New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1889-04-18
NAV1C PROGRESS.

The completion of the cruiser Charleston in
advance of the Baltimore is notable triumph
for the Pacific Coast. When the Union Iron
Works of San Francisco secured the contract
for building one of the second series of cruisers
doubt was expressed in the East respecting the
ability of the shipbuilders of that coast to
undertake such difficult work. The result dem
onstrstes the superiority of Western enterprise.
Not only has a modern warship of the highest
speed been constructed there, but Eastern COM
petitors employed in similar work have been
outdone in point of time The Charleston is TO
have her first trial trip this week, and if the
results in horsepower and speed justify her
acceptance, she will receive her armament in
few weeks and be ready for service either at
Samoa or on the China station. She promises
to be at least three knots faster than the crack
German cruiser Alexandrine, which has been
dispatched to the South Seas, and she may prove
to be superior to her in all respects. The sue
cessful construction of this vessel on the Pacific
Coast is fortunate circumstance in American
naval progress. San Francisco is shown to have
resources in shipbuilding which, with adequate
development, will insure the protection of the
Western seaboard and the substitution of mod
ern vessels for the Anticipated hulks in service
ut Panama, Honolulu and in Chinese waters.
The San Francisco is now building there; other
cruisers will follow; and it is not improbable
that battle-ship will be launched there in the
near future.
Two Of the most important bureaus Of tho
Navy Department will be recognized under
the Republican Administration. One is the
Bureau of Navigation, which has been con-
trolled for two terms by Commodore Walker.
Under the regulations of the service he will be
ordered to sea on or before the expiration of
his present term, and will probably command
one of the squadrons in foreign service. His
protracted period of power in what is practically
the chief executive office Of the Department
has excited criticism and jealousy in the Navy.
and given rise to many accusations OF favoritism
in the detail Of officers and the appointment Of
the richest prizes Of the service. Many Of the
functions of the Chief of the Bureau ought 20
be performed by an Assistant Secretary of the
Navy, who as q civilian would not be exposed
to criticism for discriminating against certain
officers and systematically favoring others.
Several unsuccessful attempts have been made
in Congress TO revive the Office of Assistant
Secretary, resistance invariably being offered
by professional economists and by the Bureau
Of Navigation and its cOterie of self-interested
admirers. Secretary Chandler introduced many
practical measures for reducing the authority Of
the Bureau of Navigation which could be
initiated by Secretary Tracy with excellent re-
suits. A radical change in the control OF the
Bureau viii naturally be effected when Com
mod0re Walker Is ordered to sea.
Another Bureau will also be deprived Of it's
head within three months Commodore Sicard
has been Chief of the Ordnance Bureau for two
terms and viii naturally give place to sue
cessor. 1t is one Of the most important APP
pointments which the Administration will be
called upon to make, for the new Navy will DO
armed by that Bureau. Some Of the mistakes
and miscalculations in the case Of the Atlanta
were perhaps inevitable owing to the lack Of
experience Of American ordnance experts in
mounting modern guns. But with the Wash
ington Navy Yard equipped, as IL is now, as a
gun foundry, the experimental stage has passed
and the armament of vessel is, or should be,
reduced to an exact science. One of the most
intelligent and practical ordnance experts in
the service should be appointed as chief Of
this most important Bureau.