The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-14
NAVAL NOTES.
Cruisers on the COast-Enlisted
Men Required.

1t is the present intention to order the
Baltimore to Mare Island as soon as posi-
BILE after the arrival of the Y Yorktown, leav-
ing the latter vessel for time alone in Val
paraiSo harbor. She will not be alone long,
however, for the Boston is not more than
ten days behind her and the San Francisco
will probably be sent back again as soon as
she can leave the Navy-yard. 1t is now in
tended to send the Baltimore back also as
soon as her bottom has been cleaned and
painted and necessary repairs have been
made The Charleston, row at Honolulu,
may also be sent down, either direct or by
way OF San Francisco. 1t is the evident in
tpnton of the Secretary of the Navy to keep
from three to five effective vessels bearing
on Valparaiso until the final settlement of
the controversy growing out of the attack
on the seamen from the Baltimore.
Touching the old wooden navy, the report
Of Commodore Theodore Wilson, Chief Of
the Bureau of Construction, has this to say:
These vessels are rapidly disappearing
from the active list of the service, while
others are being utilized as training and
receiving ships, and still Others are laid up
IN ordinary, having exceeded the 20 per cent
limit allowed for the repairs of such yes
sells. Only twelve are now available for
cruising purposes, and they within five or
six years will be mustered out of service,
as their repairs exceed the limitdry amount
Of these vessels is given as follows: Lancas-
ter and Yantic, five or six years; Pensacola
one year; Marion, Mohican. Essex, Alliance
and Adams, three years; lroquOis and Kear-
months. The Omaha, Swatara and Nipsic
will probably not be again fitted for active
service"
The total value of all naval supplies afloat
and at shore stations, as borne upon the
books June 80. 1891, was So, TIC, 391 81,
a dnprlasn no rad with
the preceding year OF $4,000, and this,
nOtW outstanding the fact that during the
year there have been added to the perma-
nent stores of the navy articles manufact-
ured in the nayy-yards, such as guns, gun
carriages, anchors, etc, aggregating in value
S1,6OO,000, which sum Is included in the bal
ance above stated. The total value of real
estate and chattels and of the machinery
plant at the several wards and stations was
SIS. 1858 ~ and So T73 655 40 respectively
j Commodore Ramsey, Chief of the Bureau
OF Navigation, has rendered the following
careful estimate OF the number of enlisted
men and apprentices requii ed to man the
ships of the navy:
s Sew S hssr completed 56
Receiving and stationary ships Naval Acad-
PraetI and training ships.................... 4s5
fE1st "a
Ol2
"oou anu ou sulps stlii aNalIaole SOFA
Grand total. IS,746
BE adds: Under the system of enlist
menes for three years portion OF the force
above is net available for manning the
fleet; II is therefore recommended that the
number OF men of all ratings allowed for
the navy. including apprentices and boys,
be increased to 10000, and that the term of
enlistment for general service be extended
by law to four years.
The Board OF Geographical Nomenclature
Will soon issue another bulletin OF general
terms. Commander Richardson Clover has
resigned lhe Secretaryship of this board,
retaining, however. MS mem bership.
1t appears that only one vessel, the The
It's, Will be sent out tor survey work this
season. Orders have been sent to put her
IN readiness for a continuance of the sur