The farmer and mechanic., 1915-03-09

except New York and Mare Island /
Inc naval bill passed at the first ses-
sion of this Congress carried an ap-
preparation for a building slip that
would enable Boston and Phila delphia
10 build ships for the navy. The pres
ent Dill carries an appropriation to
enable Norfolk and Charleston to con-
struct ships in these yards and during
the year the Secretary has arranged
to build submarines at the Ports
mouth On. H.) yard. It is believed
that If all the navy yards are equipped
TO do construction Of some character,
the investment in the yards will yield
a better return and that the COMPETE
ton between the yards and the pri-
Vate contractors would insure that the
government will secure the cOnstruc-
ton of new ships at the lowest posi-
bic price.
Aviation school Established
During the last year the Secretary
| of the Navy has established an avia-
| ton school at Pensacola, utilizing the
| grounds and buildings which had been
| abandoned when the Pensacola navy
yard was abolished. For the first time
| in the history of the navy. air craft
We're used abroad during the occupa
ton Of Vera Cruz, and the navy ayia-
tors were able to render valuable SER
vice. The war in Europe has shown
the great importance of air craft. The
conference report makes a new de-
parture in aerOnautics i'll the navy
and appropriate $1.00O,000 for the de-
iVelOpment Of aerOnautics and the pur-
chase of modern air craft. Heretofore,
the appropriations for aeronautics
have been divided among the several
bureaus. It is now concentrated, and
with the school at Pensacola and the
larger appropriations, navy aerO7au au-
tics will become much more effective
agency.
In addition, the bill provides for al
advisory committee for aeronautics Il
is believed that this advisory commit
tee, with the authority given, com
posed OF officers Of the army and navy
and men skilled in aeronautical en-
/, gineering and its allied sciences, vii
bring together the aerOnatic service!
of the government and give to eacl
branch the valued results Of study anC
; investigation.
The aerona utic service is particu
larly hazardous and calls for men o
enterprise and daring. The bill pro
= vides proper compensation for tn
. courageous men who undertake thl
I | dangerous service for the navy, an'
l permits the Secretary of the Navy t
; assign TO this service officers Of hlShe
D rank than have heretofore been avail
able.
= Learn From European Conflict.
t The conferees have voiced publ
= sentiment in favoring a large increas
in the lighting power Of the navy, an
| limited new construction TO ship
r deemed the most effective i'll time Q
= WAY. The European conflict has de
- monstrated the use Of submarine e:
:, with speed Of 25 knots or more,
\ possible, but not less than 20 knot
=, lied to cost not to exceed 1929, 90
:, each. The first session of this Con
= gress authorized the first submarin
- | Of this character which had thereto
" fore been authorized. Up to the pres
a ent war, the largest submarine he
- been Of 500 tons displacement Thes
- three sea-gOing submarines will haN
=, a displacement Of not less than |, ,1o
- tons, and as far as is realiably know
40 are the largest projected by any cou1
try. Provision is also made for tf
I, construction Of sixteen more sui
,s marines, TO cost net to exceed S55o
~ 600 each. Six destroy ers are autho
iZer, to cost not to exceed S9Zo,0t
each and one oiler 10 cost not to e.
ceed 100000. The regular prOgra
lg of two dreadnaughts j year, origina
p ly recommended by the general boar
Of is carried out in this bill. The
c. mighty ships, exclusive for armor al
~ | armament, will cost not to excee
OF S7,SO0,0O0 each. It is estimated tn
ps fully equipped; they will each cost b
al tween fourteen and fifteen million d'
H. lars. The first session Of the prese
as Congress authorized three dTea
ne naugnts. thus making the record
at the 63rd Congress five Of these mo
ne powerful fighting ships
The Total Appropriation.
The total appropriations carried
Ii this bill reported by the cOnferees
an STAT, 536981.S8, Of which s46.05
in SO100 is for increase of the navy, {
an elusive Of s1,00o,00O for aeronaut
re which should be added, making 50
If O53,S01 for increase Of the navy
81 this bill. If to the new construct
or carried in this bill is added t
amount for new construction authC
lied at the last session of this Co
en- gress, which was 41,091,T3f, il "
ar be seen that the increase OF the ma
lat authorized by the 63rd Congress
it's s87,145,535 which is s31,250. 466.
M more than was carried in the appI
Ow priation bills of the 62nd Congress
on increase Of the navy. The total 2