Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1915-12-07
DEFENSE PROGRAM
IS STUPENDOUS
Governmental Expense Es-
timated at Huge Sum
of 81, 1885, 7,s0S
INDIAN HEAD PLANS
Great Powder Plant to Be Develop
cd at Maryland Town-pefenses
For the Chesapeake.
INDIAN HEAD PLANS

F! .
| Washington, Dec. 7.-Estinates OF
appropriations BY department oihclals
which were submitted to Congress
Yesterday by Secretary Of Treasury
!, McAdoo, cali for the largest amount
:! Of money ever asked Of the House
and Senate to meet the regular Gov
ernment operating expenses and to
nav for new work planned during Il
fiscal year. The estimates are Tor
the wear beginning July i, 1916.
The tota! amount of the estimates
is 81 s5.957 .S08. which is 317O.S43,-
sl4 more than was appropriated BY
Congress for the current fiscal year
Plans to strengthen the military anc
naval forces Of the United States. so
as TO safeguard this country from Ia
vasion by foreign foe account fol
the big increase. The War Depart
ment asks, for military purposes
Sl52.354.259, which is &I9,o9O,0OC
| larger than the appropriations ~ 5ht
Hast Congress-. The Navy Depart
ment asks for s211,51s,o74. which i.
$50, 100000 larger than the appropri"-
! tions last year.
! The various items in the War De.
! partrnent estimates reveal the fac
T; hat the Government is planning fol
| the strengthening of the organiZee
militia. The sum OF 4,&90,H0o is ask,
/ ed for next year, against IN app-o
pri&tion Of S250.U0d 5asC year. 70,
i ordnance ordinances stores, and sup
! ,!;es. $4,757.50O is asked against al
! appropriation Of Sl,00OOOO last year
! Tor ammunition, S3,%S3,09O is as::ed
These increases will provide for tn
! reserve ammunition stores which i
! is proposed TO Great under the ma
! tional defense plans. For fortifica'
! lions, arsenals and military posts
S25. .791 .972 is asked. against S1,284.
i j02 last year.
| The increase in the navy takes NJ
! the big part Of the estimates by thr
Navy Department. For new battle.
ships and other war vessels. the sun
! Of S57,O03,090 is asked. against SD
| )47.99S appropriated last year a mil.
ior dollars more is asked for ammu.
nitioi for the navy.
The Navy Deartment estimates de-
jclop the fact that the Government
IS planning to establish Govern.
nent ilopewell" at Indian Head. Md.
+, where is located the big Federal l-own.
| ed powder plants. 1t is proposed tt
/ pend $7.G9%, APO at the small Charles
county town on the Potomac river
(; Of this sum $53, 900 Is 20 he used tc
| build three powder dry houses anC
provide for them fire protection. /,
is also planned to spend $5.S45, ,42C
N manufacturing ordnance matcria
! and S1,S00000 in the manufacturing
Of smokeless powder. The Navy De
partmcnt, it is understood. plans tt
levelop Indian Head as one Of tho
great reserve depots for ammunition
supplies. for the navy. There is sub
| aittcd Il recommendation for funds
o build storage warehouses for ord.
nance and ammunition. but tn,
amount for this work is not given.
That the Navy Department also ha!
! N mind plans to develop the Chesa
:eate Bay, to which Indian Head i.
| tributary, as big naval base is showr
~ the estimate for S3O0.000 for start
ing WORK on the proposed $4,000
lrydock at the Norfoll: Navy Yard
! There is also an estimate for 81 ,S65.
900 for the construction Of fortihca
tions, part of which will be used L
start work on the proposed big fort
'ess at Cape Henry Tor the protection
Of Baltimore, Washington and othe
Chesapeake Bay cities. Philadelphi;
wants the drydock, which will be tn,
largest ever constructed on the At
, lantic Coast. The Navy Department
c ! plans are to make the Norfolk Nav,
> Yard the big repair station on tn
EAtlantic.
Washington. D. c. December =
i Virginia is we'll taken care Of in tn
departmental estimates for govern
-aent work. Nearly s2,s0o0O0 will b
;spent in the State it Congress ar