Weekly independent. [volume] (Elko, Nev.) 1887-1914, 1902-05-02
Want More. B.,,I-.hIps.

program of 1909, us presented IN he
appropriation bill and the repo., tiled
today 10y Chairman Fuss OF the House
Naval Committee. is one Of unusual
interest.
Tie report docs not take as optimistic
a view Of our naval progress rs is gen.
orally held and Mr.. Foss points mi that
comparatively few 81 our ships have an!
real fighting value. lie accompanies
this with "a statement Of the enormous
naval armament and progress of other
countries, particularly Germany. 1t is
Shown By tho report that the total
number OF vessels ot III navy, built Pni
building, is lSS, and the total cost will
be s23j, S2.2r9. Tie report adds:
.While We have built aud are building
all Old l3S ships, et comparatively few
Of them have .u, real :iIhruug value.
-Our naval proves lies almost en-
tirrly in our eighteen hatilcships. eight
armored cruisers and twenty one pro-
tected cruisers. The rest OF orr ships
would cut hut little figure i'll actual war.
Ships Of the battle liue practically
alone contain the naval strength Of the
natIun.'
gram. the report says:
"Oi all the countries, Ger many has
been building during the pas! few Years
faster than any ~ the others. Her ship
building program started in 1898, and
will he completed III l9CS. possibly i'll
1907, instead of 1906 AS first planned
Thl> prUgrn Ia will give her III Ill thirty.
righi bHtLleslips. fourteen large cruis.
ers, thirty.cight smaller cruisers aui
ninty six torpedo boats. After the COM
pleuon Of this program the plan con.
templates new constructions to replace
shins winch. though still s]erviceable,
may have reached the prescribed age
limit
Concerning new ships for our navy,
the report says:
The committee recommends that for
naval establishment OF the United
States. the President shall have con
structed two first CLAUS baltleshipI,
carr! ing the heaviest armor and most
powerful ordnance for vessels OF their
class upon ID trial Iii placement OF
about 10000 tons, and to have the
highest practicable speed md greltest
radius Of action and To co Il. exclusive Of
nFmnP unI armament nnt az.anl,nn
SI.2l2.00O each; two first class armnred
cruisers, TO cost, exclusive Of and
armament, not exceeding Si.GJ9.0 70
each, and two gun boats Of about 1000
tons trial die placement.
~ln view Of the fact that the re- il some
public sentiment favorable to building
ships in our government navy yards. it
has been deemed advisable by this con-
mittee to insert Il provision in the ap
preparation bill this year leaving it To-
the discretion OF the Secretary OF the
Nav! to huili any OF nIl slips in govern.
m"nt yards, but making it mandatory on
him to construct at least one battleship
or one armored cruiser III such navy
yards III he may designate rs All expert
ment, aud it Ii further provided that he
shall keep nm ac"oun Of all expendi.
lures for labor and material in the in
spectiop and CONSTRUCTION nt such Rlips
and report to Congress at each session
an2 TN the completion Of said ship he
shall make Il detailed report showing
the relative cost OF II built by contract
1t ia believed by your committee TINT
nothing shor'. Of an experiment OF this
kind will show whether private COZ
tractors hnve been rew enable III their
bids ind serve for the future guidance
in the construction OF orr navy. Al
appropriation Of sl75,OOO is recommend
ed for each yard in which a ship is built
The complete cost Of the two tirst
class battleships, two first class nrmored
cruisers and two guDbOata, with D total
tonnage Of G3.0O0 tone, will approximate
s20,5OO.OOO.
These battleships and cruisers wall he
larger than any heretofore author zed
by Congress AMI the plans recommend.
~ W h"b W. ~ hSblou llINHtlN
have excited tho favorable comment OF
the Naval authorities abroad. Tha com
Ditteo ID of tho opinion that in recon.
mending the above naval program il is
making a substantial and healthy in.
crease Of our navy mud ono which will
meet Y erywhere with popular favor.
Other interesting features NJ the bill
are provisions for q board OF naval
officers to recommend a site for Il naval
station at some point on the Great
Lakes; nm increase Of tho enlisted force
Of the navy 10y 5000 men, provisions for
Il new naval ration rs reported by Il
naval boar d; mn increase in the number
Of cadets at the Academy by 800.
-Ne-No~.S-
Attempted Murder ~ Dayton.