The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1891-01-26
TO Be SAILOR BOYS.
What Uncle Sam Requires the Can
didates to Be.
Postmaster Coleman Receives an In.
teresting Letter from the Com
mander of the Independence.

mander of the Independence.
Postmaster J. o. Coleman received an
answer yesterday to the often discussed
question, "What Shall We Do With Our
Boys?" in the shape of communication
from Captain Byron Wilson, the Com
handing Officer of the United States rev.
enne steamship Independence, at Mare
Island. In his communication, Captain
wilson incloses circular relating to the
enlistment of boys in the United States
Naval Service. The following informa-
ton given in the circular will be of inter-
est even to those who do not contem-
plate entering upon such life:
Boys between the ages of IA and 10
years may be enlisted to serve in the
navy until they shall arrive at the age of
q years. Minors between the ages of IA
and Is shall not be enlisted for the naval
service without the consent OF their
parents or guardians. No minor, under
the age OF IA years, no insane or intoXi-
Gated person, and no deserter from the
naval or military service of the United
States, shall be enlisted. Boys enlisted
must be OF robust frame, intelligent, OF
perfectly sound and healthy constitution,
free from any physical defects or NAL
formation, and not subject to fits. Their
hight in their fourteenth year must be at
least feet 8 inches, weight at least 20
pounds, and chest measurement 26 inches;
| fifteenth year, hight feet ii inches,
weight so pounds, chest measurement u
inches; sixteenth year, hight 5 feet l inch,
weight 30 pounds, chest measurement %
| inches; seventeenth year, hight 5 feet 2
| inches, weight 100 pounds, and chest
measurement 20 inches. They must be
| 10 al
where the boy shows general intelli-
gence and is otherwise qualified, he may
be enlisted, notwithstanding his reading
| and writing are imperfect.
HOW TO ENLIST.
Each boy presenting himself for enlist
ment must be accompanied by his father
| or mother, or, if they both be dead, his
legally appointed guardian, whose con-
| sent, declaration and oath are required in
addition to their signatures on the Ship
| ping Articles to perfect the enlistment.
| The parent or guardian, however, who,
| by reason of distance, intirmity, or other
causes, cannot accompany the son or ward
to the place of enlistment, will be furn-
ished, on written application to the COM
manding officer OF either of the vessels
upon which enlistments are made, with
| duplicates of printed form of declaration,
| ETC., by which the enlistment will be per-
| fected, should the boy be accepted by the
Board OF examining O1ncerS.
| Noallowances will be made for travelling
| expenses, whether accepted or not.
The Board OF Examining Officers will
consist of the commanding officer, line
| officer and the senior medical officer of
the vessel. If the Examining Officers are
of the opinion that the boy is in every
respect fit for the service, the engagement
to serve continuously in the service until
twenty-one years Of age is to be read and
explained to him, and If he voluntarily
| agrees to its terms, he is then, in the
presence of witness, to sign the agree
ment and be enlisted. The Examining
Officers will fill up the form and certifi-
cate attached to the engagement, and
transmit it to the department.
THE MONTHLY ALLOWANCE.
| The prime object is to place in the naval
| service, with the consent of their parents,
deserving boys who will maintain its
standard as a reliable arm of the national
defense. Boys who have been convicted
of crime cannot be received. The boys
| will be enlisted as third-class apprentices
at the rate of 50 per month and one ration.
| While serving on the receiving ship they
| may, if deserving, be promoted to the
rating of second and first-class appren-
tees. at the pay of $40 and Sill per month,
and on cruising vessels to the ratings of
contemporaries second or first-class,
ut the pay of $40 and S24 per month,
respectively, at the discretion of their
commanding officers, as reward of pro-
! ticiency.
When first received on board of re-
ceiving ship they will be furnished, free
of cost, with an outfit OF clothing not eX-
ceeding in value the sum of $45 This
outfit of clothing is furnished upon the
| supposition that the apprentice will serve
during his minority, and if he is dis
charged at his request, or at the request
of parents or friends, within one year
Loft icfr 80 L.
clothing as may have been issued, as
bounty, will have to be refunded. After
completing one years service, the APP
prentice will be considered as having es-
tablished the full right of ownership in
1 such outfit.
RULES REGARDING APPRENTICES.
Boys enlisted to serve until 81 years of
age will not be permitted to allot any part
OF their pay to parents or guardians until
they shall have been transferred to gen.
eral cruising vessels, and have $50 due
them on the books of the ship.
Apprentices will be transferred to sea-
| going vessels as they become proficient
in the course Of preparation to be laid
| down by the Bureau of Navigation. Upon
| the expiration of enlistment of an APP
prentice he will, if Recommended, receive
an honorable discharge and continuous
service certificate. Upon re-enlistment
within three months from the date of
his ulSc1arge he Will De entitled TO three
months extra pay Of his rating when
discharged. and to an addition Of 81 per
month to his pay.
| Apprentices will be under the immedi-
ate supervision of the Bureau of Naviga-
ton, Navy Department. and applications
for enlistment will be made to the Conn
handing Officer of the United States
steamer Independence, Navy Yard, Mare
Island, California, and such other vessels
| as may from time to time be designated
| by the department for this service
PACIFIC TURN-BEzIRK.