Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-11-29
The United States NAVY.


annual reports Of the bureau officers of the
Navy department..
The report Of Chief Easily, of the bureau OF
construction and repair. shows a balance on
hand July 1st, 1850, OF S26 l65 81 for timber and
OF S104, ,52S.71 for sunarie3. There are now In
commission 29 steamers. sailing Ships mon
itofs and torpedo boats-total, 43. In ordinary,
reeeivin ng ships, store ships on the stocks re
pairing, at the naval academy, public marine
SO vessels, making, with those In commission. a
total OF 139. The necessity for the increase OF
the number OF efficient vessels for the navy is
apparent. The finishing of the five monitors
and two cruising ships now commenced. the
repairs OF the Dictator and the building of two
armOred ships of a displacement OF $500 tons
each. and of three unarmored gun-boats. having
each a displacement OF 700 tons, is recon-
mended. These vessels would cost 81 100000.
Commodore Law, Chief OF the bureau of
Yards and docks, among his estimates for the
Washington yard s12. .6a4.7O for the purchase of
square s53, and 800, 900 for dredging channel.
Money has been appropriated Tor the Inn
nothing has been done towards maintaining
the channel OF the Eastern branch, and govern.
ment vessels find great difficulty In obtaining
lDgress ana egresS from the navy yard. 1t is a
matter or serious consequence that something
should be promptly done towards the improve.
ment OF this channel The amount appro.
pIlated foI repairs and preservation TOR several
years past have been entirely ina1equite to
keep up the large number OF buildings, docks.
&C.
Commodore Whiting, chief Of the bureau OF
navigation, says that all vessels OF the navy at
given moment three times each day take
meteorological observations. These observa-
tons form an important contribution to science.
The efforts OF the bureau have been particularly
directed TO the examination OF doubtful dangers
ln the highways OF commerce Commodore
Whiting comlnends the recommendation OF the
Chief signal officer looking to the introduction
of an international code Of ground signals 10
lndlcate the course steered In time OF thick and
Ioggy weather.
The report of Rear Admiral Rodgers, suparln-
tendent OF the Naval Observatory, gives de.
tailed account OF observations taken and ether
work done. A special appropriation In order
that the publications of the observatory may be
gotten out promptly is recommended.
Commodore Jeffers, chief OF the bureau of
ordnance, says OUR first and most pressing
want is guns OF the latest and most approved
system. There Is net single ship aiioat armed
with :he latest type OF effective ordnance. We
nave lost little or nothing by delays. He Is
satisfied that such guns as the navy requires
and demands cannot be made here. steel is the
proper material for our ornaments The only
1oIeign guns that have proved satisfactory are
those OF Rupp. 1t Is recommended that at least
four machine guns be supplied to the smaller
vessels, and six to the larger.
The report or Paymaster General Gutter
chief or the bureau of provisions and clothing
consists OF tabulated statements OF the pur.
chases, &c, OF his bureau, and the estimates for
Chief OF the Bureau Of Steam Engineering
SnOck feneWS his recommendation that the
double.turreted monitors be- completed and the
necessary machinery be put in them. Il will
require from eighteen months to two years to
build and erect On board these vessels complete
and ready for steaming the motive power OF
called for In case OF emergency to put on board
two turrefS now On hand and 10 supply the ar
nature. It Is recommended that an appropria-
tion of S., ,165,0G0 be made for the cOmpletton
those
tors Puritan, Amphitrite, Terror and Monad-
neck. The work OF the experimental board at
the New York navy yard Is Of value and Inter-
est. The number of yacancies-63- in the grade
OF assistant engineers Is still large. but the
graduates from the Naval Academy viii
Ia be the arcsS1 near future 6DJ it Is expeeed
up to the standard required by law. The cadet
engineers On board ships are capable, 1ntslli-
gent and zee'ous. The two cadet engineers
Richard Gatcu 79 and +. T. Bowles, uii1er H.
struction at the Rlyal Naval college, at Green
wich, England. have borne out the exceptional
ability displayed while at the Naval Academy.
Annapolis. The recommendation OF last year
that pensions be granted disabled mechanics IS
renewed.
Commodore Earl English chief OF the pureau
OF equipment and recruiting. reports that dur
wholly or partially equipped al the sew
eral navy yards. The mill at the WASH
ington navy yard has rolled during the
est tislaction. II turns out the nnest quail
ties Of rolled iron. The demand FOR this iron is
so great that 1t exceeds the capacity for pro-
duction. The mill has rolled plate iron OF
various th!cknesses which, submitted to search
ing tests in comparison With other highly
approved plate iron for boilers show it to be
or the finest quality-hner than than pur-
chased. The Washington shop is at work In
turning out all kinds OF metal work required
for ships. Numerous experiments have been
made which show that iron must give way to
metal known as Homogeneous metal" or
low grade steel, metal for chain cables being
about the only exception. In view of this fact,
the production OF ''low steer becomes import
ant to the Washington shop. and as there Is oa
hand large quantities OF excellent scrap, the
production OF it Is simple anu economical
Ihefe were 1922 men and boys In the service
June 3oth, 1850. The enliStmentS during the
year to replace men discharged from service at
causes. were 5,2I2. There continues to be
marked improvement in the morale and
personnel OF the navy. Ten medals to
the department and during the year. at the
close or the year there were in the service l,l68
boys. The Minnesota is too large for training
ship. She should be used-permanently located
at some point-to receive and prepare boys for
the cruising training ships. The pay of boys is
very small. He recommends that Congress
authorize modification OF the navy ration as
applied TO boys serving on training ships, and
to grant them their outfit OF clothing upon en-
listment. The training system has met the
most Sanguine expectations. With proper
and 1udlciOuS management In a few years the
service can boast OF having quota Of Ameri-
can seamen that for Intelligence and Skill can
compare ravorably with any navy In the world
PERsONAL.-Senators Anthony ana Burnside
will not leave Rhode Island for Washington
until next Friday.-Prof. Bell of this city, the
inventor Of the telephone, is receiving much
attention I'm London. He ia to be entertained