The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1898-03-16

900 900, which will greatly facilitate the
work Of the bureaus. These bureaus
had not been able to conclude any con-
tracts for the procurement Of war sup
plies, because no allotment had been
made, but yesterday afternoon the
ordnance bureau was given 81 100000,
and business went forward with q rush.
It is true that this sum is already
mortgaged under provisional arrange
ment made during the past week, but
with the assurance Of more funds to
come the work Of the bureau is now
moving rapidly.
Secretary Long was exceedingly busy,
having not only to give a good deal of
time to the cabinet, to which he was
obliged to return twice, but also being
obliged to see a great many persons
with whom the department has or eX-
poets to have cOutractrelatiOns Among
the latter was Mr. HerreshoT, the tor
pedo boat builder from Bristol, r. ].
He turned two Of these boats over to
the department a few days ago, and
the secretary's purpose in consulting
him was to learn how much he could
hasten the work on one of the boats
remaining in his hands, which in ordi-
nary times would require about two
also spent a good deal Of time at in
tervals during the day in consulting
over the long distance telephone with
naval officers in New York and it is
believed much of this consultation con-
cerned the procurement of suitableves-
sells from among the auxiliary navy for
war purposes.
The new cruiser Amazonas, accord
] n tN nj MIL
entirely from the San Francisco. The
latter vessel sailed yesterday morning
from Libson, and will arrive inthe Tyne
about Friday. 1t is expected that she
will divide her officers and crew with
! the Amazonas, placing Lieutenant
! Commander Arthur p. Nazro, eXecu-
| tive officer of the San Francisco, in
charge of the latter vessel Without
| doubt the Amazonas viii be gotten
across the ocean as soon as possible,
and it is expected that the san Fran
| cisco viii convoy her
The war department is greatly dis
appointed and annoyed at the dilatori-
ness shown by the contractors who
! have undertaken to construct the new
! fortifications along the coast. 1t is
| said that only one among the whole
number has finished his contract on
time. The department has been greatly
embarrassed thereby in placing its
guns, and has been obliged to extend
the time allowed these contractors.
The construction of five modern dry
docks was agreed on yesterday by tn,
house committee on naval affairs, Thes
are to be located at Portsmouth, n, II.
Boston, League Island, near Philadel
phia, Algiers, near New Orleans, anC
Mare Island, near San Francisco Thes,
docks, all of which are to be entirely
new structures, are to be of wood eN
cept those at Algiers and Portsmouth
The material of construction of thes
will not be determined until today
meeting. The indications are that tn
dock at Portsmouth win be built o
stone and that at Algiers of steel
There is a strong disposition in tn
committee to increase the navy, in ad
ditlon to the three batteries recent!
authorized, by the construction o
some of the smaller vessels Of war. l
was stated today that the committe
may authorize the. building of abou
ten torpedo boats and torpedo boat de