Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1898-03-24

~" plans for turning over th.sc cut
;"'& {" Ih" navy. Tncy viii he first
sent ~ Norfolk. where additional guns
"iIl he mounted ana Viii then proceed
I" Nel West, ana brcnue a pant of the
squadron there Their main service.
however. viii he az naval pickurs. i
chain Of these fleet cutters being main
tanned outside Of the cruisers ana bat
tleships
The revenue cutter service now has
ready for instant and active service ~
line officers, a engineers. 800 enlisted
men, and - vessels, Of which Il are on
INC Atlantic coast TWO others are in
course of construction at Cleveland and
With rush work can be completed and
ready for sea in from 30 to A. DAYS
The Manning, the Gresham. the Algon-
quin. the Onondaga ana the Window
are all now fast and efficient vessels
and would 80 anywhere and perform
any service that any vessel Of their
class can perform. The Manning is
considered an is knot boat An of
them it is said quickly could he con-
verified into torpedo boats or dynamite
cruisers
Whether this last move Will be made i
not Yet definitely decided Secretary
Long said. today. that it had become evil
Grnt that torpedo boats could be bought
abroad and could not he built soon
enough in this country 50 that we might
nave 10 equip other craft with torpedoes
ne navy department opened bids. to-
day. for extensive improvements at Dry
IortugaS and Key West. a formal trans
fer having been effected as regards; Tor
tugdS. which passes from the treasury to
ihe war department. These improvements
consist Of Two solid steel piers to be CON
StruCt"d At Dry Tortugas with TWO cx-
tensiVe coal sheds ana ana elaborate me-
chdnical equipment for loading naval YES
sells with coal. At Key West the inn
pr"Vcment% consist Of steel pier ana
two coal sheds, with similar machinery
for loading warships with coal
III" bids ranged from $.l5l 600 for the
entire work done to about $3.50 900. The
bidders for the Dry Tortugas piers and
coal sheds WEI" aS follows: Phoenix
bridge CO.; PhoeniXvile Pa, $i0l 80;
Michael j. Dady' Brooklyn. $5o1ooo; S. $.
Leonard CO., Jacksonville $27i 7oO Union
Bridge Co. New York, $3.50 000: Sanford
\ Brooks, Baltimore, $500 Nto New York
Dredging 90. $1L000; X. G. Packard,
New York, $500 000.
The bidders on the Key West work /
Were: Phoenix Bridge CO.. $2S0. coo: NJ. j. /
l)adN. $29l 900: s. S. Leonard Co. $lSS. Goa: I
Mon Bridge co.. $2i0W)U: Sanford & /
Brooks, $ii5,@0; s. +. White, $273 600; r. |
Il. Packard. $542 600
Two bids We're made for the entire work |
It Tortugas and Key West as follows: |
t. q. Packard. $l.15l.00o: and Grattan &
New York &1a1 600 Other bids |
wer" made for the machinery. tracks
'"al ears, etc. ranging from $1I0 300 down.
Fho award Will be made within the next
lay or two.
Secretary Long has also ordered the
i"hbir tufr'tcd monitor Terror from New
"fk to kcN Nest. whore She is to join
\d!nIral Sicard'S fleet. Tho monitors Ma
lant and Jason viii supply the place Of
ne Terror at New York. While there is
vast difference between the old and the
trW tl'p" Of Ties" peculiar naval engines
= obstruction, yet they are essentially
ne sane. ana naval officers say that il is
great mistake to believe the effective
less "I the ola monitors is past.
IN" monitors now brought into commits
i"il took Part in the notab" engagement
"NultInE in the fan of Charleston. In
'trht years, they have been somewhat
BY the fine cruisers and
at'ltShlpS ii tile ne" navy. but the navy
apartment never has lost sight Of them
3 tI'rIt" coast defence vessels IN time
! hcrd. They have TWO lo-inch guns,
mounted in Il revolving turrct. The tur-
st arr in perfect condition and the guns.
'hllt not of The latest type. are elective
or heavy solid shots. The fact that they
~ proceed under their own steam from :
hIiadclphla to Boston, Indicate the con- :
dolce of naval authorities i'll their sea-
yorthiness.
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