Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1899-12-07

to make contracts early in the coming
year for 1888 tons of armor OF the best
quality that can be obtained in TINS
country for the Maine, Ohio and Mis-
Spuri, and that the provision OF the act
Of March 3, 1899, limiting the price or
avmor to $500 a ton, and the restriction
preventing the armored vessels there
in authorized from being contracted
for until the armor therefor is con-
tratted for. he revised, Whatever may
be the future action OF congress regard
ing the establishment ot a government
armor factory, 1t can hardly affect the
supply ot armor for the Maine, Ohio
and Missouri, as it will under any cir
.cumstances be impracticahle to obtain
il from such a source In reasonable
time to complete the vessels above re
ferred To-"
Secretary Long refers to the return
.ot Admiral Dewey and his enthusiastic
welcome, After speaking Of the New
York reception and the sword presen
.tauou in WASHINGTON. the secretary
sums up by saying It was the nations
tribute
Among the many other topics treated
is that for fostering the naval reserve,
the consolidation Of the Naval bureaus
OF Engineering and Equipment In the
interest of more harmonious action
and review of the various bureau
Publications,
He says the survey OF the trans
Pacific cable route indicates that 1t will
be entirely practicable, 1t is intended
to survey a cable route from Guam to
Yokohama. 1t is proposed to supply
all new ships with Smokeless powder,
The lg-inCh guns be So greatly de-
Neloped that it had been designated as
the largest gun of the hattlcships in
stead Of the lS-inch gun, Many int
provements in naval ordnance are un-
der way. including uniform ealiber for
small arms ana machine guns. Work
on the design of gunhoat number sin
teen to replace the Michigan on the
Great Lakes has been suspended pend
ms a modification of the treaty with
Great Britain.
The secretary gives a table showing
naval construction going on abroad as
compared with the United States. From
this it appears that only Italy and
Japan laid down less tonnage than this
country during the present year, and
that Italy alone had less tonnage UNI
der construction, The total tonnage
under construction is; England, SAL
ESQ; France, 255, 5S3; Germany, 1929;
Italy lg0,5i0; Japan, 100000, Russia,
~ 1856 United States 123,236
In reference to the construction of
the navy the secretary says: In order
to show the amount expended on the
new navy the department has had pre-
pared in the Bureau OF Supplies and
Accounts Il table which shows in de
tail the cost Of each finished ship since
the rebuilding of the fleet began In
1889 and the amount expended ON those
under construction 4 recapitulatIon
follows.
For hull and machinery Sl0l,2l7 ,5G2 10
For armor and armament 51,52l 0S2 90
For equipment Bureau Of
flulIIlltHll s.'s.sss q rfh'th&N,Nu
Actual cost of finished YES. 9S ,529 81 50
Estimated final cost yes
sci now In course Of
construction ..,,,.,,,,,. 62 ,5I0,GlO23
Secretary Long says that the de-
partment has accepted nine vessels
which have been constructed, five tor
pedo boats, one practice boat, two
tugs and the battloship Kearsargc,
The secretary then says that in add
zion to the new warships, four Span
sh meats, namely; Reina Mercedes
Don Juan de Austria Isle de Cuba and
Isle de Lu2on, sunk during the war
with Spain, have been recovered and
made seryiceablc for the navy. The
total cost of raising and repairing
them is estimated at 1905, 900, while
their value is computed at twice the
amount.
The secretary then says: Some de
lay has occurred on vessels under con
struction through the inability OF the
contractors to procure armor and other
material and the lack Of experience on
the part of some Of them In building
torpedo craft; and the dates Of com
pletion in somes cases have been some
what postponed from those given IN
my last report,
Work on the design of gunboat No
l6. to replace the Michigan on the
great lakes. has been suspended await
ing the notifications OF the treaty with
Great Britain.