The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-02-22

that Italy would dispose OF some Of her vessels,
although she might not do 90 II they were TO be
used against any European country She has
already sold two vessels to Argentina. OF
course IL will DO necessary TO get Congressional
authority to make purchases. but the prelimi.
nary arrangements can DO conducted without
that publicity.
Reports received to-day BY the Construction
Bureau tell Of the work conducted on tho triple
screw cruisers Minneapolis and Columbia, in re-
serve at League Island, and the readiness Of both
for service. Tho cruisers have been docked and
some slight defects In auxiliary engines cor.
rected. while the plan Of o%verhauling the Minl-
tonomoh has been completed, and this vessel 10
declared in condition for sea at the departments
call. Tho torpedo boats building in Baltimore.
the Chief Constructor admits, will also be hur-
ried along, although the department has not yet
asked that extra hours Of work be applied.
To-day word came from Mare Island that tho
battleship Oregon had been docked at Puget
Sound. her bottom cleaned, and I'm keels put on
within six weeks. The way in which this work
was advanced surprised the officials, who had
not anticipated that the vessel would be In con.
dition for active duty under two months.
The fact that the navy yards are now cumming
and that every department has been ordered to
be worked to its full limit 10 said to be due to
the passage of the Urgent Deficiency bill re-
Gently, through which q largo appropriation
was allowed the Construction Bureau for repair
work. Within the past three weeks 700 addi.
tional mon have been added to the working force
at the various navy yards, the majority being
ASSIGNED to Marc Island. Now York and Norfolk.
where all ship construction and repairs are now
generally conducted. At present $500 men are
employed at New York on various kinds Of
work: at Norfolk 1900 are employed. an in
crease Of 400 recently, and at Marc Island 200.
The Washington gun factory has added 200men
to it's force. bringing the number to 700. while the
work Of oyerhauling tho ships in reserve at
League Island called for an increase Of 200 mon.
The sum total Of mon now engaged In getting
ships ready for sea and in making guns num-
bers $500. or moro than have been carried on
the pay rolls since the battleships Maine and
Texas were building at Now York and Norfolk.
Then the forces were slightly larger.
Attic Washington gun factory some Of the
shops have been working the entire twenty
four hours for three weeks. These have been
engaged in turning out the gun mounts. work
on which was found to be behind that ON the
guns. Should the Government suddenly require
o number OF reserve pieces now piled up at the
yard there would DO no mounts on which to place
them. Whatever activity now exists at the fac.
tory 10 said by the officials to DO due to the de-
sire Of the Ordnance Bureau to keep the mounts
e@ f-%N .N''S eN.1 49, 49, eNs w
ward completion a. the pieces. In order that
in IN emergency the Government would
not find itself with O largo number of
guns on hand and no mounts for them. There
are nov piled up in these shops over one
hundred gum Of four. i've, and six inch
calibre, designed to be placed on auxiliary
cruisers in war time. Congress provided for
those pieces one year ago. When completed.
with their equipment. they are to DO sent to the
AI--- = --l e.
immediate use. Such ships as the 81. Louis. st.
Paul, and New York would be the, frat to 70.
ceive them. Plans prepared by the constructors
permit Of those guns being mounted In Q fow
days after the ships arc impressed into service.
In all branches Of ordnance the authorities
have 20 successfully advanced tho work that
now guns are completed for ships that cannot
possibly DO in commission under eighteen
months. Nearly all the 13.inch ordnance for
the Kearsage and Kentucky 10 ready. Two of
these guns are now at the proving station being
tested.
The effect Of the Maine disaster has been to
produce an immense number Of applications
from mon wishing to Join tho navy. When
orders were issued last week to ii. tho vacan-
cies among the Names lost crew It was thought
that difficulty might be experienced in in.
ducinK mon to enroll. But the opposite effect
has been produced. All over the country
have come offers from hen to enter tho
tha E,r.twsn, prr.ou toJ.v "a - sRo.
from Delro,t 20 tnrni.b a. oncs : 600 49, a..
N. so,vtco Tvsntv-ors ooIar.a -, a,I.a.t
mods nsrson.i annii,.,,on ~ an,,.t Al 80
toIa that Norto,r -" tho rsos,nin~.a. g.
Trio Ioc.Ii,v ora ,h.v 49, aduIs.s 80 a,nIr
tnor. form.r sortharn ronr.Sa..ts a.,
NJ .oma nrominono. saLsa nsrr,i..;on 20 A. ort
otorn.do boat A. his or ernon,a noan 49, 40
ioin Adm;r.I sio.rd ~ r. W., Ca,,n,.aa.
II, Wv .av. th.t .Ir..dv tha vo..noias q, 49,
.nI;s,sd roros c.nsad ~ the -. $780,
havs hesn nraot,caI,v aIisd ana shorid ,ha ssr.
vice ,.nrirs < ooo man On .hor. not,oo ~ .ona
.unnlv than a. fast A., . u.d,oaI ho.ra .o,,a
nass them Thsrs "a M Isnr ~ az an.t,oh,a
mat.r,aI for tbs nav hut thero 10. ,,n,,, ,axaS
INV law for m. .nIi.tsd ,or,. .nd th,s ha. ahor,
bosn coached
Denial "a oixsn that ,b. sh,r. r,d.r .dn,ro,
s,card have not th.ir mi, co,nr,on.nt -, r,.n
on hoard Ev.rv shin has not onIv Tho ,imJ,