The age-herald., 1898-03-12
THREE ADDITIONAL :,
 EMPHASIZES Mill Plough the High Seas Floating Old
 Glory. AUTHORIZED BY COMMITTEE On Naval Affairs in the Lower HOuS(
 Yesterday.
 $ s4oo PER TON sSRIcE FOR ARMot One of The 'esse's Will Bear th( pS 7 d the Maine.
 Sey
 H HOPING FOR BEST; READY FOR WORSE
HOPING FOR BEST; READY FOR WORSE
Both the Navy and War Departments Cons tinue Inculcating Marvellous Life and Activity Into Everything Sus-
 ceptible to Warlike Uses.

Washington, March 11.-Three new battleships, of the staunchest type afloat, were authorized by the house ccxnmittee on naval affairs today, and a provision for their construction inserted in the appro- priation bill.
 At the same time the committee agreed on a maximum price of $400 per ton for armor plate for our vessels, increased the force of naval marines by 473 men and put matters in fair shape for decision tomor- row on the location of dry docks, probably four in number, capable of accommodating the largest sized warships The commit tee was in session practically all day and before the decision on increase of ships was reached, there was long discussion. Representative Tate (dem.), of Georgia, while favoring an increase, believed that two vessels would be ample and tha fur | ther expenditures beyond the raint or necessity should be avoided. When the vote was taken there was but one dissent- ing voice, MT. Tate insisting that two bat tleships would be sufficient to meet pres- ent needs.
 Of the Best Pattern
 The new warships provided for will be of the finest pattern. It will be two years doubtless before they can be placed in commission One of them, the committed decided, should bear the name of the ill- fated Maine.
 The appropriation for construction was not fixed, being referred to the sub-com- mittee on appropriations which will re- port to the full committee tomorrow. The cost it is said will be about S5 0000 each though for the fiscal year covered in the bill the amount of expenditure may not exceed two millions each.
 The committee also agreed on a precision authorizing the secretary of the navy to purchase armor plate by contract or othy erwise at a cost of not exceeding $4O0 per ton. This was agreed to, however, only on the express provision that this item should include the nickel used in. the ar- nor for which large outside percentage heretofore has been paid by the govern- ment. This limit of armor contract price has been generally expected and with the exception of the insertion of the proviso as to nickel met with little opposition in the discussion. One of the most import ant features of the work on the bill will be an agreement of an appropriation or $135 900 for outftting, rationing and uni- forming 473 additional marines. This in- crease in the naval force was made tha subject of a special and urgent request sent to the house after the submission of reg ular recommendations
 Carries Thirty-Six Millions
 With the amounts to be paid for dry docks and for armor plate in the aggre- gate not yet in the item, the bill as 1t stands carries in all something like $36- 900, ,OOO, which, however, will be largely augmented by the other items. Rapid progress has been made with the bill and it is likely it will be in shape to report to the house Monday or Tuesday.
 One of the most important and signif- cant developments of the day was the conclusion on the part Of the secretary of war to issue an order tomorrow creat- ing new military department, including within it's confines that part of the coun try which would be in all likelihood near est to the field of hostilities in case h should come to that.
 The order will create commotion in tho south. The present department of Texai is abolished and the headquarters whicf has been at San Antonio, Tex, for st many years, is abandoned. In place Of the old department Is created a new one, the department of the south. General Grahamt at present commander of the department of Texas, will command the new depart ment
 Alabama Included
 This department will include the states of South Carolina, Georgia. Florida, Alabama, Mississippi Louisiana and Texas. All of these states save the last are at present attached to the department of the east, under command or dellerai Nefiitt' VI A>cW York It is said at the department that General Merritt is fully compensated TOT the strength of the command which passes away from him by the addition to ms forces of the two regiments of artillery now recruiting. Headquartors of the new department of the south will De at At Ianta Ga chosen because of It's fino strategic value, from it's excellent facili- ties. At the present the government has no accommodations in Atlanta for head ouarters of the department, so it will bs obliged to hire the most available build- ing.
 General Wilson, chief of engineers who has been in Florida, is expected back to- morrow to report to Secretary Alger on the progress of fertilization work and prob ably as to the defense at Tortugas.
 straining Every Nerve
 For the first time today the officials of the war department admitted that they were straininS ever5 nerve to inprcve thai part of the defenses of the country conf fided to their care. It was without ques