The herald., 1898-03-16
THE UNION IRON WORKS CAN
BUILD SHIPS
WILL ERECT A GUN FACTORY
If a Contract Is Awarded for Hun
dred Big Cannon-Preparations
for Defense
Associated Press Special Wire


two vessels of that type in twelve
months; turn out one torpedo destroyer
in eight months or four in twelve, and
if the government will award contract
for 100 big guns will erect a modern gun
foundry and turn out ordnance for those
vessels and battleships now building, as
well as for completing the defenses at
Pacific Coast ports.''
The offer was taken under advisement
by Secretary Long, who will submit it to
the Cabinet, and it is the opinion among
politicians that the President may order
the work inaugurated. In case such a
decision is reached Mr.. Scott will carry
back with him contracts when he leaves
for San Francisco and the work will be-
gin at once.
Should the gun proposition be accept
ed the Union Iron Works will buy the
Pacific Rolling Mill property and turn
it into gun factory.
TORTUGAS DEFENSES
WASHINGTON, March 15.-More than
half million dollars is to be spent by
the navy in making Dry Tortugas a
more valuable strategic point. AS re-
suit of the conferences between the
President and Secretaries Long, Gage
and Alger and Commander Bradford,
Chief of the Bureau of Equipment, it has
been determined to permit the navy to
make the first arrangements for utiliz-
| ing Dry Tortugas as its work has been
| completed. 1t is proposed to maintain
a few modern guns in sight of Fort JEFF
ferson and man them by a couple of
| l. 1,atv ral iv, 1,A
Bureau of Yards and Docks under the
supervision of Rear Admiral Matthews,
Chief of the Bureau, and Commander
Bradford require the construction in
thirty days of two coal houses near Fort
jefferson for at least 10000 tons of coal.
1t is also proposed to build two coal
wharves, erect an electric light plant for
searchlights and operating cranks and
make other improvements to transform
the Key into magnificent coaling sta
ton. The total cost of improvements at
Fort Jefferson will be about s455,O 900. 1t
is also proposed to dredge 100000 cubic
yards of coral from the channel around
| Fort Jefferson and enable battleships
to steam to the wharves to COAL The
present arrangements at Key West are
bad. Light vessels, like the Marble
|
the Iowa or Indiana have to anchor off
the station about eight miles. and have
coal brought to them in lighters. There
is no coal on Dry Tortugas but if there
was battleships would have to anchor
| about a quarter of a mile out and coal
| from lighters.
Secretary Alger proposes to place only
a few more guns at Fort jefferson, as
the range which modern guns would
have is short and old guns now at the
| Fort can do effective work when placed
on new platforms The work of re-
| building the platforms will commence
Immediately and by the time the navy
has established it's station everything
will be in readiness.
Bids for the coal houses and wharves
at Dry Tortugas will be opened tomor-
row. Specifications will require the
completion of the sheds within a few
days. 1t is also proposed to rush work
on additional sheds at Key West.
1t is estimated that the total cost of
improvements at Key West will be about
$115, 900.
NAVAL REORGANIZATION
NEW YORK, March ia special to
the Herald from Washington says:
IIeSlucut MCIAlIllSy anu StCT6tdTy
Long will unite today in an effort to
start the Roosevelt Naval Reorganiza-
tion bill on it's passage through Congress.
Never was the necessity for re-organi-
cation more apparent than now, when the
Navy is making preparations for a posi-
BILE conflict with Spain. In the first place
the service is short of both line and en-
gineer officers, and in the second, it is
v,an n6 ha ff,c I,o to-,
ton, there should be a wiping out of all
differences between the line and engi-
neers by the amalgamation of the two
corps. Engineer-in-Chief Melville urged
upon the Secretary the advisability of
impressing upon the President the de-
STABILITY of joining him in advocating
the passage of the Roosevelt Reorgani-
cation bill, which was drawn up by a
board of officers representing the sew
eral factions of the two corps. This bill
provides for amalgamation of the line
and engineer officers, number of Off
GERS to be promoted from one branch TO
the other vacancies to be caused by the
wedding out of men who fall below the
requirements.
A BRAZILIAN BARGAIN
LONDON, Mar. 15.-The United States
government is negotiating mere for the
purchase of Brazilian battleship "a de
Maio, formerly the Aquidaban, the flag
ship of Admiral Mello, which has lately
been reconstructed in England.
COAST DEFENSE
BOSTON, Mass, March ia giant
12-inch gun and carriage will be shipped
west for the defense of San Francisco
harbor today. The big carriage has just
been completed and found to be up to the
government standard. Work has been
rushed upon this job, crews working
night and day till it was completed.
DUTY ON NAVAL SUPPLIES
| WASHINGTON, March 15-Repre-
sentative Dingley of Maine, chairman Of
| the Ways and Means Committee of the
House, introduced joint resolution to-
day providing for the temporary adms-
sion free of duty of naval supplies pro-
cured abroad. The bill will be reported
Immediately by the Ways and Means
Committee, to which it was referred. 1t
was introduced at the request of the ad-
ministraton.
MANNING THE DEFENSES
NORFOLK, Va, March 15.-Upon or
ders from the War Department the reg
ulars stationed at Fortress Monroe pro-
ceeded south this morning. Five cars
are used in transporting the troops.
Four companies of artillery, compris-