People's Pilot, Volume 2, Number 26, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 16 December 1892 — OUR NAVY. [ARTICLE]

OUR NAVY.

It* Rapid Development aa Show, by tbe Report of Secretary Traey, Washixgtos, Dec. 12. Secretary Tracy in his report to the president starts out with a list of vessels in th* navy, and points with pride to the work accomplished daring the present administration. He says: “On the 4th of March. 1889, tbs fleet of tbs United States navy, apart from a few old ships long since obsolete and fist going to decay, consisted of three modern steel vessels, of an aggregate tonnage of 7,883 tons, and mounting thirteen 8-inch and lour 8 inch guns, the forgings for which last, aa well a* Hie shafting for the vessels, had been purchased front-abroad, as they could not be made in this country. "There have been a total of nineteen vessels of the new navy put in commission during administration, of an aggregate tonnage of 54,KS tons, mounting altogether two 13-Inch, six 10-inch, sixteen 8-inch and eightytwo 8-inch guns, all of which, with the exception of five of the earliest, have been manufactured in this country. Three new steel tugs have also been oonstraced and put in service during this period. There are eighteen vessels in process of construction and certain to be completed, should their armor be delivered within the next year, of an aggregate tonnage of 98,407 tons and mounting altogether twelve 13-fitch, six 12-inch, sixteen 10inch, thirty 8-lncl, thirty-two 8-lnoh, thirtyeight 5-inch and thirty-four 4-inch guns, all es which have been or are to be manufactured in this country. During this period twenty-five vessels will have been launched, thirteen of them, including the three tugs, duriag .the current year, and of all the new ships the construction of which has been begun daring the present adminiitratkm only two will remain on the stocks on the 4th of March next "Our new navy, Including all vessels built or authorized, now consists of the following vessels: One seagoing battleship (first class— Sows. Three coast-line battleships (first-class) —Massachusetts, Indiana, Oregon. Two battleships (second class)—Maine, Texas. Six double-turreted harbor-defense vessels—Puritan, Monterey, Kiantonomsh, Monadnock, Terror, AmpUtrite. Two armored cruisers—New York, Brooklyn. One ram. Two protected cruisers of extreme speed—Columbia, Minneapolis. Fourteen cruisers—Olympia, Baltimore, Chicago, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Charleston, Newark, Boston, Atlanta, Cincinnati, KalMgh, Detroit, Montgomery, Marblehead. One dispatch vessel—Dolphin Six gunboats—'Yorktown. Concord, Bennington, Machias, Castine, Petrel. One dynamite vessel—Vesuvius. Ons practice vessel—Bancroft Two torpedo boats —Cushing, No. 2, making a total of forty-two vessels. "AU the above, with perhaps one *r two excep tiers, are essential components of a fully developed naval force, but th* relative contribution to the defensive power of the United States to be found is these groups of vessels is not to be measured either by the number of ships or the number of tons alone. The development of the last four years has not been Confined to sbips alone. At the beginning of this administration the naval establishment was entirely destitute of certain elements of efficiency, each one of which was lndispensabl* to its practical employment as a fighting foroe, and the absence of which, if it had been possessed of a hundred ships, wo'ild still have left it in a condition of paralysis. These were the following; Armor, torpedoes, heavy rapid-fire guns, armor-piercing shells, smokeless powder, high explosives.

secretary details at length noteworthy ■rogress in the production of these things, and ■hys the progress noted, by which the United States has emerged from its condition of helplessness at sea and by the employment of its own resources has distanced its most experienced competitors, marks an epoch in naval development not only of this country but of the world. Comingtdown to a detailed statement as to armor tests the secretary tells of the work accomplished, of the tremendous test to wbioh the Harvey nickel-steel armor plate was subjected, as the result of which improved methods were Introduced in the Harvey process, and continues: “Tne result has never been equaled or even approached before by any armor plate, American or foreign. It has demonstrated that the United States, in the reconstruction of its new navy, which ten years ago had no existence even on paper, is enabled to place upon each and all of its armored vessels a material the like of which tbe world, up to this time, has not seen; and that while vast sums have been spent in plating the sides of foreign men-of-war with an inferior material, this country will employ for the purpose an armor which is not only far more efficient, but which represents unquestionably, having reference to the dimensions of plates thus far tested, the highest development of modern science, and a development reached by its own Independent efforts. "Following the example of tbe United States, the English government four weeks ago held a trial of the new American armor, and it is clear from the highly successful results of the trial that (he United States, instead of being the last in the race in the construction of vessels of war or of borrowing its best ideas from abroad, has set an example in this respect whioh 'ther maritime powers willspeedily follow.” In reference to ordnance of the navf the secretary makes extended reference to developments promising greatly improved results. Comment is also made at length as to powder manufacture, high explosives and projectiles, all showing progress of the most satisfactory nature. With regard to torpedoes, while the Howell torpedo has not gone much beyond the stage of hope with which the department entered upon a contract for its manufacture four years ago, yet the latest trials are giving great promise. The sectetary speaks with much satisfaction ’of the act to “encourage American ship building,” under which the City of Paris and City of New York are admitted to American registry. The aggressive policy of foreign nations continues, and this country, whether it will or not, will soon be forced into a position where it cannot disregard measures which form a standing menace to its prosperity and security. On the isthmus our commerce is engaged in a desperate fight to maintain its foothold. In the south Pacifio repeated annexations and protectorates are extending the power and influence of the maritime states of the old world. Subsidized lines of ‘ fast steamers are completing the circle of maritime communication on the eastern and western coasts of the Dominion of Canada and fortresses daily increasing in strength are surrounding our coast upon the south and east. Under these circumstances it is imperative to the welfare of this country that the policy of naval reconstruction, so successfully carried on in the past, should suffer no interruption in the future Much space is devoted to Interesting details as to the operations of ships in commission tha ,’ast year in Behring sea and elsewhere; on the work of the marine hospital bureau in connection with Cholera quarantine, etc. Interesting statistics are given as to the growth of the government toward establishing naval militia, the creation of which is characterized as one of tlia most important steps in our recent naval progress. The estimates in the report for the fiscal year ending June 30,1894, for navy and marine corps, including those for public works and increased navy, are 124,471,498, being *2,713,141 less than those for the last fiscal year.