Jasper County Democrat, Volume 3, Number 34, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 December 1900 — ASKS FOR NEW SHIPS. [ARTICLE]

ASKS FOR NEW SHIPS.

Becret iry I.ong’s Annual Report on Naval AifTirj. Two new battleships, two armored cruisers, six gunboats and half a dozen smaller vessels ai*e asked of Congress by Secretary of the Navy Long in his annual report to the President, The request is more moderate than those of the general board of the. navy, of which Admiral Dewey is head, and of the board of construction, made to the Secretary, but the appropriations necessary for the construe tion of the vessels would be at least $lO,000,000 as it is. Secretary Long makes his recommendations briefly and without urging them, but he puts them forward as desirable in the prospective development of the naval force. There are now under Avay in the ship yards eight battleships and forty-five other vessels of all classes. During the past year three battleships, the Alabama, Ivearsarge and Kentucky; one protected cruiser, the Albany, and two torpedo boats, have been finally conditionally accepted by the government. Among other recommendations made is one that the grade of vice admiral be revived by Congress, that means be found for establishing a national reserve in addition to the naval militia of the various States, and that a hall of public records be built for the preservation not only of the accumulated records of the Navy Department, but also of all other executive departments. The building of a large dry dock in the Philippines and the erection of a statue to Admiral Porter are* also recommended.