Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1898-03-21
ALGER GIVES ORD
NANCE BUREAU $780, 900.
LONG SEES BOAT BUILDERS
Arranges for a Number Of Vessels to
Strengthen Navy-San Francisco
Will Divide Her Crew With New
Cruiser onas-MoYements Of
Various Boats.

was another busy day in the war and
navy departments. cIetary Alger
was enabled to make an allotment of
funds from the appropriation OF $780,
OU0, 600 which will greatly facilitate the
work of the bureau. The ordnance bu-
reau was given $2,500,C00 and business
went forward with rush.
/ Secretary Long was eXceed dinghy 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 ex-
| poets to have contract relations.
Among the latter was Herreshoff, 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 in or
dina1y times would require about two
months to complete. The secretary
also spent a good deal of time IN CON
sulting over long distance telephone
with the naval officers in New York,
and it is believed much of this con-
sultation concerned the procurement of
suitable vessels from among the aux
iliary navy for war purposes.
| Mr.. Malster, 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
| in the midst Of trial trip about six
months ago. The department. has no
disposition to waste time at this june
ing the boat to be of a 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. It 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. It is. ex-
pected that the San Francisco will
convoy her.
The torpedo boat Foote arrived at
Jacksonville yesterday afternoon
/ The Machias sailed from Norfolk to
Boston where she will undergo re-
pairs. The Brooklyn went to New
/ nOYsf foy
head, which has been taking on stores
at Tampa, sailed to rejoin the squad
ron at Tortugas.
Judge Advocate General Lemly re-
ceived a 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. It is
said that only one among the whole
J number has finished his contract on
| time. The department has been
/ greatly embarrassed thereby in plac-
ing it's guns and has been obliged to
extend the time allowed these con-
tractors. The department. is determ-
/ ined not to submit to further obstruc-
/ ton in prosecuting the work under
| taken, but will do thS work itself and
refrain from entering into contracts.
| A good deal of encourag cement was
created at the navy department yester-
day by the report that the majority Of
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 it's
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
aims company was in conference with
General Miles and General Flagler
yesterday. Samples of two of the lat
est patterns of thirty-calibre rifles,
one Winchester, the other a Lee
straight pull gun. were examined No
contracts we're made, but the confer
ence led to a full understanding. The
representative stated that the company
has force of 200 men and by work
ing ten hours a day the government
could be supplied with rifles at very
rapid rate.
Bids were opened in the quartermas-