The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-05-23
COSTS S1,5OO A DAY
TO RUN ONE OF UNCLE SAWS BIG
BATTLEsHwS.


What Is the average daily cost OF main
tanning a first class battleship on a war
footing? one thousands FIVE hundred dol
lars. a large sum of money, but insigui-
hcant when compared with what the
cost might be in case of action. when the
conflict of single minute could sink the
largest ship. with her entire armament.
and require the expenditure of more than
100000 TO replace her.
Reliable estimates can not be made
when the fortunes of war must be taken
into account, but the cost of maintain
ms our navy on its present footing imme-
diately before the firing of the first gun
in actual conflict is known. That cost is
$4,000, for each day. A year ago the cost
was a trifie less than one-half that
amount; but think of the changes since
then and particularly of the results OF the
activity of the last sixty days, when ships
of all classes have been bought by our
government abroad and at home, and when
war craft of every kiud-some indeed.
that had become a simple memory have
been brought from hiding places. repair
ed, armed, manned and in all respects put
in condition to wage warfare. This in
crease of the number of our ships has been
told by the Herald from day to day. and
in all respects put in condition to wage
warfare. This increase OF the number of
our ships has been told by the Herald
from day TO day, and such names as Al
bany. New Orleans, Yale ana Harvard as
associated with our navy have become
familiar.
The manning of these numerous new
purchases and REVEALS together with the
addition of the war strength needed on
ships before i'm commission, has been the
cause of the wonderful increase IN expense.
For an Interesting example of the cost
of maintaining a battleship In time of
peace, when war Is not even threatening,
/ have procured from the records of the
war department the cost Of maintaining
tho New York, the most expensive ship IN
our navy. The cost for last year was $751;
06560, or an average of $l,0S6.29 per day.
The various items that go to make up this
total annual cost viii apply for the pres
ont purpose to our armored cruisers ana
battleships, though. Of course, varying, ae-
Cording to constantly changing circum-
stances, and now being increased by the
war footing on which our navy rests or
tine S39l 065.60 spent by the New York in
1897, $237 ,762 &c was for the pay of the of
llcers, crew and marines; rations cost $35-
$3.50; equipment, S6,S362l; navigation, 3d.
216,5S, ordnance, $1474370; construction AMI
repair 49, 1896; steam engineering, $28-
26l 26. Then there were incidental expenses,
navy yard repairs, medicine and surgery
and similar items.
The records show that the pay Of the Of
ficers, crew and marines of the New York
were greater than that Of any other yes
sells while the ritions, medicine and surg
cry and coal accounts We're very much
less. ID
When we add the separate costs of MAIN
tanning all ships in commission, for last
year, we have a total IS 1888 549.71; or more
than $4,000 a day. During each day Of last
week the cost was doIhle that amount
T he record of the Inflated Maine is clos
ed. though her memory is a living insrir-
alton, and this record shows that the to-
tai cost of her maintenance for 1897 was
1852, 41G.4S. The pay Of her survivors, and
those whose remains are vet with her
wreck, or have found burial in Cuba and
the United states. was $3.50 1860.
The revolution of recent years in naval
equipment has entirely changed sea
fighting, adding not only to the cost of
increasing expenditure for manning and
maintaining.
In our previous naval fights the
staneh, oak-ribbed ships were vehicles for
carrying men and guns, and their very
decks were often fields Of battle, where
contending forces struggled, hand-to-hand
To-day our ships are veritable fighting
machines. They are propelled, lighted
steered and handle their guns and nova
bic parts through the agency, of steam and
electricity, under intelligent direction
They are not only the work OF the ship
builder, but of the engineer. They require
men highly skilled in their several DEPART
ments These complicated ships need
large force of men, and 70 maintain them
at the very highest standard Of efficiency
requires the great expenditure OF money
referred 20. f4r DOS
Consider for moment the item of steam
ON battleship and you will better appre-
ciate the force of what has been written
Think of the sixty-nlne separate steam en-
gines and Of the skilled engineers to care
for them twenty-four hours each day
Yes. there are sixty-nine. Each of the
great twin screws has its engine, then
there Is an engine for the steering appara-
tus, separate engines for the dynamos, for
the fire pumps, for the bllge, for veutlat-
ing fans, for ash hoist, for capstans and
for the numerous wenches used all over
the ship. where nearly everything that has
TO be moved Is too heavy for human mus
Gle to handle
Then there is the coal to furnish heat to
make all this steam, and corps of men
to handle it. Take, for example the Iowa
IL she starts out Of port with her normal
supply of coal she carries 625 tons. If she
fills her bunkers she Will start with 1,7S0
tons. That means about 81 900.
Such a battleship as this carries about
five hundred officers and men. These must
be fed and clothed and be paid for their
services.
One of these great battleships Is a float
ing citadel. 1t Is town Of 800 inhabitants,
more securely fortified and far better arm
ed for offense and defense than was any
walled and turreted city that has ever ex-
isted Her steel walls can resist any attack
of guns less than her own. When she
meets similar ones then comes the tug Of
war.
If our floating citadel is the Indiana, for
Instance, we have steel walls $50 feet long
with 90 feet between them at the widest
point, holding engines Of war and propui-
sion Of the most terrific power all under
the control Of the highest human intelli-
gence. This is a moving city Of animate