Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1879-11-26
Onr Navy.
ANNUAL REPORTS OF BUREAU OFFICERS.

u1llO-ndnO In lUS Work IN Ilat respect, ana IL
will not be ready before tomorrow morning at
10 O'Clock. The reports of the bureau officers
of the Navy department were to-day given out.
That of the bureau of medicine and surgery
says that the health of the officers and men of
the navy is not materially different than that of
last year. 1t is hoped, however that at no dis
tant day by cooperation of, all hands that the
sick rate will be greatly diminished. After va
riOus experiments it has been decided to recon-
mend the asptrator plan for ventilating ships.
This is network of tubes reaching every part
OF the ship and terminating in a large main
through which the currents are drawn by
steam blower, thus changing the entirety of air
within the Ship Experiments prove the efficacy
and superiority of this plan. 1t is now In sue
more destructive to yellow fever than low tenn
perature, which only checks the germ 1t Is
recommended that there be established on the
northern coast a station where vessels attacked
by infectious diseases may be diSmantled and
disnfected, and the crews properly cared for.
The report of the ordnance bureau says that
the past year has been one OF great advantage
in developing the force of penetration of rifle
projectiles and of concurrent efforts to produce
armOr of greater resistance with the same
weight. The usual work has been done. But
little improvement in either offensive or de-
fenSve use of tOrpedOeS has been made.
The bureau of provisions and clothing report
gives tabular accounts of the years transactions
and submits remarks.
The Bureau OF Construction and Repair re-
port says that it has been employed in the past
as in the preceding years in repairing such ships
No new ships have been commenced, authority
therefor being lacking. TIL e appointment of
four additional assistant naval constructors is
recommended.
The report of the commandant of the marine
corps says that on the 3Oth of September last
there were ,9I9 enlisted men In the corpS-9t5
on board ships and .0O4 at shore stations. In
the course OF the present year the number of
officers will probably be reduced to that allowed
by law. Instruction in rifle firing has been in
augurated and rapid Improvement made.
he bureau of pUuiDmpnt and rprrT1itinp
that during the year II vessels have been
wholly or partially equipped at the several navy
yards. No contracts have been made, supplies
being bought by open purchase, according to
the Secretary'S orders. The new rolling mill at
the washington navy yard has proven COM
plete success, and since its erection in 1878 has
accomplished saving Of nearly $4,000, being
more than g, 600 above its cost; with a moder-
ate additional appropriation, all the plate iron
required for the manufacture of boilers for the
navy could be made at the yard here. 1t is
recommended that two additional furnaces, with
boilers and hammers, not to exceed $4,000 in
cost, be erected. There were ,406 men in the
navy on June Both last. Some legislation look
ing to the care of old wOrn-out sailors is recon-
mended. 1t is also recommended that the men
on detached service be not drawn from the num-
Der OF men authorized for the navy, but be inde-
pendent OF that force. Boys should be enlisted
from "a to 16 years Of age, not from Is to 1S as
now. An outfit OF clothing should be furnished
gratuitousy for men and boys enlisting for three
or more years.
The report of the bureau OF steam engineering
is mainly technical in character and very ex
haustive. 1t gives detailed account OF work
and experiments done and made.
The report Of the bureau Of navigation says
that the nautical instruments and navigation
supplies for ships Of war, owing to limited ap-
propriations. could not be materially increased.
The examination of reported dangers tn.the At
lantic and Pacific oceans is seriously recon-
mended. 1t gives an account of the surveys
made. Rear Admiral Rodgers, superintendent
OF naval observatory, strongly recommends the
removal OF that institution to better site. The
present grounds are malariOuS, and the river
fogs obscure the vision. He says that a new
site can be selected much cheaper now than
after the Improvements of the river front con-
templated are made. A detailed account Is
given of Obsery attons made and instruments
used.
The bureau of yards and docks has only been
able to make temporary repairs on buildings,
&C, under its supervision. The work in the
pairs and improvements Of officers quarters,
works hops, wharves, &C. A special appropria-
tion Is suggested for the purchase Of a lot near
the western Dounday da Of the yard the purchase
tions. Especial attention is called to the i'm
portance OF improving the Eastern branch of
the Potomac aa Each year adds to the labor
moderate draught to and from the yard here. 1t
Is uggeSted that piles be placed above Union
town bridge TO defect and narrow the current
so that the increased velocity will deepen and
keep an open channel to the Potomac proper.
To purchase square No. 5S3 $l2,604.70 Is eSti-
mated for.
MRS. sPEAGUE SuED.-George Linck, who was
the tutor of Mrs. Kate SpragueS children at the
time OF the outbreak OF the recent troubles at
Canonchet, has sued Mrs. Sprague in the marine
court in this city for $780, being the amount OF
his salary for three months, with disbursements
for travelling and other expenses. Linck says
in his complaint that he was engaged on the
10th OF June, 1879, to give instruction in Ger
men, French and English to Willie sprague for
three months from July l, 1879, and that the
price agreed upon was $50 a month, with board
and travelling expenses: that on the 1st of July,
in the Westminster Hotel in this city, Mrs.
Sprague 1ntruSted Willie to his care, and he ac-
companfed the boy to Canonchet and entered
upon his duties, and was ready to fulfil his part
OF the contract, and that from August IS to
october ! he was lp this city. under expense,
while waiting for the defendant to allow him
dhe plaintifD to fulfil the contract. In the an
sWer to the complaint it is averred that at the
times specified Mrs. Sprague was the Wife of
William Sprague, and that the agreement with
Linck was made in her capacity as married
woman, and for and on behalf of her husband;
that the plaintiff knew that she was q married
city. and she asks, therefore. that the complaint
be dismissed. ID. Mclean Shaw is attorney for
the plaintiff, and l.. Fl. Arnold, jr., for the de-
feDdant. The suit is to be called before Judge
Sinnott, in marine court, chambers, this morn
1ng.-[N.Y. sun, 25th.
PRINCE GoRTsCHAKoFF's retirement has been
prematurely announced almost as often as his
death: but even when it has taken place he will
none the less be the moving spirit OF Russias
policy while his life and mental powers con-
tinue The recall OF Count Schouvalof from
London has, of course, pointed him out as the
Princes probable successor, but although thirty
years younger, he is no match for his
great master. The Counts gifts are those OF a
sharp detective; the Princes are those OF a far
seeing statesman. Born on the 10th of july
1898, Goitschakoff has figured in every political
movement from the congress of Vienna, in 1915,
to the treaty of Berlin. in 1873 In 1855 he
saved Russia from the heaviest blow of the war
Crimean war, and In 1870 he restored what that
had taken from her. Such man Is not to be
replaced; and although he may retreat he can
not retire.-[N Y. Times.
eE-At Edinburg. Indiana, on Monday, two
butchers, named Henderson and Dunn quar-
feled, and Henderson stabbed Dunn in the neck
seveltng the jugular vein and causing almost
instant death. The murderer escaped.
Mrs. Sarah Ann Scott wife of Bishop Scott,of
the nj. r. Church, died near Odessa, Del, yes
terday, in the 74th year OF age.
eS- John Merritt, who shot and killed E. NJ
Hicks, at Weldon, n. c., on Saturday, has been
sent on for trial In March. Hon. Matt. Ran
som and VIM. II. Day viii defend him.
eY The democrats of Newton, Massachusetts,
have nominated for mayor r. NJ. Pulsfer, of
the Boston Herald. Mr.. Pulsifer will probaly
receive the republican nomination On Friday.
eg-The Boston citizens convention nomi-
NA<,I D,I-. R~..s