MIR. Long said that they had gone
ever the question of docks, equipment. etc,
as provided in the regular BILL Captain
Continued ON Fourth Page.)