The Guthrie daily leader. [volume] (Guthrie, Okla.) 1893-1996, 1899-08-15
LIEUT.. HCBSON
Reports From Manila That He
Has Raised Three More OF
the Spanish Ships.

washington. Aug. 14.-Naval Construc-
tor Richmond Hobson was heard from by
tho navy department today for the first
time at any length since be was assisn-
ed 70 duty In charge OF the Spanish shlps
raised from Manila harbor and now uu-
dergoipa repairs at Hong Kong. His re-
port e. unusually interesting dealing IN
general questions. such as the need of a
large dock yard in the orient
He also says three Spanish ships which
are completed win be worth 90 the gov
erument about 100000 ans h. contcm-
plates trying 60 raise three more Spanish
vessels now at the bottom OF Manila bay
The letter is addressed to Rear Admiral
Hlchbou chief Of the bureau OF con
etructiou. and IN dated at Hons Kong
July 10 lie says.
"Iu compliance with the bureaus a.
r,cuou. enclose special report on The
raising ana repairing of tne Spanish vos-
sells sunk boz Manila bay
"Ths three vessels under reconetructiou
tbe tsl1 pe Cuba Islo DE Luzon and Don
Juan pe Austria age about at equal
stages of completion, which ! estimate 60
be about 90 per cent compared with the
vessels httei out ready for sca The bait
tories and electric plant which have not
arrived, will doubtless be the last Items.
estimate that the time OF completion
will be about six weeks after the arrival
of the armament and electric plant
"I estimate the value OF these vessels
when completed. exclusive OF armament.
20 be about az follows
'1sa Do cuba. hull, dttlngs and outht
$4,000. machinery. $4,000; total t2i5oo0.
'Isla he Luzon; hull etc, $40 COO. ma
chInery $4,000 total $4,000
'pou Juan De Austria. huh. etc. tt.5.
900: machinery, $4,000. total SisoOOO
Total estimated value Of all three yes
sells. S6iO 0o0"
lie then shows that the raising and re-
Gttlng has cost about SSoi 900. making
net gain 10 tho government on the three
vessels of tSo6 600 re gives the credit FOR
this result to Naval Constructor Camps.
who made the contracts.
Mr Hobson speaks Of the general good
condition OF the vessels and says:
"Thls is particularly the case with
with the parts that remained completely
/ submerged Thus large engine parts were
| scarcely injured at an This feature has
au Important bearing upon the wrecks
/ Iauu lu Manila bay which { expect Go eN-
anime with divers when the vessels now
iu hand are completed. The longer period
that they have been Immersed may not
Ihave seriously injured the principal parts
and there may be- similar advantage to
the government ln further salvage, par
ticuiarly as 70 the Don Antonito DE IN
lua. ana the Velnsco. sister ships 10 the
Don Juan De Austria, which from all &c.
counts. suffered less damage than thoa,
| that have been ralaed.'
Mr. uobsop then urges the deslrability
or we'll equipped United States doch
| yard in the far east. aa. he says. the c0si
OF private work ia very high. lie says.
There would be great advantage to
the government la the establishment ir
uhe Philippines OF a yard thoroughly
equipped with docks and plant capable of
doing all the work OF docking and repair
ing Of the navy, Tho British government
"a undertaking such an establishment
here, though at great cost
Attention should be called. however
70 the fact that the success and adyant
age OF such establishment. 1a indeed th
success OF any Industrial establishment
n this part Of the orient would neces
sitato the employment OF Chinese labor
This labor IS not only unlimited IN sup
lply. but Il ls equal to practically an th,
requirements of modern industry"