The San Francisco call., 1899-09-01
FIFTY,FOUR
NEW SHIPS
UNDER WAY
Many Fighting Graft to Be
Added to the United
States Navy,
ARE NOW BEING BUILT
Eleven BattleShips, Four Monitors
and Three ArmOred Cruisers
Included in the List.
Special Dispatch to The Gail.

w 5::s:::: = :::::. ::::: &: e $: :: Il Il: i:
Z mates for the requirements
for the naval service next
year shall be submitted by tomorrow
september l, thus giving him three
months for co-ordinating them for
submission to Congress. Accordingly
the several naval bureaus have been
active Of late preparing their final fig
Cres. and all the estimates, with the
exception of those relating TO armor
and ordnance, viii be on hand to-mor-
row. They show in general consider
able increase all along the line. owing
TO the rapid developments of the navy,
the unprecedented amount of naval
shipbullding now in progress and the
enlarged demands growing out OF the
war and the acquisition Of new terri
tory.
The largest item is $4,000, 600, under
the head Increase of the Navy,
which is $1,000 600 more than any pre-
Vious estimate under this head. 1t is
due 10 the unusual number Of war
ships now in course Of construction,
aEgUegating fifty-fOur in all classes, a
total much in excess Of the number
under construction at any previous
time In the history Of the navy. These
include eleven battleships. four moni-
tors. three armOred cruisers, six pro-
teCted cruisers, thirty three destroyers
and torpedo boats and several miscel-
lare0us craft. submarine boats, etc.
The item OF Increase Of the Navy"
covers the work already authorized
and now in course of construction,
both in engineering and structural
branches, and IS concurred in by Ad
uiraIs Hichborn and Melville, chiefs Of
The construction and of the engineer
iuE bureaus respectively.
Admiral Melville will also make es-
rt1ates for new engineering plants.
equipment. tools. buildings. etc, at
Norfolk. Port Royal. Port Orchard and
-Iare Island. Cal The plants are old,
END the requirements now made on
l.em induce the chief engineer to
commend the most modern ap-
piances and such remodeling of build
i-gs as will bring them up TO date.
Admiral EndicOtt. chief of the bureau
O. yards and docks, viii recommend
TWO more large drydocks on the At
l7ntic seaboaTd. one at New York and
the other at Norfolk. The estimate
viii be about 81. .250 600 each.
Admiral O'Nen's estimate on armor
and ordnance VIII be held until his re-
ing much personal attention to this
item. The price OF plate will
have 10 be settled by Congress and
large quantity OF armOr authorized.
The armor concerns refused TO bid on
the $500 fixed as the limit of cost by the
last Congress. so that further legisla-
tion is necessary in order to provide
for the many ships now nearing COM
pletiOn.
Aside from the bureau estimates the
Secretary Of the Navy will prepare
such estimates as he deems expedient
Tor the new ships. There is no intima-
tt0n thus far as 10 what new ships
will be recommended, but the impress
sion prevails in we'll informed naval
quarters that the Secretary will con-
fine his recommendation TO three 5000
ton protected cruisers. to cost about
&. $50 900 each. These were recon-
mended last year and were the only
ships not authorized by Congress, so
that il is thought likely the need Of
them will again be presented.