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Rear Admiral Newton E. Mason explains the budget and spending of the United States Navy Bureau of Ordnance including expenditures for ships, guns, ammunition, equipment, and facilities. Mason defends the budget in an attempt to secure ideal funding for the upcoming year.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-11
Theodore Roosevelt’s secretary received William S. Pierce’s letter with an enclosure and forwarded it to Douglas Robinson for payment. Pierce should contact the secretary if he does not receive a cheque soon.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1909-12-15
President Roosevelt requests the Navy Department make a specific report on the relative advantages and disadvantages of the 14-inch and 12-inch guns. Roosevelt wants to be sure that the matter has received the fullest consideration.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-12-29
The Army and Navy Journal appears alarmed over the accident with USS Iowa‘s guns and the February 8 order from the Bureau of Ordnance. President Roosevelt would like a full report.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-03-05
President Roosevelt asks if Lieutenant Provost Babin could be assigned to the Ordnance Bureau at the conclusion of his tour of sea duty.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1903-12-23
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Roosevelt was pleased with Senator Chandler’s letter to Charles O’Neil, Chief of the Bureau of Ordnance. He has been reviewing the financial estimates and making cuts for all the bureaus except Ordnance. There is a need for naval gunnery, ammunition, and items relating to “warlike efficiency.” Representative Thomas B. Reed recently wrote Roosevelt about “that infernal gun-boat,” the USS Newport, which Roosevelt sent to Boston, Massachusetts, on the recommendation of the Bureau of Navigation.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1897-09-23
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf, in response to President Roosevelt’s recent request, assures Roosevelt that the Department of the Navy is already preparing sketches of battleships with 14-inch guns. Metcalf details the progress of such plans, which are anticipated to be well developed by the end of December.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-09-17
Albert Gleaves responds to President Roosevelt’s request for a letter with information concerning torpedoes, and a letter from former Naval Constructor Joseph J. Woodward regarding open turrets. Woodward’s letter recommends changes in the construction of new battleships, and updates to existing ships, to eliminate open turrets. Gleaves updates Roosevelt on the number of torpedoes in the United States arsenal, as well as the number currently contracted to be built, and compares the contracts and inventory of France, Japan, and Germany.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-08
Secretary of the Navy Metcalf writes President Roosevelt about several matters. First, he addresses reports about the water line of the armor belts on existing battleships and responds to suggestions that the belts should be raised. Citing reports by Admiral Robley D. Evans, who is sailing to the Pacific with the Atlantic Fleet, Metcalf does not recommend this. In fact, he believes lowered would be better. Metcalf also informs Roosevelt of plans to modify turret ammunition hoists. Finally, Metcalf says he does not support a plan to appoint a line officer Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-04-07
Admiral Mason and Brigadier General Crozier provide a memorandum for President Roosevelt on the topic of explosive for bursting charges for projectiles for the Army and Navy. Mason and Crozier provide details on how this explosive is produced, as well as the quantities the Army and Navy expect to need over the next several years and the costs associated with the amounts.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-20
Captain Richmond Pearson Hobson has read the papers President Roosevelt asked Albert L. Key to show him and is in favor of Roosevelt’s special message. He has some suggestions if Roosevelt will meet with him. Key has heard that Admiral George Albert Converse is basing his report on misleading data from the Bureau of Ordnance and the Bureau of Construction and Repair. Roosevelt was right to talk to Captain Cameron McRae Winslow before acting on the report. Thankfully, the facts will quickly be discovered after the report is submitted.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-02-02
Assistant Secretary of the Navy Newberry explains in detail to Senator Hale of Maine how expenditures for current repairs to the U.S.S. Oregon and Massachusetts, as well as planned naval maneuvers in August and September, violate neither “the letter or the spirit of the existing law.” Newberry will call Secretary of the Navy Victor Howard Metcalf’s attention to Hale’s concerns on his return.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-30
The Navy Department Bureau of Ordnance reports on the availability of 18 and 21 inch torpedoes and submerged torpedo tubes. The Navy has plans to acquire more torpedoes, but the needed torpedo tubes will take longer to manufacture.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1907-07-29
Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte writes that nothing further can be done about the “torpedo situation” until funding has been granted by Congress.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-10-26
Midvale Steel Company addresses President Roosevelt sending him a message regarding shipbuilding companies nabbing armor-plate contracts. Midvale Steel Company President Harrah discusses the challenges of bidding for contracts such as vying against certain competitors for contracts. Harrah suggests that it would be beneficial for Midvale Steel Company to win the armor-plate contracts since the company is cost effective, does fair bidding, offers timely deliveries, and has a record of reliability.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-07-13
Captain Mason, Chief of the Bureau of Ordinance, writes to Secretary of the Navy Bonaparte discussing the Naval budget and ammunition supply needs of various battleships and cruisers in a time of war. The bureau recommends replenishing as soon as possible the navy’s reserve supply of ammunition and gunpowder, as it would take too long to manufacture in the event of war. The current reserves of older brown powder will not be sufficient as they only work with older classes of ships, and even then inefficiently.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1906-01-09
The report discusses the administrative organization of the Navy Department, noting that the chiefs of various bureaus all report the the Secretary of the Navy, who is a civilian. The writer advocates for streamlining the bureaucracy in the department to increase efficiency, and to place line officers and other men directly involved with battle and preparing the fleet for action in positions of greater authority.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
Commander Key responds to reports by Rear Admiral George Albert Converse and Chief Constructor of the Navy W. L. Capps about the construction of American battleships compared to Japanese and British battleships. Key points out errors and inconsistencies in the reports, and argues that the water line armor belts on American battleships are incorrectly placed and not thick enough. He believes the United States needs to be building ships based on the most up-to-date knowledge about battleship construction and design. He also takes issue with the lack of battle tactics practice in the Atlantic Fleet’s maneuvers.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-21
Summary of thirteen letters addressing the question of the distribution of water line belt armor on battleships in the United States Navy. Summarized letters include discussions between admirals, government reports, letters from the Bureau of Construction, and information from international sources.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1908-03-03
Commander Folger writes concerning U.S. policy during the Russo-Japanese War and makes recommendations concerning military operations during the conflict.
Library of Congress Manuscript Division
1904-02-10