The Newberry herald and news. (Newberry, S.C.) 1884-1903, 1898-03-25
ESTABLISHED 1865.

being maintained outside of the cru.
isers and battle ships. The revenue
cutter service now has ready for in
stant and active service 1874 line Off.
GERS, n engineers, 900 enlisted men
and 10 vessels, of which fourteen are
on the Atlantic coast Two others
arc in course of construction at Cleve-
land, and with rush work can be
completed and ready for sea in from
30 to 45 days.
The Manning, tho Gresham, tho
Algonquin, tho Onondega and the
Window are all new, fast and eff
cient vessels. The Manning is con-
sidered an 18.knot boat. All Of
thom, it is said, could bo quickly
converted into torpedo boats or dyua
mite cruisers. Whether this last
move will be made is not definitely
decided. Secretery Long said today
it had become evident that torpedo
boats could not be bought abroad
and could not be built soon enough
IN this country, 80 that we might
have to equip other craft with torpe-
does.
The navy department opened bids
today for extensive improvements at
Dry Tortugas and Key West, Il
formal transfer having been effected
as regards Tortugas, which passes
from the treasury to the war depart
ment. These consist Of two solid steel
piers to be constructed at Dry Tor
tugas, with two extensive coal sheds
and an elaborate mechanical equip
mont for loading naval vessels with
coal. At Key West the improve
ments consist Of steel pier and two
coal sheds, with similar machinery
for loading war ships with coal. The
bids ranged from 81, Isl, 900, for the
entire work, down to about 100000.
Among the bidders for the dry Tor
tugas piers and coal sheds was tho
s. S. Leonard Company, Jackson
vile, $274, TOO On the Key West
work the S. S. Leonard Company's
bid was $l8S,000. Two bids were
made for tho entire work at Tortu
gas and Key West as follows: II. G.
Packard, 81, ,151, 900, and Grattan &
jennings, New York, $4,000.
Other bids were made for tho ma.
chinery, tracks, coal cars, etc, rang
ing from $3.50, 1000 down. Tho award
will be made within the next day or
two.
USE FOR THE MILITIA.
Representative Marsh, chairman
of the House committee on the mill
tia, called upon Secretary Alger to.
day, and urged that in the event of
hostilities the first source of the Coy.
ernmcnt for soldiers be the State
militia, which should be invited to
volunteer for tho country's defence.
Secretary Alger was very much in.
torested in tho arguments made by
MIR. Marsh, and, while not commit
ting himself on tho subject, seemed
to regard the suggestion made by
him as practicable. Afterwards Mr..
Marsh called on President McKlnley,
and repeatad the statements he had
made to the Secretary.
During the morning Secretary AL
ger was also in conference with Gen.
Miles, commanding the Army, ro-
specting the military occupation of
Fort Jefferson and Dry Tortugas Is
land. The determination to garri-
son this fort has been reached by the
Secretary, and the questions now to
be met are those Of what improve
ment in tho Notifications now there
may bo necessary.
O., KEEPING THE SENATE IN CHECK.
Washington, March %. 3.--"The in
dependence of Cuba can be obtained
without war, if President Mckinley
is left alone and, is not forced by OK
treme Cuban sympathizors," said
Senator Ellsins today, who at the
same time announced that he was
doing what he could to prevent hasty
action in the Senate, and urging
Senators to give the President time
to carry out his own policy. Sena-
tor Elkins said that in his opinion