The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-12-04
THEIR ANNUAL REPORTS
Recommendations of the Navy
and Postoffice Departments.
A DEFICIENCY OF ARMOR
a Grave Injustice in the Reward OF Off,
csrs-Abuses OF the Second Class
Mail Matter-Rural Free
Delivery.

Washington, Dec. 3.--The annual re-
ports of the secretary of the navy,
John .. Long, and of Postmaster Cen
eral Smith were made public to-day.
After reviewing naval operations of the
year Secretary Long makes. among
Others the following recommendations
Increase OF the Navy.
The number of large. swift and pow
erfui armored cruisers of great coal en-
aurance in our navy is largely dispro-
portionate to the rest Of the naval es-
adjustment The experience of the last
year has also shown the need OF several
smaller vessels usually classed as gun
boats. It is therefore recommended that
congress be requested to authorize the
construction of the following vessels:
FiTSt-Three arInered cruisers, or
about L., 900 tons trial displacement, of
a maximum draft at deep load not 10
exceed &c feet. carrying the heaviest
arIlor and most powerful ordnance Eor
vessels of their class, to be sheathed
and coppered and to have the highest
practicable speed and great radius OF
action.
Second-Twelve gunboats, of about
400 tons trial displacement, to be
sheathed and coppered.
And, third, as recommended year
ago, three protected cruisers Of about
5000 tons trial displacement, carrying
he most powerful ordnance for yes
sells of their class, to be sheathed and
coppered, and to have the highest prac-
ticable speed and great radius Of action.
The increase in the tonnage of the
last three named vessels from 5000 tons,
rs recommended a year ago, to 5000
Ions Is suggested by the naval board
On construction as better adapted to The
present needs OF the service The same
hoard are also of the opinion that If
any of the foregoing vessels are au-
.npriged. the law should provide that in
case satisfactory bids can not be OBJ
tanned for their construction by con-
tract, the department shall have au-
thority to construct the same in the
navy yards.
The most important question pertain
ing to naval construction at the present
time and ore that demands prompt at
tention is that of the armor for YES
sells now building, and for others au-
thorized but not yet contracted for on
account of the provision in the act of
March 3, 1899, prohibiting the depart
ment from contracting for the vessels
therein authorized until contract has
been made for the aTmor therefor With
n $500 ton. The price fixed is one for
obtained. and the department, has
therefore been unable to invite propos-
ais for the three hattleships and the
three arlnored cruisers authorized by
the act of March 3, 1899
Briefly, the amor situation is as fol-
lows: All the armor for the battleships
Kearsarge and Kentucky has been con-
Tracted for and delivered. All the ar
NOR for the battleships Alabama, Hi
nois and Wisconsin has been contracted
for, and deliveries under the contracts
will probably be completed by May,
1900. The armor for the five vessels
above named was contracted for at
$500 per ton, exclusive of a royalty for
hardening, for which SLIGO per ton
might, under certain conditions, be
paid.
In August and September of the
present year contracts were made for
2,152 tons of armor for the four harbor-
defense monitors authorized by the act
Of May a. 1898. AT the same time con-
tracts were made for 1858 tons Of ar
NOR for the bettleships Maine, Ohio I'd
Missouri, this latter small quantity OF
arrnor being necessary in the early