Courier Democrat. (Langdon, N.D.) 1891-1920, 1898-03-17

rev commercial treaties were upper
lDOst in the interest of the Madrid au-
thOritieS.
LOOKING ToR SHIPS
secratery Long Makes Every Effort
Get Information.
Washington, March 1.-THE feature
OF the days events was the prompt
tude with which the senate passed the
house bill carrying the appropriation
of $5O,OO0,0O0 for the national de-
Tense and the haste with which it
was put through the formal proceed
ings, engrossed and signed by the
president. While the matter has been
considered it can be stated that the
fund has not yet been allotted among
the various branches of the govern
ment service. Each of these had pre-
pared roughly and tentatively an esti-
mate of the funds it could dispose Of
to advantage, but upon looking over
the ground the president concluded
that it would be we'll, perhaps, to
avoid making this allotment until the
necessity became apparent. The
reason back of this is that the SUN
that can be protitably spent for war
| ships cannot even be guessed at with
any approximation to accuracy Just
now. AS the ships are to be first
choice in the steps for defense, until
their cost is ascertained it is not pos
sible to divide the remainder of the
appropriation among the other
| branches of the military and naval
services. The secretary OF the navy Is
making every effort to secure from
our naval attaches and diplomatic Of
| ti"ers abroad all information obtain.
able respecting the number of ships
building, their price and other data.
Uu to this moment not only has the
United States government bought no
| warship, but it has not even secured
| al option on one. There are
Many Applications Coming
to the department from persons and
| firms who desire to sell ships to the
government, but in most of these
! cases some fatal obstacle is encoun-
tered to the consumma ton of the
sales. There is less difficulty expert
enced in securing tenders of war ma
terial, such as shot and shell and
powder, and the navy department has
almost assured itself of an abundant
supply.
| The statement was made at the navy
department that the report CT the
Maine court OF inquiry probably would
come to the department some time
next week. 1t did not appear, howev-
er, that this statement was founded
upon any direct report from the court,
| but was rather an estimate based upon
| the progress so far made as revealed
| by the change of methods on the part
of the court
| Many congratulations are coming to
| the White House and the state depart
ment from all parts OF the country
upon the patriotic spirit exhibited in
dealing with the latest phases of the
Cuban question. Most Of them are
official in character, but many arc
personally directed to the president.
Admiral Sicard has been authorized
| to enlist suitable men for the navy at
Key West if he can find the material.
He reported that he had received
some applications from
| Machin.sts end seamen.
and was Immediately given the power
to take tile men. The department is
still striving vigorously to secure ma
| chinists. especially men who know
how to run. stationary engines. These
men can be quickly taught how to
run marine engines and require little
other training to make them valuable
aboard ship.
Official reports indicate that the au-
tcncmy scheme projected for Porto
Rico has been put into successful oD-
Grafton This is Interesting mainly
because of resemblance between the
project and the plan which it is now
sought to put in play in Cuba.
The war department is arranging to
secure Il large supply Of the most
modern rifle sufficient in time Of
emergency to arm a force of 100000.
The need of these modern guns has
long been apparent but congress has
not shown a disposition to supply any
reserve rifles for use by a volunteer
force in time of emergency. Now,
however. an adequate supply of the
most effective rifles will be among the
first uses to which the war department
will nut its share Of the defense fund.
Senior Mendonca, the Brazilian min
lister, said that he had received no in
forma, ion as to the reported negotia-
lions toward the purchase of Brazil
ian warships now in course of con-
struction in foreign yards. In other
official quarters the impression is
growing that there is better prospect
of securing ships now building for
Argentina and Chile.
Working Day and Night.
Reading, Pa, March 12.-The Car
renter steel works has effected the
lease Of the large plant Of tho Dial
nond Steel company. The two plants
will run night and day on projectileS
aS soon as necessary machinery is
D" ,cursd. A large additional force
WI be employed.