Los Angeles daily herald., 1889-04-09
FROM WASHINGTON.
We Learn a Lesson From
"The Queens Navy"
OUR GUNBOATS FORE E-wEIGHTED.
How the Pensacola Came to Sink in
the Dry DOck-HOnor to the
Memory of Logan.

official report to the British Admiralty Of
the committee on recent English naval
maneuvers, have been received at the
Navy Department. They have q very
practical bearing on some of the vessels
in the new United States Navy. The
Yorktown, Concord and Bennington are
identical with the Archer class of the
English Navy. Six of those vessels took
part in the maneuvers.
Concerning them the Committee of
Admirals say: cit is reported univer-
sally that the armament is too heavy,
consequently the vessels are crank; that
the weights on the forecastle are too
great for the forecastle, itself not strong
enough for the weight it has to bear. OF
the Raccoon, the only vessel OF that class
which appears to have experienced any
thing like heavy sea, it is reported that
while going ten or twelve knots an hour
against moderate swell. a sea was taken
on board which carried away everything
movable on the forecastle. broke in the
forehatch, which was battened down, tore
away the iron stanchions supporting the
forecastle. and bent the beams down
three inches.
"The committee is of the opinion that
much of this weight in the eyes of the
ship should be reduced. aud suggests
that it should be slowed further aft; the
spare anchor removed to position near
the main mast; that the two six.inch
guns on the forecastle be replaced by
five-inch. 1t submits also that to SUBJ
stitute fve-it ch for six.inch guns
throughout is, in view of the crank
nature of these vessels. worthy of the
most serious consideration.
Admiral Sir Arthur Hood, in observa-
tions the report OF the committee, says OF
the Archer class: 81 quite concur in the
view that these vessels are too heavily
weighted forward and should have pre-
ferred the substitution of fve-inch guns
for six-inch, one pilot house instead OF
two, and that the anchors, especially the
sheet anchors, be slowed further aft"
Thse criticisms bear out the arguments
advanced by some of our naval officials
at the the time OF the construction of our
gunboats.
THE SINKING OF THE PENSACOLA.
1Io lullOW titE tclbRfdIu WdS T6CblViu dt
the Navy Department to-dav from Com
mandant Brown, of the Norfolk Navy
Yard: ga heavv gale set in about mid
night Saturday. The water rose suddenly
and was higher than ever known, being
about a foot above the coping of the dry
dock. The Pensacola was lifted from the
blocks, filled with water through the old
and new Kingston valve openings, and
settled diagonally across the blocks. The
water is over the gun deck coverings. A
diver reports that there was no injury to
the bottom. have plugged the holes
and expect to pump the ship dry, read
Just the blocks and dock her again. The
gale continues.
CUTTING DOWN THE FORCE.
Secretary Rusk fiuds the roll of en-
ployes in the Agricultural Departm ent
so largely in excess of the resources for
the current year that, until after June
30, there will be far more dismissals
than appointments. In the seed di-
vision alone, eighty of the employees
have been dismissed and the force will
be still further reduced.
The President has designated Assist
Bachelor to act as Secre-
tary of the Treasury in the absence OF
Secretary Window, and Assistant. Secre-
tary Tichenor to act as Secretary in the
absence both of Secretary Window and
Assistant t-Secretary Bachelor.
THE NEW U. S. TREASURER.
The Secretary OF the Treasury has ap.
proved the bond of Mr.. Huston as Treas.
urer of the United States, but he will not
qualify and assume the duties of the
office until after Treasurer HYATT is re-
Iieved of his duties at the New York
and probably not until
after the count of the moneys and secu-
rites at that office has been completed.
Assistant Secretary Roberts expects to
take charge of the New York sub-treas-
ury next Wednesday, and the count will
probably be completed in about three
weeks.
INDIAN LANDS TO BE CEDED.
The members of the commission re-
gently appointed to negotiate with the
oession of their lands in Indian Territory
will meet here next week to receive in
structions from Secretary Noble. 1t is
that the commission will first
1irect its attention to the Cherokee strip,
which contains about 5000, 900 acres,
Ind if no unexpected obstacles are en-
,ountered. all the necessary relinquish- |
nents will have been completed bv the
9th Of June.
IN MEMoRIAM, "BLACK JACK"
By direction of the President, the Sec
etary of War has ordered that the new
military post near Denver shall be known
IS Fort Logan, to honor the memory of |
he late General John A. Logan.
TOUR OF INSPECTION.
General Schofeld contemplates tour
t inspection of military posts the latter
art of this month. Among those to be
listed will probably be the new posts at
)enver and Fort Russell, Wyoming.
MILITARY ARRANGEMENTS.
WASHINGTON, April S.-By direction of
ne President, the State of Wisconsin
as peen transferred from the Military
department. Of the East to the Depart
lent Of Dakota.
ECUADOR WILL BE ONE.
The Secretary of State is informed
lat Ecuador will be represented at the
difference of American States to meet at
Washington on the 14th of October next.
ALLEGED FRAUD IN SURVEYS.
hree Gases OF This Nature Before