The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1875-12-13
UNITED STATES NAVAL EQUIP.
MESTS.
Report Of the Chief Of the Bureau Of Equip
meat and Recruiting,

Report Of the Chief Of the Bureau Of EInip-
mrut and Recruiting.
Tho annual report OF Commodore
Schuieldt, chief of the bureau Of equip
ment and recruiting of the United
States navy department, submitted to
the secretary, shows that during the
past year ITO vessels have been either
partially or wholly equipped by the
bureau at the several navy yards ut IN
expenditure OF labor and material
amounting to $500, 2231.S3. There were
39,579 tons OF coal purchased Mt homo
and abroad for the use OF the navy, cost.
ing, including freights and shipments,
sl15, Sl5.53. The rope walk ut the
Charleston navy yard has supplied tho
wants of the service with wire, hemp,
manila and hide rope. Tho equipment
shops ut the Washington navy ya1d have
furnished NIL the anchors, chains, gal
legs, etc, etc, needed for the service.
He calls attention to the frequently over
crowded state Of the receiving ship ut
tho Brooklyn navy yar,l, and says this
oyercrowding cndmgcrs the health rs
well rs the comfort OF the recruits. He
recommends Tint tho hulk Vermont be
rooted and fitted up with mess rooms,
dornitories, kitchens, etc, capable Of
accommodating six hundred persons,
aud be used rs supplement to the re- :
ceiving ship when occasion may require.
A building is now being created by the
bureau OF yards and docks on the Cob
dock, to contain bath, wash md rccep-
ton rooms for tho additional comfort
and convenience OF the recruits. This
arrangement is urgently recommended
Us n sanitary measure. During the ex-
citement Of 1873, resulting from Tho
threatened disturbance with Spnin, I he
recruits being crowded upon the re.
ceiving ship without sufficient facilities
for their comfort and cleanliness, and al.
most without shelter, disease Of nearly
every form appeared among them ; sick
and discontinued, the men either de-
serted or were drafted for service unfit
from these causes to perform the duties
required OF them. He recommends
thAt the provisions of the act of Con.
gross of May 10, 1872, allowing interest
at the rate Of four per cent. per annum
on the savings OF soldiers deposited
with paymasters, be extended to apply
to the amount due enlisted men in the
navy, and retained until the expiration
Of their terms OF enlistment. He says
that, owing to the decrease OF commerce
under the American flag, there has been
n growing deficiency of good seamen for
the navy. This fact Inns induced the de.
partment to establish training ships at
the Brooklyn, Kittery and Mare Island
navy yards for the purpose Of training
boys for sailors in the navy. This has
been done without additional cost.
There are 2G0 Of these lads now under
instruction, mud the reports OF their
commanding officers exhibit tho most
satisfactory results. Should the system
be extended and made permanent, it is
hoped that i'll short time the navy will
be manned by intelligent and native
born scamen, and many boys rescued
from idle and vicious lives to enter upon
useful and honorable career. The.
personnel Of tho navy being limited 10
$500 men, tho boys already enlisted
have been taken from this allowance.
He urges the passage OF law authoriz-
ing the enlistment Of 500 boys in addi-
ton, and the furnishing by the govern
ment Of mn outfit of clothing not to ex-
coed $50 for each boy. Flo also says
the time llas come when something be-
sides coercion must be used 10 improve
the morale Of the navy. Educate the
man for the service, and give him III
ducemont to remain in it by consulting
his wants, both mental and physical.
The records Of this burenu prove that
the fear of punishment does not deter
men from deserving take away the
prorocation for desertion, and this dc.
moralizing crime will diminish. II it
then ensues, punish it with tho rigor OF
military law. One or two laws OF
negative characteristic abolition OF
floggiDg md the Punishment OF the grog
tub-are about tho total OF enactments
looking to the Improvement Of the rank
and file.