The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-04-13
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Aon2A"aHF ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

pend the existing law, compelling the
sale of old vessels, in the case OF
these historic craft. There is no doubt
whatever that this part of he pro-
gram will go through, although it is
a pity such action could not have been
taken earlier, because certain OF the
old ships such as the Enterprise have
already been solo and are thus lost for
good and all to our national relic col
lections.
The second action that is sought on
the part of the national legislature is
the appropriation of sufficient money
to repair and restore the historic
ships. However, the secretary has
made it clear to congress that he will
not ask for any extra fund or addl-
tional appropriation to carry out his
work. but will pay all bills from the
regular funds of the government If
congress will but give him authority
to devote such sum as may be neces-
sarv to the work and to disregard in
these instances the percentage limita-
ton on cost above referred to. There
is little chance that the federal law
makers will show neglect for the his
tOric Warships thai now claim then
attention, inasmuch as there is prece-
dent as well as p~resent-day sentiment
to justify action. AS far back as
20 years age congress took actor
to preserve the historic ships Hart
ford and kearsarge n ever since
there has been an understood if no
expressed policy calling for the pres,
ervation of old vessels that will serve
as an inspiration to the navy and t.
the country at large.
The present project concerns prl'
marily the rehabilitation of the Con
stellation, the Portsmouth and thu
Olympia. With these vessels perma'
nontly provided for Uncle Sans col
lection of mementoes of victory OF
the high seas would be reasonably
complete. Heading the list, in popu
lar interests, perhaps, is the Hartford
Admiral FarTagut's famous flagship
This vessel is yet in active service, do
ing duty as a station ship at tn
Charleston navy yard, and IN a re
port submitted to the secretary OF the
navy Il short time ago it is statet
that an investigation has disclosed
that this ship can, with Occasional
small repairs, be kept in her presen'
condition almost indefinitely. I'M
Constitution another old ship OF th'
line, certainly worthy a place IN TN:
category, is serving as a floating nlu
scum at the Boston navy yard, ant
by her present function illustrates thu
ideal disposition for all of the Ole
vessels.
Whereas the present project viii
insure to the next generation I
glimpse of the most interesting naVa
craft, immortalized in history, i
should not be supposed that this will
by any means, be the end of the pro-
iect for pe%rpetuatilg old Warshlps
There are several old-timers OF th'
high seas that are yet capable OF serN'
ice of Il kind but which will ere ions
merit not only retirement but preserV'
ative measures commensurate VIII
their honorable service. In this class
are the old wooden steam vessels, tn
Essex and Yantic, now loaned to TN
naval militia. And no one need sup
pose that the battleship oregon, Whlcf
figured so ~gallantly in the Spanish
American war, will be permitted
when her days If usefulness are over
to be consigned to the junk neal
without protest. Then, too, there are
schemes afoot which may, unexpect-
edly, expand the collection of old war
ships-as, for instance, the project tt
recover Commodore Perry's famous
flagship, which lies buried in the mut
beneath the waters of Lake Erie.
With a single exception, which VII
be taken up later, Uncle Sans treat
ment for the regeneration of an aged
and infirm wooden Warship simply
contemplates a restoration hat viii
prolong life in a sheltered haven
Every reader will appreciate that it is
a vastly different matter to so repal,
an DID sea warrior as to defy time II
her remaining days are to be spen,
tied up at a dock at a navy YARD
from what it would be to so a
itate the weather. beaten voyager that
she could again brave all the stress
of wind and wave in a career on the
high seas.
! But just as the rule for the sale OF
obsolete craft in the navy began te
threaten the very alife of the historic
warships there has come a change IN
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