New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-10-13
REMARKABLE NAVAL GROWTH.
FIFTY-FIvE VESSELS UNDER CONTRACT
TWENTY NEARING COMPLETION.


TWENTY NEARING COMPLETION.
Washington, Oct 12-tSpecaD.-The remarkable
rapidly with which the naval power OF the United
Stares is being increased the present time may
be realized when it is stated that hfty-fve war
vessels are now under contract for the Government
and that their aggregate tonnage far exceeds that
Of the vessels building at any one time IN the
Civil War. This vast construction programme
which has excited more attention abroad than at
home has been authorized gradually by Con-
eress until the vessels soon 10 be completed
will place the United States third in rank among
sea Powers. In addition TO the enormous Meet
including auxiliaries, actually IN commission AZ
the present time twenty vessels are In various
stages of readiness and the shpbuilders are nur-
rjadv gathering the material for thirty-hve others
OF the ffty-nve vessels eight are lrst-class heav-
uv armored seaeong battle-ships. thirty-eight are
torredo- boats four are monitors and one is a pow
erfrl cruiser
Chief Constructor Hichborn to-day completed a
tabulated statement showing the degree OF compile
ton Of the twenty vessels now nearly ready tor
commission or rapidly approaching that condi-
ton from which 4 appears that seventeen OF these
vessels have already been launched and that the
others will be afoat before the end OF this year.
OF the ne battle-ships. the kearsarge' the Ken
lucky and the Illinois building at Newport News
Va are respectively IS. oS and % per cent COM
Melted The Alabama. al the C'ramp yard, Phladel-
phia has advanced 10 Go per cent. and the Wiscon-
sin which IS 10 De launched AZ the Union Iron
Works San Francisco. next month. is exactly nall
finished OF the ten torpedo-ooats the twenty-six-
knot Rowan (No. s.. at Seattle. IS rated az ~ per
cent and will have her trial trip before inc emo OF
this week. The thirty-knot Farragu 90 ~, the
first OF the to be finished BY The Govern
ment has already been tried oy the SCOTS al san
Francisco, ard, although readily making her guar
minor injuries, which may be easy remeale9 i ,nt
Dahlgren (No. 81 and the T. A VI; craven (No 10,
thrty-knot boats. building at Bath. Ne are Isted
at 80 and 81 per cent compete DSt VIII no. oe rba
two twenty-two-and-a halt knot boats, the Davis
no ig and the Fox CNo l3). at Portland Ore; are
Dractic9iIv ready for trial and the Davis may have
her speed run next week The Mackenzie (Eo IN
has lust been completed by Hllman Co. OF Phlla-
Of next week This little vessel is almost year
behind contract The status Of the remaining three
;hirty-knot destroyers is as follows: ~, 80
per cent: re Godsborough Go. 90, at Portland.
Orc % per cent. and the Bailey (No -. NJ the
works Of the Gas Engine and Power COMPANY, OF
boat Plunger at Baltimore is within Is per cent OF
con- pietion and will probably be put into service
next month. TWO twelveknot tugooats which are
now being built AT navy yards; have mace rrapid
York being rated al 90 per cert. and the Paw
tucket at Mare Island. at so per cent The saillng
ship Chesapeake, building at BAN IRON orks, l9 ~;
use as a training vessel at the Naval Academy' IS
n ner cent ready She has the distinction Of
being the frst sheathed vessel designed lot tnss
American Navy, and the hrst sallnig vessel daiu
The last ship under construction, except those
whose keels have not been laid Is the cruiser A
bany building az Armstrong;, Eiswick. hnfIand.
I She was only 30 per cent completed When pur-
chased together with the cruiser New-Orleans,
from the Brazilian Government Just neIore wal
with Spain was declared and work was only again
have all her material ready, and have promised 10
deliver her within six monlhs-