New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1899-08-15
HOBSON AGAIN HEARD FROM.
REPORT on CONDITION OF FORMER SPAN
ISL SHIPS RAISED FROM MA
NILLA HARBOR.

Washington Aug H-Rlchmond Pearson Hobson
sent TO the Navy Department to-day the first long
dispatch since he assigned to the duty or tax
ing charge Of the Spanish ships raised from Ma
nilla Harbor which are now undergoing repairs
AT Hong Kong His report is unusually interesting
dealing In general questions, such as the need OF
large dockyard in the Orient. tho Increasing ship
ping at Manila and the prospect that Manila Will
succeed Hong Kong the emporium or the EAST
the value of Chinese labor In all branches OF In
dustry, etc. He also says the three Spanish ships
which are completed will be worth to the Govern
ment about $4,000 and he contemplates trying TO
raise three mo re Spanish vessels now at the bot
tom OF Manila Bay The letter Is addressed to
Rear Admiral Hichborn, Chief of the Bureau or
Construction and is dated at Hong Kong July II.
He says:
In compliance with the Bureaus directions
pairing Of the Spanish vessels sunk in Manila Bay.
The three vessels under reconstruction. the !sla
de cuba Isla de Luzon and Don Juan do Asturias,
are at about equal stages Of completion, Which
estimate to be about 70 per cent compared .e %itn
and electric plant. which have not arrived, will
doubtless be the last items. l estimate that the
the arrival OF armament and electric plant.
l estimate the value Of these vessels when com ON
lows Isa de Cuba hull , III, and outfit IT, fS zo
hull etc $4,000 machinery, $4,000; total $1,000
Don Juan de AstTras sH ETC Total est,nafe a
value OF all three vessels, $4,000.
He then shows that the raising and refltting have
cost about 100000 making net gain TO the Gov
eminent on the three vessels of So60c He gives
the credit for this result TO Naval Constructor
Capps who made the contracts.
Mr.. Hobson speaks of the general good condition
of the vessels and says: This Is particularly the
case with parts that remained completely sub
merged. The large enpine parts were scarcely IN
jured at all -,
This feature has an important bearing upon the
wrecks still in Manila Bay, which expect 10 exam
inc with divers when the vessels now In hand are
completed. The longer period that they have been
immersed may not have seriously injured the prin-
cipal parts and there may be similar advantage 10
TO the Don Antonio de Uloa and the Velasco sister
ships to the Don Juan de Asturias. which from all
accounts suffered less damage than those that
have been raised" ~ >,
Mr. Hobson then urges the desirabity OF well
equipped United States dockyard In the Far East,
as he says. the cost of private work Is high. lie
adds:
There would be great advantage to the Govern
ment in the establishment in the Philippines of
ward thoroughly equipped with docks, and plant
capable of doing all the work Of docking and re-
pairing OF the Navy. The British Government Is
undertaking such establishment here. though
at great cost involving the making and retaining
of a large part of the land required.
Attention should be called. however, 10 the fact
that the success and advantage OF such an estab-
lishment as, indeed the suct ess Of any Industrial
establishment in this part Of the Orient. would
necessitate the employment of Chinese labor. This
labor is not only unlimited in supply. but is equal
to practically all the requirements Of modern indus