New-York tribune., 1903-03-05
The NAVY SATISFIED.
CONGRESS GENEROUS.
Plans to Harry Work on the Fiue
RattLeships Authorized.
trT rE1BaaAFg 70 rEE -xrsurr.l


Washington. March A-consress has satisfied
the navy The unanirztRsvex1th which every one.
from Secretary Moody down. srpsauded the~AnaI
6ecision of Congress. which Ezve fve new battle
ships was only less striking than the desire
manifested by all u hasten the work Of adding
the navy the largest contribution ever made
BY single Congress in the history Of the new
navy That speed In construction was the best
expression OF the appreciation felt by the navy.
high and low. for the generosity Of Congress.
was the consensus OF opinion, and the question
most discussed to-day wss how soon the work
On the new battIeships could begin The three
5000 ton ships otter little obstacss to speedy
building They win be constructed almost iden-
tic2Ily On the plans drawn for the Louisiana
ard the Coanecticut-ships Of similar tonnage
already begun at the New-Tork navy yard and
Newport News. Two months is the outside limit
set for the delays in getting the plans ready and
deciding On whatever minor changes are to be
made At the end Of this time the bids will be
advertised for. and by July 1. when the fiscal
year begins. II is expected that all the prelim-
mary steps VIII have been taken and the money
can be expended as soon as it becomes available.
A NEW CLASS OF SHIPS
While expedition seems certain in the case OF
the three new 16.000-ton ships there is less as
suranee OF similar speed on the two 13.O00-ton
vessels. These ships II constructed so as to be
Of the maximum tonnage permitted by the ap-
preparation bill. win be different from all other
ships in the navy. The Maine class, including
the Maine, the Missouri and the Ohio, is Of
I2500 tonnage The Virginia and the Rhode
Island, the next largest class. are considerably
above the 1400o-ton point It has been sug-
gested that a point might be strained. and these
new ships brought into the latter class. but the
general opinion is that new and improved
Maine class would be adopted These changes
VIII entail delay OF at least six. and posi-
bly, eight months. in the preparation Of plans.
and viii hold these ships back behind the three
larger Eesselg in date OF completion.
The Question OF homogeneity OF ships, theory
which special emphasis is at present laid by
the naval authorities OF all countries, was also
q point OF discussion in the Navy Department
to-day. The opinion expressed by Admiral Mel
vile vas that the three new 16.O00-ton ships
which viii be sister ships OF the Louisiana and
the Connecticut. will. together with them form
feet which in point Of numbers falls only one
short of the theoretically ideal feet, and will
make thoroughly homogeneous feet. The
other two ships Of 1900 tons will probably fall
into the same class as the Maine, the Missouri
and the OHIO. thus forming another homogene-
feet Of five ships. Therefore, although re-
gret was expressed that an the ships were not
70 be Of a similar design. # was agreed that
much more Aad been secured than had been
expected or even hoped for.
The question Of naming the new ships also
created interest, and many conjectures were
hazarded as to the new States likely to secure
representation in the navy In point Of fact, the
number Of States still unrepresented is small,
and another such naval programme would al
most exhaust the supply. One of the 5000
ton vessels VIII be named the Vermont, prom
ise 70 that effect having been made to Senator
Proctor. It is also fntimated that the names OF
Minnesota. Kansas and Mississippi VIII be Sc
leCted, and that the remaining names viii be
chosen from 8 list embracing South Carolina,
North Carolina, Idaho and North Dakota
AGAINST NAVY YARD CONSTRUCTION.
The question Of where the new ships would
be built ELECTED interesting opinion from
Rear Admiral Bo~les, chief constructor Of the
navy, In opposition to the suggestion that one
more Of these ships be built in government
navy yards. as the Connecticut is at present
Admiral Bowles holds that none Of the navy
yards are equipped for this sort Of work. and
that it would require substantial appropriations
put them In condition for building vessels OF
1000 tons displacement The construction OF
a battleship at q navy yard also calls for e
large amount Of supervisory work Of a detailed
character. which must be performed by naval
constructors Rear Admiral Bowles said:
There are comparatively few OF the construc-
tors in the service who have had the necessary
experience to intrust with work Of this charac-
ter To build one Of these large battleehips
requires the service Of number Of them. We
have very few constructors, and It is difficult
at the present time to assign them to this duty.
That would be one Of the difficulties in the navy
yard We have ample authority under the acts
Of Congress to employ civilian assistants, but
the system Of government employment never
Reerne 70 make IL possible to pay for civilian
talent what il VIII bring In commercial life.
BattIeshtps built at navy yards do not require
the same kind Of supervision by the members
Of the naval construction corps. and then at the
private shipyards there is already in practice
system Of inspection which relieves the situ-
alton to a great degree. Rear Admiral BowIes
is in favor Of limiting the bidding the next
hattleships TO be constructed 20 those firms
whose shIpyards as he says. have not only the
physical property which is necessary. but also
those who have the facilities for doing such
work which ia equally essential" He says there
are NOT more than half a dozen private shipyards
IN tF7is country which are IN condition to build
I6O0o-ton vessel As Rear Admiral Bowles
expresses it there certainly four and
rroba bly Eve and hopefully six shtpyards" pos
sssEinr the necessary facilities There are two
elements involved IN the question o3 whether or
rot q concern can build the large vessels One
is the machinery Of the plant and works. which
nav be easily added TO- and the other is the loca-
ricn on the water front in sufncient area and
5r7ur7t 70 launch the heavy vessels.
There Ia another side OF the question Wnicn