Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-08-15
ROBSON is HEARD FROM.
Saves the I.Ia de cuba, Isia de Luzon
aud Don Juan de Austria
tiIs Recommendation.

Washington. Aug. it-Naval Com
Htructor Richard r. Hobson was heard
from by the navy department today
Tor the first time nt any length since
De was assigned 10 duty In charge OF
the spanish ships raised from Manila
hnrbor ana now undergoing repairs az
HongkOng. His report ~ unusually
interesting. dealing In general pucs-
tlons. such as the need OF large dock
yard In the Orient. the Increasing ship
ping at Manila and the prospect that
Manila VIII succeed HonFkong uH the
emporium Of the East. tho value OF
chinese labor In all branches OF indus
Try etc,
lie also says the three Spanish ships
which are completed VIII be- worth to
the government about 100000, and he
contomplutuH trying 70 raise three
more spanish vessels now az the bot
tom u Manila bay The letter iH add
dressed to Rear Admiral liichbOrn.
chief NJ the bureau OF construction aud
u "a dated Hongkong. July 18th. lie
says
In compliance with the bureaus d.
rcctlons, ! iuuloHc special report on
the raising ana repairing OF the Span
ish vessels sunk IN Manila hay. The
three vessels under construction. the
lHla de cuba. lsln de Luzon, and
Don Juan de Austria. are about at
equal stages % completion. which / cs-
Innate Co be about so per cent. COM
pared with the vessels ntted out ready
FOR sea. The batteries and electric
plant which have not arrived. will
doubtless be the last items. estimate
the time Of completion Will BE- about
xix weeks after the arrival OF the arr
mamcnt and electric plant. estimate
the value ~ these vessels. when COM
plctod, exclusive OF armament TO be
about us follows.
'Isla de cuba. hull. fitting and OUT
nt, $4,000; machinery, $4,000; total.
t2i5.O0O
"isla de Luzon. hull. etc. 1900
machinery $4,000. total. $4,000.
Don Juan de Austria, hull. etc,
$4,000 machinery. $4,000; total, {isO,-
Total estimated value OF all three
vessels 100000"
lie then shows that the raising and
rcuttlng has cost about 1904. 600 max
Ing net gain 90 the government OF
100000 He gives the credit Tor these
results 20 Naval Constructor Caps.
who made the contracts.
Mr. Hohsnn speaks OF the general
good condition Of the vessels and says
This r. particularly the case with the
parts that remained completely sub
merged. Thus. large machine parts
were scarcely Injured at all
This feature has an important bear
ing ON the wrecks atill IN Manila bay,
which l expect to examine with divers
when the vessels now In hand nrc COM
pletcd. The longer period that they
have been immersed may not have Sc
rlously injured the principal parts, and
there are many similar advantages to
the government In further salvage.
particularly uH TO the Don Antonio de
tllou and the Nelnsco, sister ships
TO the Don Juan de Austria which,
from all accounts. suffered less dam
age than those that have been raised"
Mr. Hobson then urges the deslra-
billty OF "a well-cqulppcd United states
duckyards In the far East, az he says
the cost OF private work ~ very high.
lie adds: There would be great adj
vantage to the government IN the es-
tabllshment In the Philippines OF
yard thoroughly equipped with docks
and plant capable Of doing all the work
Of docking and repairing OF the navy.
The British government IN undertaking
such an establishment here. though AZ
great cost, involving the making or
retaining OF a large part OF the land
required.
attention should be called. however.
TO the fact that the success and adj
vantage Of such an establishment, as
indeed, the success " any Industrial
establishment In this part ~ the orient
would ncccRHltuto the employment OF
Chinese labor The labor IN not only
unlimited In supply but II IL equal
practically TO all the requirements OF
modern Industry"