Indian chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1882-1902, 1886-12-09
THE AMERICAN NAVY.


HNNNENMNN
Navy Department..
WASHINGTON, Dec. A-rhe report Of
Secretary OF the Navy Whitney, given out
last night opens with renewal Of his
former recommendation for the consollda
tlon OF bureaus so as to insure responsibility
In purchase aud care Of supplies, and states
that so far as his power extended he had
consolidated In one bureau the general pur
chases OF department ar | the care and Gus.
tody Of stores, creating I system of book
keeping by which the responsibility for
care aud disposition cou,d be had. The re-
port says; "rhere Is az present no real re
spouslbllity for the caro- aud disposition Of
property. IN one bureau property ac
count Is kept and In others none. Property
lost, missed or stolen can not be traced OF
accounted for and no person can be held ro
spnnsiblc. The Fourth Auditor In his ra.
purt just issued calls attention 10 this re.
narkabo circumstance which was also re.
fefred TO In my last annual report The In.
ventOry shows very large and unnecessary
accumulation OF stores aud supplies by the
different bureaus, aggregating over twenty
millions Of dollars In appraised value. The
board reports between three aud four mil
lions In value 10 be obsolete and useless at
the present time, only entalllng expense fOr
keepers aud constant care to preserve them
In condition"
Regarding the new cruisers the report
says: "Ihe experience Of the department
In its first attempt at the creation of
modern vessels OF war has been such rs 10
excite the greatest concern aud dlsappont-
ment When the Dolphin, Boston, Atlanta
aud Chicago were projected and contracts
for their construction entered into II was
well known what speed ought 10 be at
talnud and what weight and character Of
machinery per ton OF displacement was
necessary to obtain IT. Commercial vessels
had at that time attained speeds ranging
between sixteen and nineteen knots and
cruisers were being built In other countries,
or had already bcen built, attaining the
same speed"
The Secretary compares trial trips OF the
DOiUhin and Atlanta with English aud
French boats only recently completed to the
disadvantage Of the former. The Dolphin
was designed for $500 indicated horse
power and developed less than 2.20O, while
the Alacrity and Surprise, English boats OF
5000, developed BIB and 3079 respect
lively. The Atlanta was designed 10 attain
8 500 horse power, but her engines deycl-
Oped less than that. The report siys:
These facts are stated without any inten-
tim Of locating the responsibility or blame
upOn auy person. Il is impossible to ascer.
tain where II should be placed.
In considering the matter of constructing
the additional vessels authorized hy Con.
gress IN March, 1855, II was decided by the
department 10 exhaust every effort 10 avail
Itself OF the most advanced thought and
knowledge attained 10y our own and other
countries upon the subject The report
siys the department has accumulated u
large amount Ot Informal ON which will be
utilized In the instruction Of vessels In the
future. The report then gives resume OF
the bids aud awards for the now cruisers.
IL also treats OF armor and guns for moni.
tors and irOnclads at great length aud dep
recaies that this country should be content
Ia be dependent upon manufacturers OF
any other nation for the fabrication OF at
NOR aud hlgh-powered guns
The report says: 1t would DO a great
benefit at the present time N the appoint
mcnt Of a commission should be authorized
TO Jay before tile next Congress a compre.
hcnslye scheme Of construction, such com.
mission 10 BE- composed OF both civilian aud
naval experts 1T TO deal with the subject.
IL Congress should at It's next session
make provision for the manufacture in this
country OF armor aud OF high. powered guns
aud should take steps for securing broader
and more intelligent consideration proper
To be undertaken, no time would in thu
end be lost aud mistakes would lie avoided.
Meanwhile II is my duty 10 call attention
10 the urgent necessity for Immediate
uctlun."
Concerning the expenditures the report
says: "ln the adjustment OF the accounts
for the fiscal year ended June 80 1850, and
after paying all II bililies for the year,
It Is believed that there will be an unex.
pended balance OF from SGOO, 900 TO $3.50, 600,
almost uue-haf Of which ia pay OF the navy
and pay OF the marine corps, showing an
expenditure of Sl3 500, 900 or upwards ui
100000 less than the appropriations.
These amounts do not include the rxpendi.
lures for steel cruisers and completion OF
the double turretrd monitors" II is cited
that this Is thu first time IN many years
that tie expenditures have been kept with
In the appropriations.
The Secretary recommends that the Nayal
Academy course be shortened to four years,
a, recommended toy the commander OF the
academy lie also urges that apprentices
be- admitted to the academy, and says: ut
IS the desire Of the department that the
naval service should not DO open to any
charge OF eXclusiycness-ihe sole exception
TO this sound and wholesome principle OF
Our national policy. To this end It would
ncOnmend that measures bo taken by
wh cl, under proper safeguards, admission
10 The Naval Academy might be given to a
limited number OF apprentices, VIM should
lhen be subjected TO the same course OF
training and examination as the other
cadets, and who, under the application OF
uniform test, should stand or fall solely ac.
c0rting TO the strength or weakness Of their