The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1898-03-14

rotary Rooseyelt's room during the morn
ing. There We're present. in addition to
the assistant secretary. Chief Constructor
Hichborn of the bureau of construction
and repair, Captain Frederick Rogers of
the naval board of inspection and survey;
Captain O'Neill. chief of the ordnance
bureau; Lieutenant Sergeant, recorder Of
Inc board OF inspection, and Lieutenant
Commander J. Kelley and Naval Con-
Structor ToWresy, the latter now on duty
at Cramps shipyard, We're expected, but
their orders TO attend had evidently ar
rived too late TO permit them TO do so.
Each OF the bureau chiefs present was
able to give the board some Information
incident TO the work that may be required
to fit out any ships that may be obtained
Several of the members Of the board, as
originally appointed TO look into the mat
ter are unable TO leave the city at the
present time, so it was determined that
q special beard. of which Captain Rodgers
VIII be president, should be designated TO
proceed to New York tonight to under
take the work in hand.
HUNDREDS AVAILABLE.
An office will be opened at % Cortland
street, New York City. tomorrow morn
ing. at which owners and agents for
ships will be invited to make their pro-
poSals for turning over TO the navy such
vessels as are of value for conversion into
war purposes The naval officials say
there will be no difficulty experienced in
obtaining all vessels that are desired, as
there are hundreds available. Thanks TO
ONCE, the department keeps in close
touch with the construction of all crafts
tnat can be utilized in the event of war,
and Just now it has record of 40 such
ships of all sizes and classes which will
De inspected and examined if their own
ers desire TO part with them. A number
OF these are vessels which have been con-
structed under the subsidy act of con-
greSS and are engaged in carrying the
mails. The vessels to be examined will
include all classes, from liners like the
ST Paul to ocean-going tugs, which can
be of very material service for a number
OF purposes. Tonnage, draft, speed, con-
dluons of boilers and machinery and
other attributes will figure in the thor
ough inspection which will be undertaken
by the board before any chartering or
purchasing is recommended Both the
ordnance bureau and that engaged in the
work of construction and repair are ready
to take their part in fitting out and equip
ping such vessels as may be required.
FORMIDABLE GUNS.
At Fort Washington. the factory has
now in various stages of construction no
less than $50 guns of formidable charac-
ter, on which work is being done night
and day, with view to their early COM
oietion- No new guns are being started,
bit the entire efforts of the factory are
devoted TO nnlShlng those now under way.
A naval officer said there will be enough
of them when finished TO constitute a
fair armament for probably 90 or more
auxiliary cruisers. should such a large
fleet be found necessary to supplement
the regular Warships.
The gunboat Machias. which mas just
arrived at Norfolk from the Asiatic sta
ton by way of the Suez canal. has
been found to be in fair shape as a result
OF the examination by the navy inspection
board. a thorough overhauling will be
unnecessary in the present instance. and
she Will be sent to Boston, where all
necessary repairs can be made to her in
about II days.