The Monitor. [volume] (Woodstown, N.J.) 1884-1892, 1884-04-25

MIA, New Jersey, Delaware, and the eastern
parts of Maryland will be held in Philadelphia
next week. The meeting is a temperance So
cety within itself, the fourth query of its disci-
pline reading: Are Friends careful to discourage
the unnecessary distillation and use of spiritu-
Gus liquors. and the frequenting of taverns to
avoid places of diversion, and to keep to true
moderation and temperance on the account of
marriages, burials and all other occasions?
The first of the additions to our naval
force, authorized by Congress last spring, has
just been launched from the shipyard of John
Roach at Chester Amid the blowing of
whistles, and the hurrahs of multitude of
people assembled to witness the sight, the
pretty little despatch boat Dolphin, slipped
from the ways and sought her native element.
There were many distinguished visitors pres
ent, among whom were Secretary of the Navy
W. E. Chandler, and members of the Advi-
sorry Board, Rear Admiral Edward Simpson,
Commander Howell Chief Engineer Hender-
son, Lieutenant Commander Barber, Naval
Constructor Fernald, and Assistant Naval Con-
struetor F. d. Bowles Commander Shock,
Lieutenant jacques, of Washington Com
mander Hitchborn, of the League Island Navy
Yard, and many prominent men of Philadel-
phia.
The Dolphin is strong well-built vessel,
calculated to make fast speed, and thus we'll
fitted for blockade running Or preying upon an
enemy's commerce. Her appointments are
good below deck with ample space and ac-
commodations for officers and seamen The
engines, which will be capable of exerting
2300 indicated horse power, are of the two
cylinder compound vertical type, almost uni
versally employed in the merchant service,
and are now being constructed in the machine
shop. Forward of the engine will be situated
two large double-ended boilers and two sim
gle-ended ones. These will have two athwart-
ship fire rooms, and will be surrounded by
coal bunkers ON all sides. The space above
the boilers and below the spar deck is also
set apart for coal. The bunkers will contain
about three hundred tons of coal, or sufficient
to carry the ship about one thousand six hum
dred miles at full speed.
The cost of the Dolphin, exclusive of masts,
spars, rigging, etc., will be 1916, 600
Lastspring Congress also authorized the con-
struction of three steel cruisers and the compile
ton Of the four double turretted ironclads; and
and during the present session the Senate has
passed the Naval Appropriation bill, with an
amendment providing for the construction of
seven additional steel cruisers. These are steps
in the right direction. The United States has
been without navy long enough. Our long
seaboard on the Atlantic and Pacific, with the
numerous important cities and towns along
their whole extent, render us particularly vul-
nerable from attacks by sea. 1t will not do
to trust altogether to torpedo warfare as
means of harbor defence. Our harbor de-
fences themselves are in no fit condition to re-
pei any foe armed with modern ordnance.
Should the United States unfortunately be-
come involved in war with European coun-
try, there is nothing at the present time to
prevent their heavy ironclads coming over
and laying New York and Philadelphia in
ruins, thus inficting damage from which the
country would suffer irreparably. 1t is good
adage, I'm the time of peace, prepare for
wal" and we are glad to see that Congress is
at last waking to sense of its duty in the
matter. The present line of policy intelli-
gently and persistently pursued, will in a few
years give us navy which will be an efficient
protection, and give the country that prestige
abroad which is its DUE Coast Pilot.
THE PREVALENCE of carelessness in the
despatch of business, cannot be better exem
plifed than by computation of the enormous
amount of msdirected mail matter which
passes through the mails annually In the
Boston office last year there were 40, 900 let
tiers wrongly addressed and in all these cases
the proper addresses were ascertained and the
letters forwarded to their destination. And
yet people wonder why their letters are de-
layed, although it is owing to their own care