Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1898-03-17
SECRETARY AlGER GIVES ORD
NANCE BUREAU $3.50, 900,
LONG SEES BOAT BUILDERS
Arranges for Il Number OF Vessels 10
Strensthen Navy San Francisco
VIII Divide Her Crew With New
Cruiser Amazonas Movements OF
Various Boats.


navy departments. Secretary Alger
was enabled to make an allotment of
funds from the appropriation OF SeV'~
100000 which will greatly facilitate the
work of the bureau. The ordnance bu-
reau was given S2,500,O0o and business
went forward with rush,
Secretary Long was exceedingly busy,
having not only to give good deal OF
time to the cabinet, but being also
obliged to see a great many persons
with whom the department has or en-
poets TO have contract relations,
Among the latter was Herreshoh, the
torpedo boat builder, who turned two
of these boats over to the department
a few days ago. and the secretary
wished to learn how much he could
hasten the work on one of the boats
remaining in his hands which ia or
dinaly tines would require about two
months to complete. The secretary
also spent a good deal of time m con-
sulting over long distance telephone
with the naval officers in New York,
and it is believed much of this con-
sultation concerned the procuI ement of
suitable vessels from among the aux
Hilary navy for war purposes.
Mr. Mals;er, of the Columbian Iron
Works at Baltimore. has notified the
department that he will be able to turn
over to it the torpedo boat Rodgers
next Sunday, The Rodgers was the
first boat which smashed her engines
III the midst of trial trip about six
mC0ths ago. The department has no
disposition to waste time at this june
tue in making trial trips. but know
ing the boat to be Of satisfactory
type, like her sister boat, the Winslow,
and of good workmanship she will be
accepted out of hand as were the Gwyn
and Talbot last week.
The new cruiser Amazonas, accord
ing to present plans, will be manned
entirely from the San Francisco
That vessel sailed yesterday morning
from Lisbon. and will arrive in Tyne
about Friday. 1t is expected that she
will divide her officers and crew with
the Amazonas. Without doubt the
Amazonas will be gotten across the
ocean as soon as possible. II is ex-
pected that the San Francisco will
convoy her.
The torpedo boat Foote arrived at
Jacksonville yesterday afternoon.
The Machias sailed from Norfolk 10
, Roston where she viii undergo re
| pairs. The Brooklyn went to New
| port News for coal The Marble
head, which has been taking on stores
at TAMPA, sailed TO leioin the squad
ron at Tortugas.
Judge Advocate General Lemly re-
ceived telegram yesterday afternoon
| from Havana, announcing the arrival
of the derrick. Chief in tow of
the tug Underwater. 1t is expected
the derrick will greatly facilitate the
work of raising or completely wreck
: ing the Maine.
The war department Is greatly dis
appointed and annoyed at the dila-
! toriness shown by contractors who
! have undertaken to construct new
! Notifications along the coast II is
said that only one among the whole
number has finished his contract on
time. The department has been
! greatly embarrassed thereby in plac-
! ing its guns and has been obliged 10
! extend the time allowed these con
F., tractors, The department Is determ-
! ined not to submit to further obstruc-
ton in prosecuting the work under
taken, but will do the work itself and
refrain from entering into contracts.
a good deal of announcement was
created at the navy department yester-
! day by the report that the majority oi
! the naval affairs committee disposed OF
the substitute of six battleships for
three provided for in the pending
naval appropriation bill.
! The Notifications board began its
sessions yesterday. The proceedings
are guarded zealously against publica-
ton.
The gunboat Annapolis has started
home from the West Indies directly
for Key West. The torpedo boat Win
slow has arrived at Key West. The
torpedo boat Foote has sailed from
Charleston for Jacksonville. The
! tug Leyden has arrived at League ISL
and The Fern has arrived at Key
West.
A representative Of the Winchester
inns company Yves in conference with
CT neral Miles and General Flagler
yes erday Samples Of two OF the lat
esr patterns OF thirty-calibre rifles.
one Winchester, the other a Lee
straight pull gun. were examined. No
con racts were made. but the confer
ence led 10 a full understanding The
representative stated that the company
has d force OF 200 men and by work
!rg ten hours a day the government
tcuid be supplied with rifles at very
rapid rate.
Bids were opened in the quartermas-
ter's office OF the war department yes
teIday for transporting some artillery
batteries tn man the fertilization works