New-York tribune., 1879-11-28

without any necessary conflict. but is attended with
engineering are not educated naval constructors It
imposes them the dersicn or matters not properly
de TO m men en- pse a. hsyn~ To ncGnre
profession different from the one In which he had grsd-
aied. He might or might not make n good con-
structor for n does not necessarily follow that
the most ingenious OF builders OF machinery Is 10
OF vessels ~ war. In al the European Governments
the two professions are recognized as entirely ulsunct
and IN England naval constructors are specially edu-
Gated in certain professional branches pertaining Ia the
OF ships. while those branches In which steam
engineers especially educated Is OF character
This policy is deemed preferable as consistent
with the best interests Of the service; and therefore
renea the recommendation heretofore made by me- that
Congress shall auhorize the admission OF sunicent
number OF cadet constructors annually ms has areuy
done or cadet engineers so that after graduaton te
There Is much necessity for the one as the other
The attention of Con gress is called to the recon-
mendations in reference TO the erection OF new
buildings and other improvements at the Naval
Academy, which are considered absolutely neces-
sary.
SMART boys FOR sEAMEN.
The Secretary SAYS that the importance of the
system which authorized the training Of boys for
seamen cannot he overestimated. Thus far
it promises complete success, and if perse-
vered in will undoubtedly supply the Navy
with a body of men TO whom our ships may be
safely intrusted while at sea, and upon whose
courage and patriotism the country may confidently
rely IN time of wac No Nation. he says. safely
intrust the keeping Of its honor 10 those who do
not feel that they owe individual allegiance 10 il
and as the Navy has borne conspicuous part
heretofore, and will undoubtedly bear an equally
conspicuous part hereafter. in every measure re-
qured to preserve our National honor all the means
necessary TO make 1t thoroughly American should
be encouraged.
Since the passage of the act of May -, 1879, the
result has been more favorable than was aniici-
pated, and i2O boys have been enlisted, who for
sprghtlness vigor and robust constitutions arc un-
surpassed by any other like number of the same
ages in the country. These added 10 those pre-
vIously III the service make the total number 800
-ncarly One-seventh of the whole body OF seamen.
OF ths number 625 of former enhstments have
been placed for service on board of several OF
the cruisers and the Department has great salts
factiO' in being able to that IN every instance
where thev have been detailed for that purpose
their conduct has been so universally good a. Ia
elicit the warmest praise from all the officers IN COM
mand of them. several officers have specially COM
mcnded them.
HEALTH OF THE SHIPS.
The Secretary recommends that a station be es-
tabhshed on the coast somewhere, where infected
vessels NAV be sent and experiments made to dis
cover the best and surcSt methods of disnfection.
For this important work he thinks that " the
medical officers of the Navy. from their trained ex
perience and ability, the knowledge acquired by
them in witnessing the effects produced by climatic
Influences and their familiarity with the varous
conditions of the atmosphere IN the several parts oil
the ship are peculiarly titted.'
During the past year a new apparatus
was introduced on the Richmond, and complete
ventilation was obtained by IL. It Is believed she
Is now the best ventilated ship IN the world. The
ventiatOr being costly. IL cannot be generally IN
tToduced without enlarged appropriations.
The remaining portions of Secretary Thompson :
report consist almost entirely of epitomcs Of the
statements and recommendations Of hls Chiefs OF
Bureaus-full abstracts Of which were pDnted in
IRE TRIBUNE yesterday. In conclusion. the Secre-
tary says that the work in every branch of the SET
vice has been well aud satisfactorily done. The
interests of the Government have been guarded and
the efficiency of the service has been promoted.