The morning news., 1899-12-04
WITH THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
SECRETARY LONG PRESENTS IN
TERESTING FACTS.

Has Been spent in the COnstrue-
tion of New VesseIs-Estimates for
the Fiscal Year and the Work Be-
fore the Department-New Vessels
That VIII Probably BE Built.
Washington, Dec. 3.-The annual report
of the Secretary of the Navy is of con-
siderable interest, owing to the operations
Of the navy in the Philippines and the con-
structiOn of new ships and torpedo boats.
Since the last report the following torpedo
boats have been finally or conditionally
accepted. namely, Davis. Mackenzie, Far
ragut, Rowan and Fox. The battleship
Kearsarge has been accepted, and also the
practice ship Chesapeake; also the tugs
Renacock and Pawtucket.
Since the beginning of the building of
| the new navy in 1888 the amount of $685.
529,5l1.S5 has been spent in the construc-
tion of vessels for the navy. The total
amount authorized to be expended on un-
finished vessels is So, $40, ,61O23.
In speaking of dry docks and navy yards
| the Secretary says in reference to the
Port Royal dry dock: The Improvements
in progress at this station during the past
year include a wharf adjoining the dry
dock; repair shop for steam engineering;
an electric light and power plant; facin-
ties for storage and handling coal; a To-
comotive crane and track for dry dock;
repair and extension of wharf, and dredg-
ing the channel from the outside TO the
| naval station
The appropriations available for the
present fiscal year include building for
workshops, yards and docks; a saw-mill
| and boat shop for construction and repair,
a paint shop and storage for eombusu-
| bles and the extension of the storehouse.
| The act of May A. 1898, appropriated $780,
$3.50 for the purchase OF certain lands
| adjoining the station, and condemnation
proceedings have been instituted, but the
purchase has as yet been completed only
in part
''The estimates for the fiscal year 1901
| include an item of $500, 600 for rebuilding
| the dry dock at this place. This dock,
which was completed only a few years
| ago, is of timber, and, owing to the at
| tacks of the teredo and certain structural
| weaknesses which were developed is in
| such condition that its restoration should
| be in concrete and stone. One hundred
| thousand dollars is estimated for the con-
| tinualion of the work of dredging the ba-
| sin and widening the channel. Other
items include cOndensing plant, store
| house for lumber, a building for equip
ment and quay wall. The total sum
| requested for public works at this station
| is 1882, ,O00"
Relative to the Key West yard the re-
| Port says: "A steam engineering machine
shop has been comple led at this yard dur
| ing the past year. and s ready for he re-
ception of tools. The coal sheds aud coal
piers under construc /. at this sta ion are
dea$t with under the head of coalng sta
| tons
THE spy ropriations for the current fiscal
year contain an item of 100000 for the
purchase of additional land, and provide
for two officers quarters"
| The Secretary recommends that the
! following yesse be author zed to be bu 1t:
| First. Three armored cruisers, of about
| 1900 tons trial displacement, of a maxi
mum draft at deep load not to exceed 26
feet, carrying the heaviest al NOR and most
| powerful ordnance for vessels of their
class, TO be sheathed and coppered and 10
have the highest practicable speed and
| great radius of action.
Second, Twelve gunboats, of about 500
| tons trial displacement to be sheathed
| and coppered.
And, third, as recommended 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 action.
The question of arr.lor is now of great
| Importance owing to the great increase
| the Senate who refused to allow more than
| $500 per ton to be paid for armor plate
| now see that they were penny wise and
| pound foolish. The Secretary says; The
most important question pertaining to
| naval construction at the present time
| haf aY1d- pf
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 YES
sells therein authorized until contract has
| been made for the armor therefor within
$500 a ton. The price fixed is one for which
| even inferior armor can not be obtained,
| and the department has therefore been
unable to invite proposals for the three
| battleships and the three armored cruisers
authorized by the act of March 9, 1899"
Relative to the naval militia the Secre-
tary says: "The naval appropriation act
approved May A, 1898, appropriated 10000
| for arming and equipping the naval mi
| litia. Four thousand dollars of this sum
was set apart for the purchase of the
| necessary books of instruction, to be dis
| tfbuted from time to time among the va
| rious state organizations, and the remain
| ing $50, 900 was allotted to- the various
states having naval militia organizations,
in accordance with the number of prop
| erly uniformed petty officers and enlisted
men certified by the respective govern
| ors on Jan. ], 1899, as forming a part of
| the naval force of the state. OF the fore
| going amount Georgia got s1,565 and Flor
| ida $3.50, and South Carolina S2.31O.3S. The
report contains a large amount of valu-
| able statistics pertaining to naval affairs
|
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