New-York tribune., 1876-08-07
LOCAL MISCELLANY.

RIrMORS OF MORE NAVAL REDUCTIONS
TIE STEAMERS PIYNOUTH PowHATAS, AND DE9-
PATCH To BE PUT OUT OF CoMNIssloN-slsTEN
on BOARD or THE MINNESOTA.
Ii IA rumored that there is TO be another re-
dnction IN the Of the navy, and that HecieaY
Rcbeson has issued orders to put ont of commission ho
United States steamers Plymouth Powhatan ana Dts-
match The Powhatan and Despatch, according 10 'he
Navy Register are on Especial service, ana during the
epanishC Cuban excitement OF 1873 were empioIeu III
towing ironcads TO Key West and carrying reinforce
ments and dispatches that time their duties nave
been nominal The Powhatan has been lying on IWeh9-
thlrds, North River, for two months Sh was oIuol'~
TO SewYork for the purpose Of Transporting TIE "esV
Point cadets 70 Philadelphia, and rs II was 1oNuu t!'
she could not furnish suitable accommodations INC
order was revoked. She is od-lashoned sde-wheoI
.,ea,ner having maximum speed Of Sig knots, ani car
rync II guns OF the following caiber: II 0nca guns
one inch gun, and two 100pounders she VIII Proo
ably never be put In commission aan except I'F 'lo
purpose OF towing iron-Clads anf as supply FeNa'L
The despatch is o tourth-ate screw vessel carrying t"o
howitz rs and Of $50 tons capacity old measurement
She was formerly yacht and was purchased from a
New-York banker. Naval officers claim that these two
vessels can be well spared
Tie plymouth left this port several davs 40 for Ha-
fax for the benefit of the health Of the officers ard crew,
who had Just returned from the West indies SIZE ID e
vessel OF l22 tons new measurement, and carries an
6opounder She reported to be half rotten, anc has
kpeed OF IOla knots 1t has been rumor1l that on he
return in September, she VIII take the place the MIN
nesota as Vice e-Admral ROwan's fagshiP but uio has
been officially denied in Washington The Minnesota r.
used both for flagship and training ship Tor Boys, ana
although she is than double the size Of Tie liJ-
mouth e expense Of keeping her in comm sslon IS very
much less because she is almost wholly manned by a-
prentice boys whose salaries about one-haH the "a
aries OF regular ships crew. she is reported IL tar
"a
naval vessels, and carries an armament OF y ''icI
guns two ll-Inch glr and two 1Op FOUNDERS Sne ear
hs made ready for SEQ at short notice. and
Can't a. W. Johnson who commands hel, SEe
ore more capable Of performing t1eir dutes' thdn
many the sailors who are SApptu, ana N-A''efs re
marx that they exceptionally cG1ly apd wei
disciplined school Of boys. During the Summer this
vessel has supplied other vessels OF wai %tG hYs -
part o. their crews, and thel ehcentv Las eea feoes
nized hy speedy promotion 81 Ae rat OF Ordneiy Sc
and landsmen IAore are now nearly 700 boys on
the Minnesota The few seamen attached 70 ma vessel
are picked men, who instruct the boys IL P'ac'cd sea
mansnp alOft. The supply which j. also altacheG 20
this service and under the supervisor command o.
Cant lohrson is now o. q cruise Of NANTUCKET 0,cal,,
with i25 boys irom tine Minnesota. The morals of the
punished severely but Win car,ful discrimination
serious ofiense having been conmi'iec cH Gays ago
been towed around jhc bay amorr the Shipping Vile
TIE buserPlaye The kosnes Mrsrn TgGr SCI m sl[, %
the rest OF the crew m the ie WLi!T " 'uS WI
deck 70 witness their punishment The restrictions M
posed by the Navy Department. aud carefully carried clt
10y Capt johnson IN ~. examination o1 n lVl vi'o'
nen; tend to elevate the character OF tic s'anen Ci
from ahs Of SDq the nSfc SC choosp I NE rae thai
only boys OF the best character sturdy Dhysiqu" Hp
the Navy Department restricting the nua9ci 1t enlist
plfnts 70 % per Wonth makes ne examination moie
rigid. 10 il nor ccted nat All these boys "il rem ~
In the service b., ii Is nOed 10 esafsh what ma; .,
termed reserve corp ~ the navy tnce tiai "ii
difficulties ,ericuCod during The war IN seourL sea-
men VINO under .oCd ne practice OF sgnASly al @ tne
they acquired pc 7cency in hautru- the g-, make. ~
tao 0piOa Of naval officers tic present 3! stem oi Ut IL
a.