Page:The Presidents of the United States, 1789-1914, v. III.djvu/275

 CHESTER ALAN ARTHUR 227 A new naval policy was adopted prescribing a reduction in the number of officers, the elimination of drunkards, great strictness and impartiality in discipline, the discontinuance of extensive repairs of old wooden ships, the diminution of navy-yard expenses, and the beginning of the construction of a new navy of modern steel ships and guns accord ing to the plans of a skilful naval advisory board. The first of such vessels, the cruisers &quot;Chicago,&quot; &quot;Boston,&quot; and &quot;Atlanta,&quot; and a steel despatch- boat, &quot;Dolphin,&quot; with their armaments, were de signed in this country and built in American work shops. The gun foundry board referred to above was originated, and its reports were printed with that of the department for 1884. A special mes sage of March 26, 1884, urged continued progress in the reconstruction of the navy, the granting of authority for at least three additional steel cruisers and four gun-boats, and the finishing of the four double-turreted monitors. Two cruisers and two gun-boats were authorized by the act of March 3, 1885. An Arctic expedition, consisting of the steam whalers &quot;Thetis&quot; and &quot;Bear,&quot; together with the ship &quot;Alert,&quot; given by the British admiralty, was fitted out and despatched under the command of Commander Winfield Scott Schley for the relief of Lieut. A. W. Greely, of the U. S. army, who with his party had been engaged since 1881 in scientific exploration at Lady Franklin bay, in