The Portland daily press., 1880-11-30
THE NAVY.
More Money. Ships and Ordnance
Needed.
THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE
CHIEFS OF BUREAUS.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 29.-The reports of
bureau officers of the Navy Department we're
given to the press this morning. The follow
ing are the important points: Capt. Earl Eng
and recruiting, says: During the past fiscal
year rs vessels have been wholly or partly
equipped at he several navy yards, at an ex-
pendilure for labor of S6,687 PIT, and for
material of 1924, 380.43. The increased esti-
mate under the appropriation for equipment
Of vessels tor the ensuing fiscal year is render
ed necessary by the depletion of the stock on
hand at the several nav yards, the repairs
necessary to be made, and new machinery to
be supplied, the advanced price OF coal and
the necessity of filling up our coal depots at
home aud abroad, supply being nearly ex-
hausted. There were 1922 men and boys in
the service ON June 30th last. The enlistmenis
during the year to place the men discharged
from service at the expiration OF their terms
and from other causes were 5272. Capt. Eng
lish recommends that the force in the navy be
increased to meet the requirements OF the
Coast survey. He gives detailed statement
of the workings of the training-school ship
system, and recommends that the Minnesota
be used as a receiving-ship for boys He also
recommends that Congress authorize moditi-
cation of navy rations as applied 10 boys SER
wing on training ships, and to grant them their
outfit of clothing on enlistment. In con-
clusion he says: II have to state that, so far,
the training system has met the most sanguine
expectation of the bureau as we'll as of the
officers of the navy, and feel justified in say
ing that witt proper care and judciOus man
agement it will accomplish much good."
Chief Easily of the Bureau of Construction
and Repairs shows balance on hand, July l,
last, of $685. 1854 for timber; of $104,52S.7
for sundries.
There are now in commission 20 steamers.
sailing ships and monitors and two torpedo
boats (total, 49, besides receiving, store ships,
those on stocks and at the Naval Academy,
with public marine school ships and tugs of all
kinds at the yards, making, with those in COM
mission, a total of 1879. The necessity for the
increase of the number of efficient vessels for
the navy is apparent and the finishing of the
five monitors and the two cruising ships has
now commenced. The repairing of the Dicta-
tor and the building of armored ships of a dis
placement of $3.50 tons each, and of three UNI
armored gunboats having each displacement
of 700 tons, is recommended These vessels
would cost 2,9O0,OO0.
Commodore Jeffries, Chief of the Bureau OF
Ordinance, says one of the first aud most pres
sing wants is guns of the latest and most ap.
proved system. There is not a single ship
afloat armed with the latest type of effective
ordnance He is satisfied that such guns as
the navy requires and demands cannot be
made here. Steel il the proper material for
our ornaments, and the only foreign guns
that have proved satisfactory are those of
Krupp 1t is recommended that at least four
machine guns be supplied to the smaller YES
sells and six to be larger.
The Chief of the Bureau OF Steam Engineer.
ing. Shock, renews his recommends ion that
the double-turreted monitors be completed and
necessary machinery put in them