The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1899-12-20
MORE NARSHIPS ASKED.
Secretary Long Urges the Censtruc.
tion Of Eighteen Vessels.
COST OF ARM0R DISCUSSED.

Tho Removal OF Price Restriction u esirss
-Reward For North. Atlantic Squadron
Onicers Urged-Union OF Bureaus Pro
posed-The Prdgrsmme OF increase
For 1soo-The Cost OF tho Navy.
WASHINGTON, D. C. (speclaD. THE an.
oual report Of the Secretary OF the Navy IL
document OF unusual interest, dealing
not only with the work Of the navy in th'
last year and important recommendation,
Tor tho future, but also discussing the NOR,
important questions relating to the navy,
including the authorization Of eighteen
new wsrships, tha imperative need ot-spse:
lal legislatloniR the early days Of Congress
for ,armor OF the best quality that can be
obtained, and the proposition that the
thanks OF CONGRESS be given TO tho COM.
nander In -chf6l. of the North Atlantic
Squadron andsto the officers and: men un.
Ter his command for the part they took In
the naval operations at Santiago.
These larger items OF the report receive
tary Long. On the subject of increasing
/ the navy, he asks for three armored oruis-
srs Of about Is, 900 tons trial displacement.
Of q maximum draught not to exceed
twenty-six feet, carrying the heaviest ar,
NOR and most powerful ordnance for ves-
sells Of their class; twelve gunboats OF
about 900 tons trial displacement, and three
protected cruisers of about 5000 tons trial
displacement, carrying the most powerful
also asks that, II satisfactory bids cannot
be obtained for the new ships. authority
be given to build them at the United States
navy yards.
Concerning armor for warships, tho Sec
retary shows that 1853 tons Of armor are
needed for the battleshIps Maine, Ohio and
Missouri, about 5000 tons for the new bat
tleships not yet begun, and about 500
tons for the armored cruisers already au-
that $400, a ton probably will buy srmof
made by the ordinary process Of facshsrd.
sning, which, though, good; is not the best,
and the department does not. therefore,
consider It suitable for vessels OF the Maine
class.
His Recommendation Is as follows:
"It is urgently recommended that In the
early days OF its next session Congress en-
act such special legislation. by joint reso-
luton or otherwise, as may be necessary
to enable che department to make contracts
early In the coming year, for 1858 tons OF
armor of the best quality that can be OBJ
tanned In this country for the Maine, Ohio
and Missouri, and that tho provision OF the
act Of March 8, 1899, limiting the price OF
armor to $500 per tom and the restriction
preventing the armofsd vessels sh0rein
authorized from being contracted Tor until
the arnor Is contracted for be removed.
whatever may be the future action OF
Congress regarding the establishment OF
Goverhmentf armor factory, It cam hardly
affect tho supply OF armor for the Maine,
Ohio and Missouri, as 1t will, under any
circumstances, be impracticable to obtain
1t from such source In reasonable time
to complete the vessels above referred to-"
Secretary Long refers to the return OF
Admiral Dewey and his enthusiastic well
come from the whole country. After
speaking OF the New York reception and
the sword presentation In Washington, the
Secretary sums up by saying 1t was the
Nations tribute.
The report shows that the percentage OF
Americans In the navy Is rapidly increas.
lug. .Eighty-eight per cent. of the petty
officers are citizens OF the United States
and slxty-fve per cent. OF the remainder,
have declared their intention OF becoming
citizens. Seventy-hye per cent. OF the en-.
listed men are cltizehs and forty-eiRht pet
cent. OF the remainder have declared theli
Intentions Of becoming Citizens. In tne'
case OF the apprentices over ninety-one per
cent. are native born.
Among the many other topics treated is
that for fostering the Naval Reserve, ths
consolidation Of the naval bureaus of,Con.
struotion, Engineering and Equipment in
ile interest Of more harmonious &C.
tion; che construction OF barracks for en-.
listed men and review OF the various bu.
rea recommendations; the desirabtlity OF
changing the material Of the League Isl.
and aid the Mare Island dry docks from
timber tc stone and concrete. g
The totals OF appropriations, expendt.
lures and balances for the fiscal year end.
Ing June 80, 1889. were: Appropriations
exclusive OF rublic works, $50, ,576, ,426.
amount expended, $3s, ,045, ,l1S; balances,
&4l, ,5S1, ,913. The estimates for 1900 aggre.
gated $49, oil, 1888 and the appropriations
S49, ,205, ,069. The estimates for 1901 aggre.
gate s74, ,230, ,309, or $25, ,025 ,239 over the ap
propriations for the present fiscal year.
This increase IS in three items ofpubllc I'm.
proyements, the construction and repair oi
vessels, and increase OF the nayy-construc'
ytion and machinery.