Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1885-11-18


Commodore J. G. Walker, chief of the bureau
of navigation, in his annual report to the Secre.
tary of the Navy, states that a compass station
for the more accurate determination of the de-
Walton of the compass has been established in
Naragansett bay, in the vicinity OF the meas
ured mile.
He quotes at length from letter prepared by
the bureau for the information of the Secretary
of the Navy in regard 10 resolutions of the New
York chamber of commerce, pointing out the
desirability of establishing compass station
near that city. The letter says that compass
stations should be established in the vicinity OF
| our large seaport towns The bureau has not
sufficient money to carry out plan of this
kind, but the sum OF $4,000 would be suffi-
cient for the purpose, and Commodore Walker
thinks that no expenditure OF money could
this kind, which would save money and lives.
TREASURY VERSUS NAVY DEPARTMENT.
The suggestion made by the New York cham
Der of commerce that the localities for the sta
tions should be established and the buoys and
beacons planted by the Treasury department is
opposed by Commodore Walker, who says that
the Navy department should be charged with
the entire subject, Tor reasons which he gives at
length. He suggests that the New York cham
Der OF commerce be informed that the Navy de-
partment is prepared to make the necessary
magnetic examinations of iron and steel ships,
10 adjust their compasses, ana VIII DC giaa 70
provided money can be obtained from Congress
for that purpose.
MAGNETISM OF STEEL SHIPS.
AS the magnetism of steel ships is subject to
great changes during construction, observations
have been taken from time to time to deter
mine the magnetic character of the steel
cruisers now building. For these ships four
compromising binnacles have been made in the
Washington navy yard.
The work OF erecting the compass-testing
house. for which there is an appropriation of
$1,000, has begun. That the building may be
completed and equipped, an estimate OF $4,000
Ii is proposed to purchase annually from
United states chrOnOmeter makers, after a
competitive trial Of six months, sufficient
number of chronOmeters to replace those con-
dcmned from time to time. 1t is again recon-
! essential to naval officers and of value to the
merchant marine and to the ship-building in
terests be published.
SoCNDINGS AND SURVEYS.
1t is proposed that the Ranger shall be em-
ployed in sounding the Pacific ocean, off the
coast of Lower California and Mexico. and in
examining the north Pacific ocean for rocks
and shoals reported from time to time to exist
in the track of vessels bound TO and from san
Francisco. 1t is proposed that the Thets shall
make surveys to correct the old surveys of the
coast of the Spanish main which contain many
errors. Upon the completion OF this duty the
Thetis should be sent to the south Pacific ocean
to examine the many dangers to navigation
there which are not in the chart.
NAVAL RECORDS OF THE WAR.
1t is important that provision should be made
at once for an adequate clerical force to carry
on the work of classifying and copying the
naval records of the for publication.
Every years delay in procuring and copying
papers now in private hands adds to the proba-
bility OF their loss or destruction.
The reduction of the appropriation of the de.
| serious obstacle to the improvement and
growth of the library, which has been steadily
in progress since 1882. The report recon-.
mends that the appropriation of 81, 500 be re-
newed.
THE NAVAL WAR COLLEGE,
The first session of the naval war college
opened September Sd with a class OF naval Off
GERS, and successful beginning has been made
been done to assure the final success of the in.
| stitution. 1t is recommended that building
especially avapted Tor engraving and printing
| the charts OF the photographic office be con-
structed as soon as possible.
STANDARD TIME
The superintendent OF the naval observatory
| reports that the general adoption Of the system
ofstandard time has created q demand for more
accurate time. To answer1t and to render service
tine soson S Sas
navy yard, Philadelphia, Hampton Roads, sa-
| vannai, New Orleans and San Francisco.
Through the courtesy OF the Western Union
and Baltimore and Ohio telegraph companies
these time balls are connected with and dropped
from the naval observatory daily at noon. Re-
quests have been received from the maritime
bodies OF other cities for the time service, but
it has not been possible to comply with the re-
quests for want Of an appropriation. An esti-
mate is submitted for the purpose.
THE PROPOSED NEW OBSERVATORY BUILDING.
Commodore Walker again urges the import
ance of an appropriation for beginning the
buildings for the new naval observatory upon
the site selected. The necessity is more apparent
than ever in consequence Of the dilapfdated
condition Of the buildings and their unhealthy
location.
Commodore Walker approves the recon-
mendation of the superintendent of the OBJ
servatory relative to permanently fixing the
status of the assistant astronomers, and for the
recognition of the services of the instrument
maker, w. F. Gardner, in perfecting the clock
system for transmitting time from the observa-
tory to the various departments.
The recommendations of the superintendent
of the naval observatory to send a party to the
west coast Of Africa in government vessel to
observe the solar eclipse of 1886 is approved;
also the recommendation that the assistant as
, tronomers may be recognized by statute as
permanent attaches of the naval observatory
| with timely provision tor longevity pay.
The American Nautical Almanac for 1888
and the Ephemeris for the same year were
| issued in the early part of 1885. and the type
| work of the volume for 1889 is nearly COM
| are in course of execution. The Atlantic Coast
| ers' Nautical Almanac for 1886 is now in press
and that for the Pacific coast was issued in Sep
| tember.
In concluding his report Commodore Walker
states that the supply OF articles Of naviga-
ton outfit has still further decreased since his
last report, while the appropriation for the ifs
reduction OF ST., 800 on the amount for the
| previous year. The appropriation for the pres
ent year Is $S7 500, S42 500 less than the esti-
mate. He submits estimates for $3.50, 900, an
amount necessary for the efficient administra-
| ton Of the bureau, and without which it will
not be practicable TO supply our cruising YES
| safe navigation of modern ships OF war.
Work Of the Treasury Detectives.
REPORT OF CHIEF BROOKS OF THE SECRET SER
Observation-Disclosures AND THEIR WORK.
The annual report Of Chief Brooks, of the