Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-07-08
GIFTS TO THE NAVY.
Presents to the New Cruisers from Vari-
Gus Cities.

washington Starr
The popular enthusiasm aroused by the
building of Uncle Sans new navy has
found expression in many costly gifts pre-
scented by cities and individuals to the
ships Of war, which are designed TO be
so important a bulwark of this nation
Most valuable of all testimonials thus
far offered was the silver set presented
TO the cruiser Chicago by the people Of
the city after which she was named. IL
includes 22S pieces in all. a dozen and
half Of everything in the ordinary way
being furnished, together with 5uoh odds
and ends Of luxury in this precious metal
as the manufacturing jeweller was able
10 think Of. The service VIII always DC
kept in the admirals cabin on board
of the vessel, being only intended to be
brought out for use on occasions OF
ceremony. when the officers are enter
tanning, &c.
The Chief Of the Bureau OF Equipment
in the Navy department at Washington
is custodian OF all gifts accepted for ships
I'm the service. No regulations govern
the acceptance or rejection Of such pre-
sents.
SOME OF AN UNUSUAL CHARACTER.
the navy are OF a character rather un-
usual. A bicycle manufacturing company
offered a number Of cycles for the United
States steamer Columbia, 10 be used for
scouting and military purposes by marines
and sailors while on shore duty. The
department, while expressing gratitude
for the present, frankly stated that there
were comparatively few occasions when
wheels could be prohtably employed by
blue Jackets and sea-sOidlers. A clippings
agency I'm New York city gave to the
cruiser New York a handsome book filled
with cuttings from newspapers relating
10 the vessel.
The late George W. Childs was anxious
TO present to the same ship a dove cote,
stocked with homing pigeons Of finest
breed. He was very much interested in
the efforts made al Annapolis TO demon
strate the value OF pigeons for carrying
messages from the sea to the land.
Doubts expressed By officers Of the navy
as to the usefulness OF this idea seem to
have discouraged the Philadelphia philan-
thropist with his project. At all events,
it was dropped. This was a pity. per-
haps, for the blrd-house was to have
been the finest and most elaborate thing
Of the kind ever seen.
Among other gifts received FOR the New
York was a silver service from citizens
Of the metropolis. a superb music-boX
from a manufacturing firm, and fine IL
brary of 500 volumes from Edward G.
Spofford, a publc-spirited citizen Of
TarrytOwn. People are apt to write 10
the Navy Department for suggestions as
to what would be acceptable in the way
OF a present for one ship or another Re-
Spouse is usually made 10 the effect that
piece Of sllver-pure stuff not plated
ware, OF course. for the captains cabin,
suitably engraved, would be most apprO.
PIRATE. Inasmuch as this might signify
anything, from a butter-knife TO a punch
bowl, the donor may spend as much or
as little money as he chooses.
Speaking of punch-bowls, the people OF
Machias, Me-, gave a beautiful silver one
for the use OF the officers of the United
States steamer Machias Another punch
bowl OF the same precious metal was pre-
sented to the Charleston by the city Of
Charleston. AS memorial OF George
Bancroft, relatives OF the late historian
have given a bell for the Bancroft, which
is a practice ship for naval cadets.
| THE BELL FOR THE CHARLESTON.
A few days before the casting OF the
| bell for the Charleston, a pattern-maker
AZ the shpyard In San Francisco sug-
gested that It was pity 10 use ordinary
metal for this purpose. and that each
workman on the steamer might contribute
| 10 cents In silver to enrich the composition
| and 40 give the bell a finer ring. The
| entire force at work on the vessel. over
| 1900 men. responded. the sum realized
being about $3.50 Nearly the whole OF this
| amount was In dimes. which were put into
the crucible and mixed with the other
metal for the casting.
On learning OF the facts in the case. the
| Secretary Of the Navy wrote a letter, say
| ing that among the numerous and
costly presents made by towns and indi-
viduals TO the ships OF the navy. there
| was none more highly valued and appre-
| ciated than the tribute OF the workmen
| of the cha rleston.' He added that IL was
particularly appropriate and graceful
thought that led these American working
men 10 cast permanent memorial 20
their united labor.
| One Of the most beautiful OF these pa
| triotic testimonials was given to the gun
boat Concord by the City OF Concord. II
is bronze reproduction on small
scale OF the famous monument which
! stands In that iowa. representing the
Minute Man OF IT'S" Exclusive OF the
| pedestal the miniature work Of art Il