Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1895-12-05
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Recent Additions to the Navy-Com-
ments on Our Cruises Which Have
Been Made over the Civilized
World-Increased Interest in the
Naval Militia


horse power 1913; the Minneapolis,
speed 23.073 knots and horse power
20,493; and the Indiana, speed 1856
knots and horse power 4,545. The
ram Kathadin was not accepted be-
cause of its failure to attain a trial
speed of seventeen 6 knots an hour
The Maine, Texas and Amphitrite
were completed at navy yards and put
into commission.
Contracts have been let for three
torpedo boats to be completed by
Aug. 2, 1896. The first-class battle
ship Iowa it is expected will be COM
pleted about October, 1897. The Mas
sachusetts is practically completed ex-
cept as regards the armor. The Ore
gon work is advanced as far as prac-
ticable before the delivery of armor
and gun mounts. The Brooklyn was
launched early in October and will be
ready for trial in less than a year.
The work on the gunboats Nashville,
Remington and Helena, the tug boat
Unadilla and torpedo boats Nos. 3,
and 5, is progressing satisfactorily.
The report suggests that graduates
of the naval academy detailed as as
sistant naval constructors should be
given opportunities for extending their
knowledge in taking cruises of mod
crate length. Attention is called to
the necessity for funds to secure re-
serve ordnance supplies for use in
emergencies in manning merchant
boats. Satisfactory smokeless powder
for six-pounder rapid firing guns is
now obtainable, and it is expected that
powder for larger guns will shortly be
ready for service use. The principal
work during the year in the domain of
projectiles has been the development
of semi-armor-p piercing shell, which,
while strong enough to pierce a con-
siderable thickness of armor, also has
capacity for a large, bursting charge.
The department has selected the Lee
straight pull rifle for the naval small
arms, which will fire forty rounds in
minute, even in unskilled hands.
Experiments will be made with a
submarine torpedo boat, to cost $780,
900, for which a contract has been let.
Since the date of the last report SIP
tons of armor have been delivered, of
which 1852 tons were harveyized. The
department has been somewhat ham
pered by the want of a dock large
enough to take the larger class of ma
val vessels.
From Sept. 1, 1894, to Aug. 81, 1895,
10
borers employed through the board of
labor employment at the various navy
yards. The number of appointments
made through the United States civil
service commission in the department
tai, railway mail, Indian, customs, and
postal services, as shown in the last
annual report of the commission, Was
4,372. The secretary declares that po
litical or other influence no longer
plays a part in the employment of la
Dor at navy yards.
Recommendation of previous re-
port for early action by congress in
reference to the personnel of the navy
are repeated; the aim being to reor-
ganize the navy so as to bring about
the promotion of officers to command
rank at an age when they are still
young enough to learn and vigorous
enough to be self-assertive.
A comparison between the systems
of naval enlistment of the United
States and Germany is made, and it
is recommended that authority be
given for the enlistment of 1000 more
men. Provision is also urged for call
ing into the service whenever there
shall be need of them sailors to man
at least all the vessels which are in
the pay of the government and liable
to be called into service.
The teaching Of Latin and Greek at
the Annapolis naval academy has been
abolished, Secretary Herbert holding
the opinion that knowledge of the
English language is more important.
1t is recommended that the limits of
age for admission should be either
from IA to 16 or from Is to II, in
stead of from Is to 20 as now in the
belief that better results would be at
tanned by a reduction of the ages and
a lessening of the variation of ages
under which admission to the academy
may be made.
The increasing interest in the naval
militia movement in the lake and sea-
board states gives such promise that
the department recommends that steps
be now taken to establish this arm of
the national defense on definite foot
ing. The thirteen states making re-
turns of the numbers of petty officers
and seamen and sharing in the an
nual allotment of the $4,000 appro-
priated for 1S94-95 were as follows:
Massachusetts, 400, Rhode Island 100,
Connecticut II, New York 3S7, New
Jersey 216, Pennsylvania 1877, North
Carolina 255. South Carolina 165, Geor-
1 gia SO. California 313, Illinois 1879.
Michigan 1877, Maryland ia; total
1856.
The two new states to make re-
turns are New Jersey and Georgia.
Louisiana and other states are also
organizing. In a short time the whole
coast and the northern and great in
terror waterways will be included A
very energetic organization now ex-
lists in the interior on one of our great
rivers. Active steps are being taken
by the department toward securing
uniformity in the methods of organ