The Sunday herald., 1886-12-12
THE ARMY AND NAVY.

From Fort Sidney, Neb, recent letter disc!oses
rather peculiar state of affairs for military post
as existing orders were received In common with
all other military posts throughout the United States,
TO fire minute guns during the day OF eX-Presdent
Arthur's funeral. but as the magazine was empty OF
powder the order could not be complied with.
An addition to Washington military society has
recently been made by the arrival OF Col Theodore
Yates, of the army, retired, and family. They are
pleasantly located at 5lg sixth street northwest.
The Colonel and his family are last from Exeter,
N. II.
Lieut.. David L. Brainard. of "Farthest North"
celebrity, Will not join his troop In the Second
Cavalry until early in the New Year. In the mean
time he and his old commander are once more as
socated, both Brainard and Greey being now on
duty at signal Headquarters, on & street.
The orders of Pay Inspector Billings, OF the Navy,
TO special duty In Washington probably that the
Secretary may avail himself OF the well-known skill
and judgment Of this oflcer during the present exi-
gent state of affairs resulting from General order
No 1885, affecting the status Of the Pay Corps OF the
Navy. Paymaster Billings ID brother-ln-law OF
Commander q. Nj. Chester, now In command Oh the
Vandaa.
A wide circle OF friends and acquaintances read
with regret the assignment Of Passed Assistant
Paymaster g. A. Deerlng az the relief OF Paymaster
ii. q. Colby on the store-ship Monongahela, al
Coqumbo, Chill. Paymaster Deertng mas been
waiting orders for about year, most OF the time
residing In Washington, at 1910 Twenty-nrst street.
army Orders.-The orders OF Mai. B. +. Pope
Medical Examining Board Of New York, have been
revoked. Second Lieut.. J. +. Msxned, of the Signal
Corps, has been relieved from duty at washington,
and ordered 10 san Francisco 10 relieve Second
Lieut.. William A. Glassford, who has been ordered
10 inspect the stations on the Pacific slope second
Lieut.. Robert b. Watkins has been relieved from
duty at Barrett, Arizona, and ordered to Washing
ton.
AS promised In this column last week, the Dolphin,
after more than six months at the Norfolk Navy
Yard, has been ordered 10 join the North Atlantic
Squadron after a routine trial OF speed, and come
practice with her battery.
The Kearsage, recently put out OF commission at
Portsmouth Navy Yard, Is TO be surveyed by a
board consisting Of Capt Robert +. Bradford and
Naval Constructors Webb and Mintonye This
board will only report upon the condition OF the
hull, as 70 whether the necessary repairs can be
made at a cost within the limit Imposed by law.
II II u nna!ly determined 70 Dreak ths celeDiaea
pfoprety OF perpetuatlng the name al least IN me
next new snip Of appropriate displacement, Her
name emphasizes one OF the most glowing eplbOdeh
IN the history OF the American Navy. II ID possible
however, that her condition may Justify repairs,
II will be observed, by reference to the recommen
datlons Of Engineer-n-Chiei Lorlng, inat the para
graph In Our last weeks issue relative 10 the hap
and mlsnApE OF tue Atlanta was borne out In ever
particular by the oficlal reports from that vessel
The trivial nature OF the "breakdOwns," over which
The uninltated 20 into such Bpasms OF anlmadYer
sion, ID shown by the fact that al Mr. Lorlng lhhkl
with new waier-yalye and separator for IN.
steam space TINS last IL an arrangement by whlcI
the steam, as II passes from the boilers TO the en-
gines, Is ''separated" from any water which ma!
have 'prmedn or "foanedn over withit. In view o
the fact that the Atlanta bids fair 10 exceed I'M
speed which she was designed 10 make without de
yelOping tue horsepower estimated as necessary u
drive her at that speed, II is a pertinent inquir
whether It would not be more philosophical AM
scientific 10 eliminate one OF these quantities iron
future contracts. The modern and more senslbl
idea In many things IL to regard results rather ta
methods, so that II Is In manner rather "crowdln
the mourners' 10 insist upon indicated horse powe
and speed too lnasnuch as speed II the desdeI
atum, leave the contractor mat much ice way In pro
ducing II that he may develop the required resu
in tue best manner, according 10 his judgment ii
Will then enter the Held prepared 10 pit his Ideas
well as mechanical skil against those OF all others
Tue line Of business whose results tue onl
points within his cOguiliOn. We are told that ~
the multitude Of counselOTs there Is WISDOM" u
that n methods are left 10 the aggregate wisdom an
experience Of American enginebuilders IL isceridl
ihat results Will be satisfactorily forthcoming.