The Arvada enterprise., 1918-04-11

| slightly more than twice the cost Of
building the Panama canal. The con-
tractors' profits on the several con-
tracts averaged only POS per cent.
Air esrvles.
The air service has been called
upon in the past II months to build
an enormous structure Of the most
highly trained personnel and the most
intricate equipment with practically
no foundation to start from.
Three large appropriations. incltsi-
ing the 100000. 900 act passed without
roll call. made total of 1901 .OOO. 900
available for the first year. All Of this
has since been obligated.
Last April the air service had an
almost negligible force of 65 officers
and 1.120 men, small flying fields.
less than 800 second-rate planes. prac-
ucally NO aviation industry. and only
the most scanty knowledge Of the ka-
lsidoscopic development abroad. The
hrst two months Of war were required
to secure information, establish q stan.
and work out the program finally
adopted. The problem was twofold-
arst. personnel; and, second. equip
msnt.
Today the personnel 10 over 100
times that Of q year ago, practically
every member q skillsd man who has
goas through an intensive course Of
training. Schools Of II different
kinds have been instituted. courses
Of instruction laid out, and instruo-
tors secured. including foreign sx-
psrts in . score Of lines. - follow:
For flyers at ground schools and flying
fields; for mechanics at the flying
fields and at over q dozen different
factories; for photographers, balloon
lists, adjutants, supply ofhcsrs. engineer
ofacsfs, aFmorsrs, and Instructors Of
| mechanics.
Development q Navy.
The development Of the navy during
the drst year Of war has given the
greatest satisfaction. it, growth and
achievements during this period may
b spitomissd in the following para
graphs:
Strength Of the navy today u
nearly n.000 olnesrs and $4,000 CO.
listed men; strength q year age was
ana omeee0 and 77,olo enlisted mso.
Estimated total expenditure Of the
navy during nrst year Of war: Dis
burssmsnts and outstanding obliga-
lions, S1,se1 .00Oo 900.
Total naval appropriation, real and
pending. 1855, III ,066.W.
American dsstroyers arrived at Q
British port to assist IN patrolling d.
ropsan waters % days aftsr the dscla.
ration Of war.
There are now four times - many
vessels IN the naval service % Q yer
aga
Nearly 0,000 mechanics and ether
civilian employees are working at
navy yards and statioas.
When war was declared. Ii naval
vessels wsss building q autAosised.
and contracts have bssa placed sanes
that time for - vessels.
More than 100 psivatsly owDsA ~
sells have beea purchased = eAa1eoeol
BY tAs navy.
0tx new authorised batt1saAaDo aro
designed to Be Of 1850 teas, ~ lars-
eft battlsships IN the world.
Our 06.00o-ton cruisers, q knots.
will b the fastest In the world. their
speed equaling he fastest dsetroyefs.
Prompt repairs Of loo intsrasd c.
man ships, partially wrecked b. tAslP
crsws, added more than 100000 tons
to our available naval and merchant
tonnage.
The navy has developed an Amsri.
can mine believed to combine all the
good points Of various types Of mines.
and 10 manufacturing them In quaint.
| ties.
During the year the latest type Of
naval l0-inch gun was completed for
our new battleships: Il throws Q pro.
jectile weighing 2.100 pounds.
Navy has in its possession now
stock Of supplies SUFFICIENT for the
average requirements for at least eos
year.
Several hundred submarine chasers.
built since the war. have been dsiiv.
cred to the navy BY 81 private con-
Germs and SIX navy yards; many Of
these boats have crossed the Atlantic,
some IN severe weather.
Naval training camps have Q ..
paclty Of 10000 In summer. $4,000
msa 10 winter.
oAippinO 0sard's Prs0eess.
Up b date congress has authorised
1904 40 000. Of which e1.1S6. 00o. 900
has been appropriated. for tAs
United States shipping hoard and
Emsegency Fleet corporation: ea
March I. ea68. ~. o6687 Of this sun
had been expended.
The Emergency Fisst corporation
had rsquisitionsd March I. l26 steel
VESSELS and contracted for no steel
vessels. making q total Of l.1@6 steel
shipa. Of an assrssats dsad.wsisht
tonnage Of e.i0l,6oo tons: II had let
contracts for 100 wooden vessels. ~.
grssatng approximately l.7l6.o00