Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1898-03-24

WASHINGTON, D. c., March 23.-Ihe
feeling was universal throughout official
circles to-day that the elimination of the
spanish crisis was near at hand. With
the report of the Maine court of inquiry
only little while off, with the white
house the center of long and ears
nest conference between the Presi-
dent and the party leaders of
Congress, and with exceptional ac-
tivity towards emergency preparations
IN the War and Navy Departments. there
was abundance of evidence that definite
results regarding the Maine disaster and
the Cuban question in general were about
TO be reached.
Among the Presidents callers were Sen
ators Cockrell, Turpie and Foraker. Gen
Daniel Sickles. former United States min
lister to Madrid; and Representative VIM.
Alden Smith, of Michigan, who has re-
Gently returned from trip to Cuba.
The call of Messrs Cockrell and Turpia
was regarded as particularly significant
as they are representative Democrats in
the Senate, and the visit followed that
OF Senator German yesterday. 1t was
generally understood that in the present
emergency the President desires patriotic
unity without reference to party.
Secretaries Long ard Alger also cor
ferred with the President during the day
Secretary Long later said that the Maine
report probably would reach Washington
Tomorrow night If. however, it did not
come before O'Clock THURSDAY evening
Mr.. Long said he would probably not re-
ceive it until Friday morning. when 1t
would be laid before the President imme-
diately. The Secretary did not think the
President would give the document any
consideration at a late hour. 1t was
more probable. he thought, if Lieut.
Mark arrived at a late hour, that he
would take the report to a hotel for the
! night.
There has been no change in the plan
Of sending the report to Congress early
| next week. probably Monday accompan-
led by message from the President.
1T IS DEFINITELY SETTLED.
however. that the message and the papers
accompanying it will relate exclusively
TO the Maine disaster 1t will not lake up
the fearful corGition of affairs in Cuba.
as shown by the reports OF United States
consuls, these being reserved for sub
sequert action, and a later message to
Congress.
Secretary Long determined to-day to
tan and Terror to Key West, where thoy
will reinforce the squadron in those
waters. He also determined to bring into
service the eight single turreted mont
,ors at League Island navy yard, Phila-
delpha, two of which will be sent to Bos-
ton. two to New York ana four held in
reserve al Philadelphia. The Puritan and
Terror take the place of the battleships
n r1-i+b
drawn from the squadron at Key West.
| 1t was stated at the Navy Department
| that this move was in accordance with a
programme previously agreed upon, al
though this progremme has not been an
nounced heretofore. The Puritan. by
many experts. is regarded is the most
formidable fighting machine in the navy.
| In addition to its other preparations
for possible trouble the Navy Depart
| ment to-day took steps towards utilizing
ten of the seagoing revenue cutters for
| use along the Atlantic coast. Captain
Shoemaker, chief of the revenue cutter
service conferred with Assistant Secre-
| tary Roosevelt during the day on the
! plans for turning over these cutters TO
| the navy They will be first sent TO Nor
| folk. where additional guns will be
mounted and then will proceed to Key
West and become a
PART OF THE SQUADRON THERE.
Their main service. however, will be as
naval pickets, chain of these fleet cut
| tiers being maintained outside Of the
cruisers ard battIeships. The revenue
cutter service now has ready for instant
and active service f2i line officers, IA en-
eireers. $50 enlisted men. and 10 vessels,
of which fourteen are on the Atlantic
coast Two others are in course OF con-
struction at Cleveland and with rush
/ work can be completed and ready for sea
in, from 80 to IS Gays. The Manning the
| Gresham the Algonquin. the Oront'aga,
and the Window. are all new, fast ara
efficient vessels and could go anywhere
and perform any service that any vessel
| of their class con perform. The Manning
| IS considered an IS knot boat. All Of
| them. it is said, could be quickly contro-
| verified into torpedo boats or dynamite
| cruisers Whether this last move will
| he made is not yet definitely decided.
| Secretary Long said to-day that it had
become evident that torpedo boats could
! not be bought abroad and could not be
| built in time enough in this country. so
that we might have to equip other craft
| with torpedoes. The Navy Department
| opened bids to-day for
EXTENSIVE IMPROVEMENTS
| at dry Tortugas and Key West, formal
| transfer having been effected, as regards
! Tortugas. which passes from the treasury
! to the War Department. These consist
| of two solid steel piers. 70 be con-
structed at Dry Tortusas. with two ex-
| tensive coal sheds and an elaborate me-
/ chanical equipment for loading naval yes
| sells with coal
| At Key West the Improvements consist
! of a steel pier and two coal sheds, with
| similar machinery for loading warships
with coal. The bids ranged from I15l,oo
! for the entire work down to about $feo.ooo
| The bidders for the Dry Tortugas piers
! and coal sheds were as follows:
| Phoenix Bridge Company, Phoenixville,
| Pa s4O5. $50: Michael j. Dady Brooklyn,
! 500. eco; S. S. Leonard, Company. Jackson
! vile. 1914. 100: Union Bridge Company.
| New York. $4,000: Sanford & Brooks.
| baltimore. s6Se, 600; New York Dredging
| Company. s4l4.cc0; r. G. Packard, New
! York, s669Cl0.
The bidders on the Key West work
f, were: Phoenix Bridge Company, s2S0000
| Michael j. Dady $4,000; s. S. Leonard
| Company. s2aS eco; Union Bridge Com
| many. $4,000 Sanford & Brooks. s4456c0:
| s. F. White s27s,C0o; r. G. Packard, s5i2,-
! O0O.
TWO bids were made for the entire
| work at Tortugas and Key West, as fol-