New-York tribune., 1878-11-14
CURRENT TOPICS AT THE CAPITAL.
A REPORT on THE HEALTH OF sEAMES.

WAsHIS0roN, W edncsday, Nov ID, 1878.
Medical Inspector Thomas J. Turner, United
States Navy a member Of the board appointed by tho
Secretary OF the Navy to consider and report plan for
the better ventilation OF vessels Of the Navy has just is
sued pamphlet the subject With the view OF having
the matter thoroughly considered and the facts aD0ut
the health OF vessels made public. He quotes from nu'
merous authorities and official data to demonstrate the
necessity for retter ventilation He SAYS that on the
bertecks OF war vessels there is not cubic foot of air
normal IN quality at any instant from the time they
are nut I'm commission until they go out The impure
air and the diseases engendered by the Overcrowdng Of
Vessels etc. shorten tho life Of the sailor and they must
be added to those causes suggested 9G BY pr,. and
American seainen, for this skilled labor this art hna
mystery OF the seamans craft ms begun 10 Dc
ventilation is simply modified form OF the NAPIER sys-
mna the decEs of ships every day and says that the
dampness OF ships and tue bad air are two OF the most
potent OF the producing agencies. In the case
pf Ventilation relief Is already accomplished fact
Dryness must follow. The one means OF relief is u
solved mechanical problem; the Other IL "lthn the
province Of regulation
THE NEGLECTED LIBRARY OF CONGRESS.
Although Congress did, at its last session,
take the preliminary steps toward the erection OF
building for the omInodaon Of the National Library,
by appointing committee TO seiect site yet the fact
tina, questions OF absorbing political Interest must
consume great portion OF the coming short
session gives rise TO tome apprehension that
the reanirements OF the library may be pushed
aside for another year Should this be the casc II viii
be "a public calamity. Congress has had before 1t for
moro than four years the mort pressing appeals from s
librarian and from the joint Committee on the Library,
10 provide for tile enormous and fast In
crcasing collection o. books which has been 10
long crovdiug the Capitol to overhowng Enllshene
self interest alone would have dictated u prompt re-
sponse to these appeals since facility In supplying books
and Information Senators and Representatives In the
possible time is directly involved. Yet nothing
whatever hns been to relieve the accumulation una
the result In the fact that between 050OO aud
20 600 volumes piled up the floors and gal
ercS the library Many books ure suffering injury In
consequence.
FOUR PER CENTS PURCHAsABLE WITH 5-20s.
The following is issued by the Treasury
Department to-day:
Any person subscribing hereafter for per cent
bonds cOnsOs Of 1907 authorized by the Act Of July
L. 1870 may pay for them with any OF the 90 bonds
Of the Act Of March g. SOS. Tedeemnbe at the pleas
OF tie United states after tie lsi day Of July eO
In way n they we're chilled at the date oi
subscription In regular course; but the subscribr 10
avail himself OF this privilege must accompany tue
subscription ~ltha inll description Of such bonds by
numbers aud denominations, and must within thirty
thereafter forward the bonds TO tins department.
10 he applied Ike called bonds OF the amount issue "i
the abOye described $40 bonds there u outstanding
aud uuCallel iOr the amount of S20,OSj,75O.
JOHN SHERMAN, Secretary