The New York herald., 1878-11-02
COURSE IF INSTRUCTION ADOPTED
Details o Inventions and Practical
Work Accomplished.
PERSONNEIOF OFFICERS And INSTRUCTORS
Mysterie and Curiosities Of the
Museum.


important worcarriod on at the government torpedo
station locate on Goat Island, in this harbor. It's
history. althod brief, Is replete with many inter.
ssting eventa The enterprise and labor which have
been applied al the beneficial results aocruing VIII
acvcr be Elized by tho general public
ant tnat unlppy condition-a state Of war
srisca Notwis,andng the small appropriations
made by Congrs during the past two or three ysars
great progress is been made In lorpcdoes and their
appliances, bo, theoretically and practically, and
the station is edit to Inc government and the gen.
tlsmen who havmade It what 1t Is to-day by hard
work and consht study. Three English enic,as,
whose opinonsa naval warfare are entitled 10 re-
spect-namely, Ice Admirals Wellesley and Ingle-
Held and Rear niral W. Gore Jones, have expressed
tho opinion thalmerica was to DO congratulated on
her remarkabIsfowth In all matters pertaining TO
this branch Of Tensive and defensive warfare, and
that the station iere, considering ITS age would be
srsdissbIe 10 y nation. The Emperor OF Brazil.
also, when no vtsd the station, paid the command.
ing o1icer and q navy as well high compliment,
and, although heisitsd the station Sunday, when
the machine sips and other departments were
dvesssd OF thoirsual appearances. he took occasion
70 examine everhing with his well known earnest.
ness In order topt faint idea OF the mysteries
OF the system
osrx OF rHs STATION.
Tho station waersanized early In the fall OF 1862
Commander f. CMatthews, now Inspector OF Ord.
nance tNew 70, was detailed by the Chief Of the
Bureau Of Ordnas, Admiral A. L. Case, to select
suitable locality the establishing Of she proposed
station. VariOuslaees were suggested, but after
tnoroughand imdrtial search the present location
was decided upols the spot presenting ali the de-
s1od qualihcatio. 1t was seen at glance that
Goat Island 'Gered many natural and
nj asiw - ~ "a,
on tbsi. ;coas Its close proximity TO
the larss foundrt OF Boston. Providence and New
York, where th, ,oastings for the torpedoes, &o.,
would be- made waaken into consideration, as was
the factthat its Hated position would prevent that
damageso the surundings in case OF explosion,
which would resulwere the station located In city
or town. The entc island, about twenty acres in
sxtent, bs ongsd nhe government, and the labor OF
preventing the inuson Of prying eyes into the mys-
tsrss Of the sysn would, therefore, bs compara-
lively small Though and deep water outside and
the smooth surfs in the inner harbor was found
highly important the proposed work, as the former
coulo be used for eriments. such the blowing up
Of old huks, cxplSbns OF dynamite and other deadly
missiles OF modem warfare, ana tho latter Tor such
work as require smooth or shallow water. The
island was toundio b. convenient In size and shape,
and 1t was as Iar.e as was needed. Boing long and
y
distance caseoi any explosion
BUILDINGS ERECrED.
Plans and ReCihcat0ns were soon In the carmen.
ters hands aipr the Brsau had decid upon estab.
fishing tho sation. large machine shop, built of
brick, chemln laboratory, ssctrcity building. maga-
xtnss for the storas Of small quantities or nitro
gIyCerne and othC explosives, s,orehouses, 30.
were put sp a. shirt nolics. The large residonce
whioh had beon for a variety OF purposes was
fitted up u comforabe. but Oldest man er ior the
use OF the mandhg officer ana the north end Of
II was arranged for flces, library, draugnting room
fnp pVnAn lnN Aass A
use OF three assistants to the commanding officer
the chemist, the slctrician, spd the gunner in
wArd a. the appropriations would admit. The work
proper OF the station 10 the construction and appl
ance OF torpedoes. bu school for instruction or the
navy 10 torpedocs and brpedo warfare has also been
esta bished. All csmmindsrs or line officers below
the rank OF commandrars assigned hore for instruc.
don as soon as they onbs spared from other duties
II 10 optional with cohnandnR officers whether they
come or not, but mani under this head have awaited
Of the fadlises offered here and have
acquired a great amount knowledge, which will be
Of groat value 10 the epunry In the hour OF need.
COURSE OF INSTRUCTION
Inc term ior instru;tioi embraces the months OF
Iune July and Angus, am the class are In attend
ance from haii.past nse Am. TO twenty past
Two r NJ, the trips of the launches being arranged
30 shore. Tho DAY is divid,d into two periods, me
hrst being from quaner totem A. N. TO quarter 10
Iweivo a. and th' second from quarter past
Iwelve /. NJ to quart,r past Two Z. NJ The follow.
Ing division VI time Tor thu various studies is OBJ
ssfvsd:-
!, Days 0:io @ IL :i5 An 2:I5 % 2:i5 r. NJ
ondsys. Electricity ity............l iectrcity.
wsdnesdays. Electricity Elsctrici T.
rhursdays Che mistry q explosives. .Torpsdoes.
Fnuars......I Iorpedoes -. ....... .Examination pa
The GLASS do not report on Saturday. Tns principal
instructors usually assign the hole or para oi a
have been by Captain x r. Breese, who has recently
'een detached, 10 two parts, known as The senior
anu JUNIOR halL In cas- the com handing ofIcer de-
n m o. q in tA tos alSx.wA
oncd notice TO this effect Is posted up In the
shine shop Questions bearing upon the lectures tor
friday ana The answers ar. ~r.sn IN blank G Doo9s
FURNISHED for that purpose, which sre retained by the
ne mbsrs of the class souvenirs Of the hard work
'ntsieu upon them duriig their three months' visit
% newport The booksafe handed 10 tho command
ng officers on honday.and II Will thus appear that
Usually engaged in sorirg Inc dIficuit problems
assigned for solution. Te books are then handed TO
no Instructors. who, af0 noting the errors, return
hem ~ the commanding officer. with such remarks
% they deem necessary Tho fnai examinatious
VII ch take place beiors official board specially ap.
II practical nature ami written replies ana ques.
ious bearing upon the course OF instructions pur.
ued, are enored In ths looks referred TO- winch aro
unlimited TO the Board Al the close OF the exam
nation and before the 3oafd takes It's departure
opportunity 10 always gwen 10 the Instructors 10
how wnat advancement hey have made during the
ear. Opportunity is also offered TO the members OF
he class to practice III ,iving aud submarine work
cnnected with torpedoes ana ~ the close OF the
vi
eive certificates a. divers aud those who desire to
their studies are usually allowed TO remain
nd be attached to the staion.
Tho theoretical and pr,ctical lectures on torpedo
nstr ucton occur on Tuesdays and the practical work
n fhursdays, the work u botn days Bong inter-
ngcsbe, so as to AVOID lough weather iof outdoor
xercser The twelve lectures IN the course embrace
ue ON electricity, Professor farmers machines aud
uses preparatory to outds"r work; one on the his-
ory oil torpedo warfare, and three on the various
inds Of spar torpsdocs nsw In use; Two tho low.
ns tofpedoes, ana three o. movable torpedoes and
orpcdo boats; one on submarine guns and rockets
nd ono on ground torpedo,s. All practice work iol-
appropriate lecture AZ far as practicable, de
endlng, however, upon iH progress made aud the
nesns AZ nand 70 make the proposed experiments
THK LECTURES.
Ihere are usually tweny.iour lectures, eight OF
men are given W the veerabie consulting clsctri
inn froiessvr Noses g. Farmer, VINO has been at the
ia,ion since lsI2 The SUBJECTS discussed are.--
fWst-Gavan,c batteries, describing their action
nd lcrent iorms IN nse themical action, dehnition
citc,rcaiN current and other terms Ia use At the
resent day.
Second -Measureinent oil currents, giving descrp-
ion xaivanometers.
qhvd-fne law governing electrical resistance and
rabcn curfents
Fourtt--General electrical Measurement of resist
nce aud e.ectro-motive iorct