Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1883-12-08

OUR NAVY.
A..u.l Repor. of secretary Chandler.
WASHINGTON. Dec. Z.

! WASHINGTON. Dec. Z.
| The report Of the secretary of the navy be-
gins With statement of the progress IN
| building the new ships. The three steel
cruisers and the armed dispatch steamer.
named the Boston, Chicago, Atlanta and
Dolphin, will be completed, the cruisers
within eighteen and the dispatch boat within
twelve months from the last week in July,
1858. The Chicago viii have no superior IN
| the world in the combination of speed, err
durance and armament. In the Boston and
Atlanta speed and endurance have been given
full development. In the Dolphin an impor-
tant uxiliary in naval operations will be
obtained, and she is expected to furnish .
model from which may be expanded high
speed commerce-destroyer. The chips are
under construction in accordance with the
appropriation acts of Aug. 5, 1882, and Mar
8. 1883, BY Mr.. John Roach of New York
City, for 81. 440, 600.
The condition of our feet makes it neces-
sary that the reconstruction should be con
tinued as rapidly as a due regard for economy
| will admit. The advisory board submitted
its view Oct. 25th for the coming year. Il
| recommends seven additional unarmored
steel cruisers, three to be Of the types already
adopted, represented by the Boston, Chicago
ana DOipnlb t~o hed'hy almeu Su"oooss Va
500 tons displacement, and two gunb0ats OF
$50 tons and not more than nine feet drsught,
capable of going to sea and also OF navlgat-
ing in shallow waters
| The gradual reduction of the number of
officers provided for BY Congress should be
allow ed to continue. Its reversal might re-
suit in keeping in the service body of Off
GERS to large to be employed. Any depart
ure from the policy OF the act of Aug. 9th,
would be in the highest degree injurious
The numbers established form the closest ap-
Proclamation to the requirements OF the navy
when the fleet shall be brought up to It's 1ui'
strength, making reasonable allowance iot
residence on shore 1or omcers. Inc reunceu
numbers are sumcieht 10 proviue Al All t.n' .
the fuli compliment Vi tue sea Meet VI ="
ships prescribed by the nrst ADVISORY ooaro'
except IN the case OF engineer omcers' WHERE
the reouetioh hight oe iii'ii'eu " w.
congress shoulo oe eashesuy ,eques'eu no'
10 restore W 'ne nav! oe IN cH
dsmlsseo ior aeihquences VI .Hnu'es
ANIMATION. more oemoraiizaliou 70 tne ser
vice has resulted from scch restora'iohs 'han
from all othsr causes:
Ii Is fundamental principal Vi he rePuo-
| TIC 'ilat Tue Hii'"Iy 'houiu oe SUM- w
Tic ern p - ~ Por
coh'ioi 'nOu'u W :. ~ .I,:-t
"ient vi oui ilhi'Aiy ~"c n"'", es'aoii'n
menus, Inc secfetaries VI t"e oepar'uen''
should De strehgtheheo' TO, this purpose,
the secretary recommends Tic appointment
In the navy department OF an assistant sec
Rotary anu q so.'1noi' 1aneu uiieoy iio"i
civil iiIe' anu pau sul'aule salaries.
| Inc navy yaru Soncli Is leco",Menu
| that Tie Ne" !oiA NJ oiioiH c"u "i"'e Asi""u
yards be kept In use as WORKING YARDS, ana
| the Washington ydTu Dc Ietdlueu OHly iOI tut
manufacture OF STANDARD al.icles; tnaI tne
yarus at rensacoia anu NeW Aohuon NC
cioseu' anu .na' tne NA 'uil q. M
aaeiPnia De urans'elleu " .ne ia"s, sue
Inc uepar,u'en' nss aoceiuinsy oloseu '"s s.s
yaras' Inc niehoel' vi 'he coin'.,issio" uii-
ier Ss " tne Dos.o' yaiu wv l"inA 'n"'
shouiu DC useu as construe.iU" anu re-
DAFT yaru IL, time u Peaeo' ou' q" agree .',a'
the ropewalk ana saiimakers shop shouid oe
continued IN operation, anu tha' the yaru
snouid no, oe soiu' out KEEP ior use III time
Oh war. Inc coln'nisslon also oiner as 10 ,he
| ror'sihou." yaru one uieinoer oeiie'ne tnat
IL shouid De KEEP. open as sanitary station
ana Tor the repair Vi Woouen shIPs' ou' Al.
agreeing 'nat "o pefni"nen' Improvement
shouiu De iiaue.
Sales at puoiic auction OF cohdemhed stores
anu suppiies nave oeeh maue AT the navy
yards under tne provisions OF law amount
ing 10 Sloo'ooV' ne court OF inquiry con-
corning 'he ioss Vi 'ne 'eanhe''e mas con
ciuded us iaoors, ana mus .na' there Is DO
occasio" W iinPute Ce"sure u any nemoel
OF the eAPeuision Inc report Oh the chle1 OF
tue bureau vi equipment ana recruiting au-
vises an increase IN the numoer OF appren'
tices allowed oy law from 'oo TO iooo; wmch
Goheurreu H.
IL urges .hat congress shouia appropriate
tne sum necessary ior tne eiectioh VI new
observatory ooliding' LOT which a site mas
aireauy oeen purchaseu' anu also specinc
sum 1or printing the annual observations.
II recommends thst BOARD OF visitors to the
observatory shouid De appointed. In refef'
ence 10 the oureau OF provisions ana clothing
II Is iound that the law regulating the pur-
chase OF TOBACCO Is objectionable, and should
be repeated.
The condition OF the naval academy is sat
isiactory. FROM the naval cadets who COM
pieted thelr SIX years course In June, 1883,
there we're appointed three naval construct
OTIS, seven e"signs, three assistant engineers
anu ten secoho heutenants IN the marine
corps Inc 'e"ainihR %. oeing surplus
| graduates, received q certlncate OF gradua-