The Sunday herald., 1886-11-28
THE ARMY AND NAVY.

Paymaster L. N. whitehouse, in charge of the |
Bureau OF Provisions and Clothing, In his annual
report the Secretary Of the Navy, says that the
result OF strict economy in the purchase Of supplies
during the year demonstrates that there had existed
large field for the introduction OF more careful
business methods into the administration OF the
Bureau. In the necessary purchase OF supplies
during the year the Bureaus contracts exhibit grati
flying results in the general reduction of prices &C
companied in many instances with manifest i'm
provement of quality Of the stores obtained The
policy Of supplying our vessels abroad by periodical
shipments OF supplies has been found in It's opera
tios to be quite satisfactory Availing itself of the
low freight rates of certain seasons the Bureau has
been able to furnish our ships with home products
purchases can be made abroad. The report com.
men,s upon the economy In the present system OF
says that, since the establishment OF carefully
devised uniform regulations, IT s possible, for the
ofncers and crew of vessel in exact conformity
with regulations. II Is suggested that greater
al Savv Yards @ and Stations NAV be attained BY as
signing the duties Of receivers and assistant re-
cevers to junior disbursing officers. As this plan
would increase the number OF assistant paymasters
in the service, 1t is suggested that graduates OF
the Naval Academy, for whom vacancies cannot be
found in the other corps, should be appointed TO
these places 1t is believed that the adoption Of the
plan would be attended by very slight increase of
the expense. Attention is called to the inconve-
nence and embarrassment attending the securing
of private suriees, and 1t is recommended that the
law be SO modified as to permit the acceptance OF
corporate suretleS.
The new steel cruiser Atlanta returned Thursday
last from an extended but unsuccessful attempt TO
achieve collective indicated horsepower OF $500.
While the horse power developed fell considerably
short of the required total the speed attained was
somewhat of surprise. Although the official re-
port OF the trip has not yet been completed, it is
known about the Brooklyn Yard that the best speed
for Six consecutive hours was 1874 knots For one
hour the speed exceeded Is knots and during
spurt OF twenty-four miles the Atlanta made record
of 14.7 knots, and lis knots for forty miles. me
r,ra ahirfip pf1 mt mar
of tue Navy whenever the required maximum
horsepower shall be developed. is not probable
that another special trial Will be made without the
battery on board
Lieut.. Storey, OF the Navy, and his bride are
dom,cied at the Riggs, but 1t is understood that
they are on the lookout for an eligible home In
which to settle down for the winter The report OF
Lieut.. Story on his recent Ala skan explorations
will not be ready for some time to come, but will
contain a careful account OF hitherto unknown
aria belonging to the United States.
The presence of the dams in Panama and Of the
Yautc at Aspln wall will, 1t is hoped, prevent the
serious outbreak which a short time since 1t was
feared might occur at any time. 1t is probable that
a vessel Of war will be maintained on one side, at
least, OF the isthmus during the healthy season,
and II iB dnicult to see how ship or two could be
better employed than in preserving from danger
hundreds Of American citizens and millions OF pro-
perty belonging to them.
The steel cruiser Boston. now lying at the New
York Navy Yard, will soon be ready for gong In
commission and as soon as possible after that she
will be prepared for full speed sea-tria OF six
hours duration, when II is expected that the Atlanta
record OF fifteen knots will be equaled not exceeded
Work on the Chicago is being pushed to compile
ton as fast as the resources of Roachs works will
allow and In few weeks 1t is likely that this for.
mldable craft will be taken to the Brooklyn Yard q
have the finishing touches given 10 her by Uncle
Sans workmen. In this connection II Is TO be noted
that the rst four vessels Of our 'e,o Navy may 6t
called the alphabetical class" inasmuch as they
employ the four nrst letters OF the alphabet as the
initias-Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Dolphin.
Lieut.. Carroll Mercer. Of the Marine Corps, hai
settled down for the winter at the Kittery Nav,
Yard, Maine, where he has already made man,
friends by his skill and amiaoility % raconsar u
continuous "bad hands" at the bi.weekly whist
During the furry OF excitement attending the NIL
ing Of the long vacant positions OF Surgeon Genera
of the Army ana Paymaster General Of the Navy, II
Known. that the Chief Naval Constructor sppoin.
have for so long weared the souls Of gqessers an
wlseacres in the shadow Of the White House. N
ii is claimed that chief Constructor Wilson Ii conf
dent OF ultimate success.
Lieut.. n. Z. Niles, Of the photographic once
Navy Department, IL nicely fixed for the winter o
2i29 X street, near Washington Circle. Not "a
from Lieut.. Niles Ia located the family OF Lieu
W.. Wood, who is now en- route Tor valparaiso o
the Juniata.
The Yantic, Commander Green, arrived at Cole
yesterday, and the Juniata, Commander Davii
arrived at Montevedio Friday.
Lieut.. Hawley, attached TO the Coast surve
steamer Bache, was yesterday detached and ordere
10 duty in the Coast Survey once, this city.
Lieut. S. Dix Bolles Is still waiting ORDERS athoug
quite ready and willing TO re-enler upon duty at IN
Smithsonian Institution or National Museum In col
nection with the Alaskan objects still uncatalogue
there. Lieut. Bolles naturally prefers duty withi
the District, for both he and Mrs. BOlles are 30 we
known here that no other place seems like home.
Naval Orders.-Commander Edwin White hs
been ordered TO command the Portsmouth. Con
Inander George r. Wilde, TO command the Dolphin
Lieut.. M. II. Wright, TO duty at the League Islan
Navy Yard; Commander Charles V. Grdley ht
been detached from the Portsmouth and placed Q
waiting orders; Commander Charles d. sigsbe
from the Kearsarge aud placed on waiting order
Lieuts. Z. w. Sturdy, >. N. Nay, Benjamin j. Pate
and Is. ID. Adams, Ensign John A. Dougherty, su
geOn W. q. Farwe, Passed Assistant SuTgec
Jones ID. Gatewood Chief Engineer Il. II. WOO
Passed Assistant Engineer X. Aston, Assistant II
Rineers i. W. Bartlett, and W, $. Smith from y
KearsaIge, and placed on waiting orders Enslt
James q. Doyle, from the Kearsarge and ordered
the Jamestown. Paymaster Charles w. Slam
from the Kearsarge ordered 20 settle accounts Al
walt orders.