The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1870-09-10

Of the navy "Tho army officers" he says,
"build their forts, md tho navy officers
should buil1 their ships" forgetting that the
army engineer, who alone designs and con-
structs our forts receives q special training
for that very purpose, and ceases to be
military officer in tho proper occeptation OF
the term. An officer Of Infantry or cavalry
would tc about az competent to do tho work
rs Admiral StriLlng to build the now Post
Office. OF what value then, is tho recon-
men laton "tlat no moro appointments OF
naval constructors I've made, and that the duty
Of construction md repairs shall, as vacancies
occur, be perform u ID nay officers 2 Id5i5
cqUivalen. TO saying that naval architecture,
one of he most difficult and nbltrl3t ofprofc3-
sions can be az well if no. better practically
soagoiug officers, flr the most part ignorant Of
the rulimcnts OF tho science, than by tho cx-
pericnccd naval constructors who have crown
gray in tho service, The Admiral then al.
vs.s tho abolition of raymasicrs, whose
duties, no savs, can 10 performed equally
well 10y line officers but hc is willing to let
the surgeons -cmoin The idea Of being
rhysichyd by lieu,non,g and cn5igas,
acting as amateur medical mon, 70 rather
more than ho can stoud lie is indifferent
whether our ships and machinery arc ruined
by bunglors, but very sensitive about being
prcmaturcly put out Of existence through n
similar agency
Chief Engineer HENDERSON, who was Mt
A Il. u fsl1
examined, at its request, most Of the marno
engines Of tic navy, and the machine shops d
tho navy yards, and made full aud critical 70
port, admirable for ito data It's method, and
its conclusions. This report completely dem
onsratcd tho excellence of tho machinery
constructed during the administration Of
Secretary WE1dEs. The reader VIII look in
vain for this report in connection with
SrmpING's. It was suppressed, for tho
reason probably that it reiutcd many of the
| assertions Of GoLDsDoEoU3u and SrRIB.
LING.
The Board Of Survey which these reports
demand has practically boon in operation
ever since the commencement of GRANTS
term. lie placed PORTER in control Of the
! Navy Department, and the result IS before
the country: Successful vessels ruined at
IN enormous cost an impaired and inelIl-
Gent navy the most absurd and unauthor-
lied alterations ofvcssels, commenced with O
reckless disregard of coat; Washington
swarming with limo officers, ordered there
at the public expense, and placed on
pretended duty TO give thsm full pay
Port Animals created ridiculous Boarl,
ordered every navy yard, vessel, and
place of duty filed to roplotion with
supcrHuous officers; and tho whole navy
demoralzed. Fortunately, Congress wa;
not blind to this state OF affairs. Far from
sanctionng the recommendations Of Pom
TEI,'s two Boards, it cut down the naval EST
mates, AMI secuted the idea Of Boarl O
Survey. Party regard FOX GRANT doubt
less restrained it from ordering specC
committee to investigate the acts OF PoHTEr
and his sub0rlinates; hut that such n com
milton may yet be appointed is tn, earnest
desire Of al Who WISH to sao our navy r.
stored to its former efficiency, ana enjoying
it's old reputation.