Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1880-12-17
DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY.

O1k AA = AA&ksA - - -
Duties'of the Secretary and His Chiefs
Thompson's Palace-Where the Able
Secretary ofths Navy Studies seafarins
Ways.
Correspondence OF the Register.
WAsHINGToN, December H.
The Secretary of the Navy performs
such duties as the President OF the
United States, who is commander,in-
chief, may assign him, and has the gen.
eral superintendent OF construction,
manning, armament, equipment, and
employment OF vessels Of war. The echief
clerk has general charge Of the. records
and correspondence Of the Secretarys
office.
The chiefs OF the
Naval Bureaus
OF the Navy Department are officers OF
the United States Navy, and part OF
the naval establishment, viz: The Chief
OF the Bureau of Yards and Docks, Chief
of the Bureau OF Navigation, Chief ofthe
Bureau of Ordnance, Chief Of the
Bureau OF Provisions and Clothing. Chief
OF the Bureau OF Medicine and Surgery,
Chief of the Bureau OF Construction and
Repairs, Chief OF the Bureau OF Equip.
ment and Recruiting, and the Engineer
in Chief. The duties OF these chiefs are
indicated by the names Of the different
bureaus they have under their super
vision.
Description Of the seoretary's Room.
On the second fl ,or OF the new State,
War and Navy building IS the office OF
Hon. Richard w. Thompson, late Secre-
tary OF the Navy.
At the left OF the long corridor, with
It's marble-covered floor and high CELL
ings, is an entrance, above wnica is a
golden eagle with wings spread over two
American flags crossed above a small
sign which bears the inscription "Secre-
,ary of the Navy Entering at the
door, the visitor finds himself in room
which is the finest OF any occupied by d
public officer in Washington. the
70 IN is about eighty feet in length and
twenty-five feet wide, and all the fur
nishings OF the room, from the desks
and mirrors to the waste baskets and
cuspadors, are on a scale of elegance
surprising anything yet seen in Gov
eminent office in Washington. The
large, well lighted room, with its beautl-
ful frescoed walls, glded mirrors, and
chandeliers, presents very pretty sight
In the centre of the room stands the
desk of the Secretary. II is a large, low
desk, OF mahogony, finely inlaid an
veneered, and covered with a green
baixe cloth. At either end OF the room
is placed desk for the use OF MIR.
Thompson's private secretary and steno
grapher. The floor, which is polished
match boards, il covered with large
Turkish rugs, and sofas and chairs or pol
ished black walnut and brown leather
are placed at different points about the
office. Three richly ornamented chan
deliers are SUSPENDED from the ceiling
IN. glob.s of which are of hne cut glass,
and wrought into NAUTICAL designs. The
windows look out upon the White
House grounds, and afford very pret
" view.
At Zach end OF the room there is
broad coal CRATE, over which are BLACK
marble mantle pieces, an tall mirrors
which .se to the ceiling, and the frames
OF which are heavily gilded AMI sur
rounded with designs oil diff
ferent implements and in
sruments used sin naval service,
among which are miniature telescopes,
hays, compasses, etc. The silver Ice
pitcher, which seems TO be necessary
adjunct OF all public offices, stands IN
the corner on a small and highly polish
ed stand of Japanese workmanship.
The cuspadors, which are scattered pro-
miscuously about the Hoor are OF Dres..
dren china, covered with paintings OF
birds, flowers, etc
A telephone near the door affords
means for the rapid transmission oil the
many important dispatches which daily
leave this Office, and a tall clock placed
against the wall opposite the Secretaryis
desk, tells them when il Is time to lay
aside work for the day. The handsome
features Of the room are the beautiful
frescoed ceilings and walls, the work be-
ing executed in the finest possible style
The ceilings are very high aud formed
Of q great number OF semi-circulsr
arches, and door at the left leads into
the room of the chief clerk, which is
also fitted up very srtistically. and Is al
almost as fine room a. the Secretarys,
although il is much smaller.
Mr.. Thompson, being an old sea
dog" and having performed years oil
service on the raging Wabash, naturally
takes to water; and his taste in this re.
spect is well looked after and gratified
by a beautiful bathroom placed in one
OF the ante-rooms, where he can have
the elements to his hearts content.
But our bold mariner from the Wa.
bash will no longer paddle in the waters
Of this bath tub. He viii 20 to Panama
and do his ssimming in the inter
oceanic canal. which 30 has just taken
under his wing. J.F b.