The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1845-08-13
Medical College, Crosby-street.

We copy the following paragraph, upon a sub
ject that has occasioned discussion lately, from
the Concord Freeman--an excellent democratic pa
per, which Mr.. Warren, its proprietor, is conduct
ing with great tact, ability, and efficiency
"We observe that some of our contemporaries
complain Of the late examination and Encouragement
of the assistant engineers in the naval service. We
have no acquaintance with the board of officers by
whom this examination was made, and of course
know nothing of their fitness They, however,
stand the head of the list Of that corps and os
to know all about it, and, from their position, may
fairly be presumed to be free from bias. But be
this as it may, that examination Of the assistant
engineers, by competent authority, is necessa
ry seems to US too manifest TO be disputed. A SIM
liar examination of midshipmen is always had be-
fore they promoted TO passed midshipmen, and
of assistant surgeons before they are promoted to
surgeons. In both these instances, the exam
ming board is composed Of officers who have
respectively passed through these grades; and in
arranging those who have passed the exam
inaton on the list, regard is had, among those
passed at any examination, solely to mer-
1.-THE best officer being placed on the list No. ],
and SO on. And in either midshpman or an
assistant surgeon fails to pass the first examine
tion second examination is had the year following;
and if found to be unqualified for promotion then,
such officer is Immediately stricken from the roll.
We do not, therefore, see anything unusual in this
examination and Encouragement. Those who are
dropped as unqualified will of course complain, and
SO will those who have been superseded and at the
same time it ia not unlikely some of those who have
been promoted think they have not been placed high
enough. Such complaints are incident to every
system. There is but one Straightforward course to
pursue in all such cases. and this Mr.. Bancroft ap-
pears determined upon. In all probability, he does
not know personally three engineers in the service"
Boston Post
REGULATIONS FOR THE ADMISSION AND PROMO
TON OF ENGINEERS
Before persons can be appointed assistant engi-
neers in the navy, they must have passed satisac-
tory examination by board of at least three engi
neers, designated by the Secretary of the Navy, and
produce satisfactory evidence of their good moral
character, correct habits, and sound bodily health.
In the examination for a third assistant engineer,
the candidate must be able TO describe all the differ
ent parts of ordinary condensing and non-conden-
sing engines, and explain their uses and their me-
chanical operation; to explain the manner of putting
engines in operation, how to regulate and modify
their action, and the manner Of guarding against
danger from the boilers, by the means usually APP
piled to them for that purpose. He will be expected
to write fair, legbe hand and to be well ac1uant
ed with arithmetic and the mensuration of surfaces
and solids of the regular forms. He must be not
less than eighteen nor more than twenty-sx years
Of age.
Candidates for promotion to the rank of second as
sstant engineer must have served at least two years
as third assistants in the management of steam-en-
gines in the navy ia actual service; must produce
testimonials of good conduct from the commanders
and senior engineers of the vessels in which they
may have served; and must pass a satisfactory ex-
animation upon the Subjects and to the extent pre-
scribed for third assistants; they must likewise be
able to explain the pecuartes of the different kinds
Of valves the construction Of expansion valves; the
manner of their operation; the remedies which are
usually resorted TO, to check foaming in boilers; must
possess knowledge of the usual causes Of derange-
ment in the operation OF air-pumps, force-pumps,
and fecd-pipes and the proper preventives and rem
edies; and the mode of cleaning boilers when re-
quired. They must have general knowledge of
the mensuration Of surfaces and solids
Before promotion to the rank of first assistant
engineer, candidates must have been employed at
least three years as second assistant engineers in
the management Of steam-engines in actual service,
and produce testimonials of character and good con-
duct from their former commanders and superior
engineers; must pass satisfactory examination
upon the subjects prescribed for third and second as
sisants the mechanical powers and the general prin-
cples of the operation Of engines; the causes
of, and the best means of removing. the different
kinds Of deposites and ncrusations to which boil
ers exposed and be able to furnish working
sketch drawing Of different parts of engines and
boers TO superintend their construction and deter
mine upon their accuracy and fitness for use.
Promotions to the grade of chief engineer are to be
made after the candidates have served for two years
as first assistant engineers in the management Of
steam-engnes in the navy in service and have
been examined upon any of the subjects specified
for assistants which the board may deem expedent;
and after they shall have satisfied the board of their
previous good conduct and character, of their suf-
Gent knowledge Of mechanics and natural philos-
ophy, of the forms, arrangements, and principles of
different kinds of steam-engnes boilers, propelers,
and their various dependencies, which have been
successfully applied to steam-vesses, and their al