The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1852-11-04


obtain iron Mexico treaty confirming the grant. is
an admission, on the part Of Garay and his assooi-
atss that il il net now. and never has been, valid
grant feur obedent servsnt.
BEN. E. GREEN.
Adraisslon and Promotion I'm tho Navy.
TO THR EDITOR or THE HERALD
Tho public press of the country has for some
time past boon pointing out the existing evils in
the navy, and it is now generally adnitted every
hand that something must soon be dons to reno
vats and raise it to its original and high standard
But as yet no thorough reform has boen proposed,
or ut least decided upon, that il likely to be agree
able to the majority. We ask the questions why
not spply the eame system of admission and pro-
motion rs is now applied. with such manifest adj
vantage, TO the engineer corps Of the navy twill
certainly not be denied by any competent to judge,
but that the corps of naval engineers has grown at
an unprecedented rate, in ability, intelligence and
usefulness, since the present system Of examinations
was adopted This corps il comparatively new in
orgas ization, having only been authorized by
Congress in August, 1872 At that date,
neither the rapid increase of steamers nor an en-
lsrged sphere Of duties for the naval engineers,
suck 90 has sin,e taken place, were contemplated
and tho organization accordingly made alike
with Other corps of the navy. Three years had but
elapsed before it became absolutely necessary to
70. organize the corps different basis e. es-
tablish system of admission and promotion by
merit Accordingly, the first Board Of Chief En-
giIeers was convened Mt Washington City, ia July,
lS45, for that purpose, before whom all the
gineers then in the navy were ordered, and th cir
respective merits ascertsined As might have been
supposed, many Of these in the higher grades (as
now exist in other corps In the nayy,) were found
rnAn tnVat for .lau -
course, passed according to their ability.
Since that period no person has been admitted or
promoted into the engineer corps OF tho navy
until pronounced qualified BY board convened by
the Secretary of the Navy for that purpose.
The corps is divided into four grades, and not
only before admission to the lowest, but before pro-
molten sfterwsrd to each higher grade. the can.
d'date must pass rigid and scruiniziug ex-
animation, extending BOT only to his profess
sional attapments, but to his moral aud SO.
DIAL character and general aptitude for and
energy in business There are thus four ex-
aDiDations to be passed at stated intervals,
with the important advantage of having tho
character and ability Of the candidate under
stood from the experience Of his service in the grade
from which no IL to he promoted. Further, by this
purged of ell members untitled, ea<9H porally or
professionally for the discharge Of its sss because
any candidate, whatever be the grade he may have
attained If he fail to pass for the next grade is dis
missed from the service, and his place filled by the
next best qualified An engineer may thus have
been in the service for many years. and disoharg I'D all
tho duties of the lower grades with credit, but
failing to pass Tor the highest he is dismissed. As
in each general examin ation the standard Of quail
hcasions is greatly raised it will therefore be
that it is impossible for engineer Of the navy to
remain stationary; he must advance and keep pace
with the progress Of tho arts and sciences, as ap
Piled to his profession, or he must leave the corps
Hence, in this system there is the widest Geld for
petitions for promotion taking place as does accord
ing to merit, us determined by the examinations,
examination may reverse the relative standing Of
members Of the same grade from what was estab-
lished by the preceding examination; thus, talent
Is left continually untrammelled to strive for still
higher elevation.
Any person desiring to enter the engineer corps
OF the navy between the ages Of Is and 25, has only
to send his name and address to the Secretary OF tho
Navy. when it is placed upon the list, and at the
next examination for admission no receives permits
sion TO present himself before the Board Of Examin
ers. composed of chief engineers Of the navy, who,
having attained that grade after the laborous and
prog ressive climbing through the interior grades,
are naturally disposed to gusrd it with jealousy
1t will thus be seen that the composition Of the
engineer corps is emnenty republican, the field being
alike oGen to the Sons of the blacksmith and sens-
tor. no influence Of any kind being required to get
permission TO be examined, and when once be lore
the examining board, the fate Of the candidate ia
determined rely on his merit
Although but seven years has elapsed since the
engineer corps was organized on its present basis
the members have already entered upon wido and
very responsible range Of duties, combining all of
the theory and practice known in the extensively
Iami6ed arts and sciences, making up . thorough
knowledge of the principles and practice Of marine
steam engineering and steam navigation; q know
ledge which-it is believed it will not DO contested by
any competent to judge demands quite as much
natural ability, united with as deep study, and
long practice, rs are required for any profession
The engineers Of the navy now decide upon and
design the various complex machinery for the war
steamers, furnishing first the working drawings, in
the most complete detail, then superintend and
direct their manufacture ut the various establish
ments, afterwards its erection board the vessels
finally, they operate this machinery at sea. The
machinery so designed and superintendent is some
times OF the largest, most complicated, and costly
description, frequently amounting, in first class
steamships, to hundreds of thousands of dollars;
and ut the various establishments where 1t is con-
sIucted. the naval engineers the sole guardians
Of the public interest. where the expenditures
stitute formidable fraction of the naval appropri
atoms. The amounts and kinds Of labor done are
determined by and paid for wholly on their certi-
fcates Again, after this costly and complex ms-
chDery is erected on board the steamship, its pre-
servation and judicious management rests alone
with the engineers; on them depends not only the
effective operation Of the machinery, but the safety
Of the vessel and all embarked in it, hence it is
an obvious fact that on board q steamship the
steam machinery must necessarily be the important
and essential feature, to which all others are sub
ordinate; and as necessary corollary to this, it
fooWS, thAt the services OF those VINO control II nre
the most valuable, and their responsibilities the
greatest
There is . strong probability, which will scarcely
be contested by any who have bestowed the proper
reflection the subject, that in twenty years hence
there will be no naval vessel unpropelled, in
whole or in part. by steam or other gases. The in
PRODUCTION OF motive power for all srine war pur-
poses viii be compelled by necess y and the pres
sure Of circumstances When this change shall be
made, which is now in rapid progress, the engineer
officers will be as numerous, and their duties i'm
portsnt rs an aggregate to the whole navy, as all
the officers in IL. In consideration Of these facts,
we have no hesitation in saying that the same sys-
applied to the sea officers Of the navy. Let board
Of twenty officers be selected from tho grades of cap
tain. commander and lieutenant, and those Of
known anu y, and the whole OF these grades to-
md searching examination, not only into theiap-
fctsional qualifications, but their social pg-ades
character; and If captains are found " un6t for !
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