The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-15
HOBSON IN
A new ROLE.
Is Raising Vessels Instead of
Sinking Them.
Makes a Report to the Navy De-
partment.
THREE SPANISH SHIPS
Sunk by Dewey Are Almost
Ready For Use.
Worth Double What It Cost to
Save Them.

Washington, Aug. 15.-Nava1 Con-
structor Richmond P. Hobson has been
heard from by the navy department for
the first time at any length since he
was assigned to duty in charge Of the
Spanish ships raised from Manila har-
Dor and now undergoing repairs at
Hong Kong. His report is unusually
interesting, dealing in general questions
such as the need of a large dock yard
in the orient, the increasing shipping at
Manila and the prospect that Manila
will succeed Hong Kong as the empor-
ium of the east, the value of Chinese
labor in all branches of industry, etc.
He also says the three Spanish
ships which are completed will be
worth to the government about $610, 900
and he contemplates trying to raise
three more Spanish vessels now at the
bottom of Manila bay. The letter is
addressed to Rear Admiral HicEborn,
chief of the bureau of construction and
is dated at Hong Kong, July II. He
says:
I'm compliance with the bureaus
directions 1 enclose a special report on
the raising and repairing of the Span
ish vessels sunk in Manila bay.
THE three vessels under recOnStruc-
ton, the Isla de Cuba, Islas de LuZOn
and Don Juan de Austrias, are about
at equal stages of completion, which I
estimate to be about so per cent COM
pared with the vessels fitted out ready
for sea. The batteries and electric
plant. which have not arrived, will
doubtless be the last items. I estimate
that the time OF completion viii be
about six weeks after the arrival of
the armament and electric plant.
I estimate the value of these vessels
when completed, exclusive of arna-
ment, to be about as follows:
''Isla de Cuba-Hull, fittings and out
fit, $4,000; machinery, $4,000; total,
$4,000.
machinery, $4,000; tora1, S215, 900.
Don Juan de Austrias-Hull, etc,
$125,000; machinery, $55000; total, $780,
vessels, S610, 0OO.''
He then shows that the raising and
rehtting has cost about 1904. 000 MAX
ing a net gain to the government on
the three vessels of $306 ,000 He gives
the credit for this result to Naval Con-
structor Caps, who made the con-
tracts.
Mr.. Hobson speaks Of the general
good condition of the vessels and says:
This is particularly the case with
the parts that remained completely
submerged. Thus, large engine parts
were scarcely injured at all.
This feature has an important bear
ing upon the wrecks still in Manila
which expect to examine with divers
when the vessels now in hand are COM
pleted. The longer period that they
have been immersed may not have ser
iously injured the principal parts and
there may be similar advantages to the
government in further salvage, partic-
ularly as to the Don Antonio de Unoa
and the VelascO, sister ships to the Don
Juan de Austrias, which from all ac-
counts suffered less damage than those
that have been raised"
Mr.. Hobson then urges the desirable
ity of a well equipped United States
dock yard in the far east, as he says
the cost of private work is very high.
He adds:
There would be great advantage to
the government in the establishment
in the Philippines of a yard thoroughly
equipped with docks and plant capable
of doing all the. work of docking and
REPAIRING of the navy. The British
government Is undertaking such an
establishment here, though at great
cost, in solving the making or reclaim
ing of a large part of the land re-
quired.
Attention should be called, however,
to the fact that the success and advan-
tage of such an establishment as in
deed the success of any industrial
establishment in this part of the orient
would necessitate the employment of