The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-12-10

ton and appointment Of several midshipmen from
The academy grounds have been enlarged during
the year By the purchase Of portion OF the farm
| known - .'Strawberry HnLn and conditional
| mainder Of this property should Congress make
me necessary appropriation.
/ l e NAVAL APPRENTICES.
Tho act Of June Ia, $685. limits the number OF per-
sons authorized to be enlisted into the navy nclud-
Ing apprentices apprentices ana boys to $500 and no more
mum which existed prior TO the war, has compelled
the department to reduce the number Of naval APP
was ordered Immediately on the passage OF the act
and discharges have taken place TO such an extent
ships out az Commssion Ths necessity for this
step 10 to be regretted because policy had been
adopted fos the future Of the navy which properly
both the naval and commercial marine with body
Of mariners OF unsurpassed excellence. In pre-
purpose which seemed to be necessary, In order
to supply the government and country with
present year was understood to have approved the
object. Those familiar with the subject are aware
are IN progress by the Introduction OF steam, TO-
gether with the fact OF greater Inducements to en-
gage In other pursuits are diminishing the class OF
melI- wars men on which we have hitherto de-
pended, and VINO are fast disappearing.
In point Of economy, as well as Of efficiency, u is
not to be questioned that the apprentice system well
regulated ana maintained, would be OF immense
benefit to the government and country Commend
rsseVs sSoroSsa educson Qualifying
them to discharge, at the age OF eighteen, ali the
duties OF ordinary seamen and dlscp PINNED t aaa
would become experts and -sblo 70 render invalua-
| BILE service.
naval apprentices within the established number OF
persons employed IN the naval service and the effect
must necessarily be to limit their number, and check
| system so anspici0usy commenced, II II does not
| wholly defeat the great object intended.
| SURVEY OF THE NORTH PACIFIC.
In view of The rapidly increasing intercourse be-
| tween Western America anu Asia, OF the growing
| commerce OF the Pacific States, and OF the
| Ing up in connection with our recent ex-
tensive Acquisitions II Is important that more COM
| plete and systematic survey should be made OF
station continue to perform some useful put neces-
sary limited and irregular surveys over that extern
] sye and partially explored feld but the period has
/ arrived when something more effective should be
done. Our rising states on the Pacific, our increas-
| growing trade with China ana Japan, and the vast
and varied interests and plans OF commercial enter
prise which are opening nom the Indian ocean 70 Inc
| tributon to the cause Of navigation and nautical
| science In q region where we have such length
OF coast line, such large possessions and such won
| derfully expanding commerce, inviting the enter
prise and capital OF our citizens, the United States
| are interested beyond any other Power IN giving
security 70 the mariners who traverse that ocean.
i Attention is especially invited TO Brooks or Mid
ryeyed Sy order Of this The
| the survey represent two Islands enclosed in Ia
goon forming perfectly secure harbor, accessible
/
| ing abundant supply Of pure, fresh water These
| islands. which are unnhabited and nnoccupled, are
situated about midway between California and East
ern Asia, the track Of the mail steamships, and
furnish tho only known refuge for vessels passing
directly between the two continents
ID Is represented by the naval officers who made
the survey and also by Rear Admiral Thatcher lately
In command Of the North Pacific SQUADRON that the
at Q very small expense and port vastly superior
| to Honolulu be thus opened to mariners, where a
slons water and fuel TO the ocean steam lines and
refuge afforded merchant ships navigating that
ocean The Importance OF taking possession OF these
| islands and making the proposed Improvements
| can scarcely be over estimated and should not be
delayed.
The department has continued previous arrange
ments for the custody and preservation or the IRON
be serviceabe only in time Of war, and the proba-
| biuties are that with prolonged peace they will
from corrOsion and other causes greatly deteriorac
and not unlikely become useessbefore they win be
needed for service. In the meantime their Keeping
and proper care are attended WITH considerable an,
outlay, almost equal to the construction OF new YES
sells, Will be required to put them In sailing and fight
Since he passage OF the Joint resolution authoriz.
| ing their sale but two have been disposed of-thc
| Catawpa and Oneota, OF class OF eight vessels
siIniar In all respccts--at Their appraised value,
s7S5 0oo which has been paid into the general trea
this department.. Exception was taken TO this sale
and transfer, and Congress-, through committee,
ordered an Investigation. Delay and embarrassment
| followed TO the annoyance OF the foreign govern
| mens which was indirectly the purchaser, and the
eirecs has been 70 deter ouner towers IRON onerng
Interested themselves to effect sales as business
! operation, have apparently abandoned their efforts
lt has been and stlll Ia the opinion OF the depart
| ment that the true policy Of the government Is to
dispose possible OF all the vessels OF the classes
1 whose sale has been authorized by Congress. To
| keep them entails large annual expense upon the
government, and In few years, unused, they viii
@ III 90 81 w ana w naYe
1 worthy OF consideration therefore, whether they
should be sold II opportunity Offers, at less than
| their present appraiSenent.
! PROMOTION or oFrICERs-
The act Of April p, 1894, provides that mo line
oficer upon the active Hist below the grade OF
| modore nor any other naval officer, shall be pro-
NOTED To a higher grade until his mental moral and
Isl % M s Of ar 81
examining officers to be appointed by the President
OF the United states, and unless he has "been ex
| amined by O board OF naval surgeons aud pro-
4 nOuIced physically qualified to perform all his du.
ties at sea-n II not recommended FOR promotion BY
i placed upon the retired list.n
Under the provisions OF this ac. young Officers in
the early stages Of .aer acvo career
thus become pensioners for life, after having re-
ceived an education Ut tue public expense without
| rendering any equivalent service No discretionary
| power is conferred the Secretary President 10
permit second examination, even II the officer
failure nor can any relief be granted for the act is
it NAV wen be questioned whether any of,icer be-
| low the grade Of lieutenant commander should be
placed on the retired list for mental professional
| disqualification, which Is often the result Of indo.
Ieuce or incapacty. In the case OF an onlccr sent
before a retiring board and who may be found i'm
capacitated for active service 1t be shown that the
disability or incompetency does not 'resuit from
long and faithful service, from wounds or injury re.
celved IN the line OF duty from sickness or exposure
therein or from any other incident OF service, "
the .officer may be retired upon fnrlough pay,
| or ne shall be wholly retired from the service
| with one years. pay at the discretion OF the Presi-
deut.v Were this rule made applicable To those ON
GERS in the lower grades who may fail 10 pass their
| examination for promotion, no injustice would be
| done and the government would be relieved from
the EXPENSE OF pensoning for life incompetent and
| useless officers by wholly retiring them from the
service such failure, or on second failure AFTER
reasonable time for another examination.
LEAGUE ISLAND.
On the 18th OF April last proposed form OF deed
of this property, with accompanying papers, was
received from The city OF Philadelphia and trans
rnitknd 10 Aftnrna1 General for Examination.