Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-16

ANOTHER BUSY DAY.
Var and Navy Departments Continue
Their Defence IIOrk.
ILlOTNENT OF FUNDS TO BUREAUS.
ordnance CfAcislS Get S2,6OO,OOO,
With an Assurance Of More.
SLOW WORK ON FORTIFICATlONS.
Navy Department Will HaVs No More to
Do With Contractors.
CiBlKET MEETING WITHOUT INCIDENT
HambefS Expect Some Sort Of Report
rom Eaine Court This Week.
REPORTED EUROPEAN INTERVENTION
Not MECh Concern About Ii Felt al
Washington.
TEE MOVEMENT OF ARTILLERY.
Contracts With Railways for lis Trans
pO7taiiOn 10 Coast FOftiaGationS,
WLR SPIRIT AMONG KILITIAMEN.
South Carolina Cavalry CffIS Its Ser
vices 10 President.
THE PURCHASE OF WARsHIPs.
Negotiations COntiuue-The O'HiG-
gins, It IL Said, Likely 10 Become
Ours-The Amnzonas soon TO BE
brought to This Country.
Contracts With Railways for lis Trans
pOTtaiiOn 10 Coast POftifCationS,
VAR SPIRIT AMONG KILlTIAMEN.
South Carolina Cavalry CfaS Its Ser
vices 10 President.
THE PURCHASE OF wARsnPs,
Negotiations COntiuUe-The O'Hig-
gins, It Is Said, Likely 40 Become
Brought TO This Country.

WASHINGTON, March 15-This was
another busy day in the War and Navy
apartments. Secretary Alger was ena-
bed 10 make an allotment Of funds from
the appropriation Of $5O.O0)O00. which will
greatly facilitate the work Of the bureaus.
These bureaus had not been able to con-
clude any contracts for the procurement
Of war supplies, because no allotment
had been made, but this afternoon the
Ordnance Bureau was given $2,5O0.OO0 and
business went forward with a rush 1t
is true that this sum is already mort
gagged, under provisional arrangements
made during the past week, but with the
assurance Of more funds to come the
work Of the bureau is now moving rapid
ly.
Secretary Long was exceedingly busy
to-day. having not only to give a good
deal OF time 10 the Cabinet meeting, to
which he was obliged to return twice,
but also being Obliged to see a great
many persons with whom the department
has or expects 10 have contract relations.
Among the latter was Mr.. Herreshon, the
torpedo-bost builder from Bristol, r. I.
He turned two Of these boats over to the
department a few days ago, and the Sec
retary's purpose in consulting him was TO
learn how much he could hasten the
work on one Of the boats remaining on
his hands. which in ordinary times IL
would require about two months to COM
plete.
AUXILIARY CRUISERS
The Secretary also spent a good deal OF
time at intervals during the day In con-
Fulting. over the long-distance telephone,
with naval officers in New York, and it is
believed that much Of this consultation
concerned the procurement OF suitable
vessels from American lines for auxil-
ary war purpose.
Mr. Master. Of the Columbian IRON
Works. at Baltimore has notified the de-
partment that ne will be able to turn
over 10 it the torpedo-boat Rogers next
Saturday. The Rogers is the boat which
smashed her engines IN the middle of a
trial-trip, about six months ago. It was
necessary almost to replace the engines,
but under the hurry-up orders from the
Navy Department this has been done in
a rush. The Navy Department shows no
disposition to waste time at this june
ture but knowing the boat to be of
satisfactory type, like her sister-6oat. the
Winslow and Of good Workmanship, ac-
cording 20 the Naval Inspectors report,
she viii be accepted out of hand, as were
the Gwyn and the Talbot last week.
THE AMAZONAS.
The new cruiser Amazonas, according
90 present plans, will be manned entirely
from the San Francisco. That vessel
saIeI at o'clock this morning from
Lisbon, and will arrive in the Tyne about
Friday. II Is said that she win divide
her officers and crew with the AmaZonas
placing Lieutenant-C Commander Arthur +.
NazrO executive officer of the San Fran
cisco, in charge OF the latter vessel
Without doubt, the Amazonas viii be got
ten across the ocean as soon as possible.
and il is said that the San Francisco Will
convoy her.
The torpedo-boat Foote arrived at
Jacksonville this morning.
The Machias sailed from Norfolk for |
Boston. where she will undergo some re-
pairs made necessary by her long Asiatc |
cruise.
The Brooklyn went TO Newport News |
for coal The Marblehead, which is
tsking on stores at Tampa, sailed 70 re-
Join the squadron al Tortugas.
Judge-Advocate-Ge Lemly received |
a telegram this afternoon from HaDana'
announcing the arrival there OF the der
rick Chief. I'm tow Of the tug Under
writer. II is said that this derrick VIII
greatly facilitate the work OF wrecklhg
the Maine
FoRTIFIcATIoN WORK SLOW.
The War Department is greatly as
appointed and annoyed at the dlatorlness
shown by the contractors who have un-
dertaken TO construct the new tortlhca-
t.ons along the coast. IL Is said that ohiy
one among the whole number has finished
his contract on time.
The department has been greatY en-
barrassed thereby in placing It's guns
and has aecn obliged 10 extend the time
allowed these contractors.
The department has determined NOT 10
submit 10 further obstruction In prose-
cutting the work but will do the WORK
itself. and will refrain from entering INTO
further contracts.