The Northern Pacific farmer. [volume] (Wadena, Minn.) 1878-1885, 1879-12-04
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Annual Report of Secretary Thompson.

N "A L DE1AhlMENl.
Annual Report Of Secretary Thompson.
Theannnal report of the secretary of the navy
is very brief. He reports to congress there are
now eighty vessels Of the navy in good condition
for action in case of need. and that there also
equal to some Of the vessels included i in The the
eighty for the purpose OF war. He estimates the
navy practically to consist Of ninety-two vessels.
not at present in good condition, and says it is in
possession Of ample material for all our require
ments The natural wear and tear of material,
however, makes him anxious to make small ad.
diton to the navy, and for that reason he will ASH
congress to give
THREE MILLIONS OF DOLLARS
for the construction Of new vessels. He esti-
that this sum- II giyen him. VII build
He has built no new vessels since his time as Sec
Ietary IN the proper sense of the word, for he held
construction Of new vessels Two vessels, how
ever, have been rebuilt upon old stocks. under
The Hartford has just returned from three
years cruise in the southern seas, and will be
VIII L. Saa sat the
good deal from the southern climate, where YES
sells do not keep as we'll as they do in the north,
tired list Il is to meet the possibility Of several
Old vessels going out that Mr.. Thompson asks
for the 81, Coo 600 from congress. He ha been ex
! permenting with =
| PROCESS OF PRESERVING WOOD
used in the construction of vessels. He began
sltlon Of secretary. but has had no opportunity
of testing practically the results Of any of his
perments. The only place where he could prop
| erly use wood SO treated would be in the con-
| struction of an entirely new ship. In one of his
experiments with his process he treated portion
of bit Of wood and then submurged it in water
n mi fha
submurged bit was taken out, and it was found
the other part was thoroughly hOneycOmbed.
Mr.. Thompson thinks that it
HAS BEEN WISE POLICY
on the part of the country to let the question OF
building ships of war lie in statu quo for time.
! England has been making, during the past few
the best class of vessels to be built, and this
country can now reapthe results of them without
| any experiments. 1t would be possible to have
the American government, at comparatively little
| expense, build up very powerful navy The
secretary believes that the day Of iron vessels
doomed There is no iron plate that can be man
| ufactured for which a ball cannot be found to
pierce it. and an iron vessel once p1erced will go
| down with almost no warning. An aperture cut
the case Of WOO Wooden Vessels. IL BELIEVES a. that
| the navies of the earth will have to
RETURN TO WOODEN VESSELS,
and rely on speed, superior armament. and skill
| full eeamanshlp for success. Of course he refers
with pride to the fact that at the end of the fiscal
! year he will have 81, 800 900 to cover into the
his depsrtment. Re will ask for the Department
proper 100000 more than was given him by the
last congress, and from the secretary's statement
| it appears that never was more reasonable re-
quest made by cabinet officer. He says that
under the law naval officers OF course allowed
so much pay, and all that person would need
| to find out exactly how much money is required.
| He figured that out for the last congress. but
they cut it down 100000. He asks &1000 900 of
| congress to make up the deficiency Of last year,
100000 for this year. and the third $lOOOCO ls for
| the increase in pay that has come from natural
causes He asks conersss to give 80 GOO for the
| ject the secretary is enthusiastic he says he
| never means to pause until he has the entire
! American navy
MANNED BY AMERICAN SAILORS.
When he began his system Of training ships he
eaid there was hardly sailor in the navy that
| was native born they all represented the scum
Of foreign ports aid it was rare that any of these
sailor: who were enlisted ever became natural
| lied citizens. The results that have thus far
been obtained by his school are most fattering.
He graduates each year seven hundred d fifty boys
school education, and are thorough seamen as far
| as training goes. He says every commander OF
ship in the navy is very anxious to get them, and
owners Of merchant vessels are very anxiou.
| to get hold of these boys. Graduates of his
| schools have no trouble in obtaining positions
/
| as general thing, officers Of merchants vessels
| in this country are uneducated. irresponsible
men. The class of men these schools educate
are all of very high character because, IN the first
place, he takes great pains in selecting those to
| be apprenticed, and the training of the schools
| bring out their best elements. He says it also
| affords great advantage to
| THE SONS OF FARMERs,
| and people Twin. in the interior to acquire
| good education and, at the same time. knowl-
| edge of the world, even If they should not care
to follow the sea for living. He says that boy
who has been through the training ship course.
has Travelled around the world two OF three timer,
and returns home to go into business, makes .
better citizen, through his superior education and
views br0adened by travel. Mr.. Thompson does
| lot think the time has yet come for free ships.
| He thinks that the present laws should remain,
| for in them no thinks shipbuilding can only be
maintained IN this country. He wants this coun-
Try to do like Engfand-buld all vessels required
| by it's own navy. He makes some recommends
tons in relation to the navy; asks for the means
| to keep in good condition all navy-yards; and
suggests that certain money be allowed for the
repair and reconsructton Of the yard at Pensaco-
! IL, which was destroyed during the war. He has
which Is one OF the most valuable in possession
| OF the government, for the reason that workmen
| there can be employed the year round, and that,
vessels coming home from the Caribbean sea and
| the West Indies find this Yard the most accessi
| bic one for repairs.
A World OF Good.