The evening times., 1899-12-04
rHzfH4EDs OF THE NAVY.
Recon- nAadations Made by Secretary
LONE I'm HIS RepORt

| THE MAEDS OF THE NAVY.
NecomnAad dations Made by Secretary
Long In His Report.
Hon. John d. Long. Secretary of tbs
Navy. haA sent to the President his annual
report. Among other things it recon-
mends that Congress enact special iegis.a-
tion In order that armor may be provided
for ships under contract; that officers pro-
NOTED for services during the war with
Spain be carried as additional to the num-
bers in each grade to which they have
structfon and Repair. Steam Engineering
and Equipment be consolidated under one
head; that large appropriation be made
for coaling stations; that barracks for en-
listed men be provided. and that stone dry
docks replace wooden docks. As to esti-
mates. expenses. and appropriations. the
following figures are given:
| Appropriations for fiscal year 1899. $780,
SIC, 1861; amounts expended, $685.
1881; balance, June 80, 1899. 1851, ,313. 10;
estimates for 1901, $74 4,230, ,309.1s; increase
for 1901 over amount appropriated for 1900,
| $s3, 4O7. .26s47.
Concerning new vessels in the navy, the
report says: There was built for the
| navy during the past year dve torpedo
boats. one battleship. two tugs, and one
practice ship. There were recovered from
the Spanish fleets sunk during the late
war. three gunboats and cruiser. Fiji
| teen gunboats and three tugs were added
by purchase. Four battleships should be
| finished early next year and one in October
The three others under construction should
be available one in 1901 and the other two
| early in 1902. The cruiser Albany, now
building in England, and most OF the
thirty-three torpedo craft, should be avail
able during the coming year. and the four
dropped from the navy, being either re-
turned to their owners or put out Of COM
mission"
The Secretary recommends that $l,50O,-
900 be appropriated for barracks for hous-
ing and training seamen. He treats at
length of the necessity for ample supplies
at coaling stations, and says larger and
improved naval gun factory Is desired. In
his judgment the 12-inch gun should re-
place the 13-inch, it having been found to
be more effective. New H-pounder So
calibre guns have also been found to be
very effective. In the future the navy will
use the .30-calibre small arm and cartridge,
as the army. OF new vessels, the Secretary
says:
Three armored cruisers, of about $4,000
tons trial displacement, OF a maximum
draft at deep load not to exceed twenty
six feet, carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance for vessels OF their
class, to be sheathed and coppered. and to
have the higest practicable speed and great
radius Of action.
u,,uhOatS n ahOut 900 TONS trial
displacement, to be sheathed and coppered.
..And, as recommended a year ago. three
protected cruisers OF about 5000 tons trial
displacement, carrying the most powerful
ordnance for vessels Of their class. to be
sheathed and coppered. and to have the
highest practicable speed and great radius
Of acticn.
THE increase in the tonnage OF the last
three named vessels from 5000 tons, as
recommended q year ago. to 5000 tons Is
suggested by the naval board on construc-
tion as better adapted to the present needs
CT the service. The same board are also |
OF the opinion that il any Of the foregoing
vessels are authorized, the law should
provide that in case satisfactory bids can
not be obtained for their construction by
contract. the department shall have au- |
thority to construct the same in the navy /
yards. i
THE most important question pertaining |
to naval constructiou at the present time. |
and one that demands prompt attention. is
that of the armor for vessels now build
ing and for others authorized but not yet |
contracted for on account of the provision
in the act of March 3, 1899, prohibiting
the department from contracting for the
vessels therein authorized until contract
has been made for the armcr therefor
within 5000 a ton. The price fixed is one
for which even inferior armor cannot be
obtained, and the department has there
fore been unable to invite proposals for
the three battleships and the three armored
cruisers authorized by the act or March ., |
1899.
There remain to be contracted for
! 35s tons Of armor for the Maine, Ohio.
md Missouri. These vessels are now build
ng, and it is imperative that their armor
should be contracted for early in the COM
ng year; to delay it beyond that time Will
II all probability delay the completion Of
he vessels beyond the contract date of
completion. Under existing laws $400 ton
nay be paid for armor of a suitable quail
ty for these vessels; but $500 a ton will
Tot apparently buy the best armor. which
or such vessels is, of course, the only
suitable armor.
1T is urgently recommended that in the
,arly days OF it's next session Congress
nact such special legislation, Dy JOINT res ! ,
lutiou or otherwise. as may be necessary ,
o enable the department to make contracts
arly in the coming year for 1858 tons OF ,
rmor of the best quality that can be OBJ i
aimed in this country for the Maine, Ohio, ,
nd Missouri, and that the provision Of the | ,
ct OF March 3, 1899. limiting the price OF
rmor TO 5000 per ton. and the restriction
reventing the armored vessels therein au-
horized- from being contracted for until |
he armor therefor is contracted foS be
emoved.
Whatever may be the future action OF |
Congress regarding the establishment of
Government armor factory. 1t can hardly
feet the supply Of armor for the Maine,
'hio. and Missouri, as it will under any
be impracticable to obtain
from such q source in reasonable time to
omplete the vessels above referred to-"