New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-08-19
The School Ship,

An article Recommending the connection
of nautical instruction with the mechanical
and agricultural course taught in the COL
leges recently established among US. has
attracted the attention of Nj. Wright,
United States shipping commissioner at
this port. He, as will De seen from his
letter, cordially approves the suggestion,
and will give official countenance TO an
institution SO much needed among US. Cap
tain Wright has been a practical seaman,
and go adds personal to the official consld.
Grafton to which his views are entitled.
We give the letter below, and must appeal
to some of our citizens vino take an interest
in this subject to bring forward some gentle
man capable of embodying the suggestion
and organizing the school.
Will not some Of our candidates for Cen
gress, especially some of those who have
acquaintance and influence at Washington,
take up this public enterprise! Let hon.
Mr. Syprer or Mr.. Sheldon, as the repre-
sentarives Of ehe maritime interest, or Hon.
Mr.. Diboie, WHO will succeed to these i'm
porrant duties, stick this additional
plume OF Republican usefulness in their
canditoriai caps, and bring into our waters
a United States school ship, all Et.ed anc
found for a cruise in the Spanish main
We will guarantee full crew OF appren
tees in cwenty.four hours after she shall
cast anchor in our port, and wien she
makes an experimental AID compilme ntaEy
excuI sion TO visit ara receive salG-es in the
ports of Cuba. and Jamaica anG Vera Cruz
we should not mind sending our special
commissioner on regat-as to participate n
the honors ard record the events OF the
expedition.
Here is the letter of Captain Wright:
OFFICE UNITED STATES sHlrP:ye CoMxlss1osER, }
No. l Narigny Buildings ;
New o. leans, August a, 1874.
EDITOR REPUBLICAN:
Tne article IL your issue Of the twelfth
instant in relation to school snip for the
port Of New Orleans is veil worthy OF no1e
than a passing thought.
an fully impressed with the necessity
of establishing an institution Tor re eGuca
ton and training of boys intended tor the
sea rvice. and more particularly to max
provision Tor large number OF boys whC
| are running Wllu III our streets.
The school ships of England are the
| nurseries from whence that country draws
| a large proportion Of her finest materit fel
| both her mercantile and naval marine
| Almost every English vessel that visits our
| port has one OK more boys who have passed
| the necessary tuition to tit them for service
| and from al can learn their conduct il
| such as 70 entitle them to favor.
! The necessity for such ship in our port
NAV 90 drawn from this fact that almost
daily have applicants from very worthy
class Of young men and boys for position;
| IN our mercantile marine. but in conse
| quence Of their lack OF nautical knowledge
| their services can not be made available
| Had we the much needed mercantile marine
school we could find employment for al
! unlimited number of graduates.
| The trade which must eventually spring
| up IN our Southern waters Will require tina
class of hardy, acclimated boys that ar,
now seeking employment elsewhere.
| Any undertaking that may be started
with the above in view will receive tn.
hearty support of this Office.
Very respectfully, your obedient servant
WILLIAM WRIGHT.
United States Shipping Commissioner.