The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1895-12-02
Two New States.


1.-The two new states to make re-
turns are New Jersey and Georgia.
Louisiana and other states are also
organizing In short time the whole
coast and the northern and great in
terror waterways will be included. a
very energetic organization now exists
in the interior on one of our great
rivers.
Active steps are being taken by the
department toward securing uniformity
in the methods of organization and in
the character of duty performed, in
order that the militia and the regular
navy may cooperate effectively and
helpfully in any scheme of national
defense.
These organizations are made up
more from the body of young men of
aquatic tastes than from the seafar-
ing class. Many of the militia are.
yacht and sailing-boat owners, actu-
sted by the most commendable patriot
ism, and many more would be drawn
into the work if boats of the navy
cutter pattern were furnished, so as to
make it still more apparent that the
country expected and intended them
to be of service in case of need.
Under authority conferred by law
the department has been able to loan
"a few serviceable boats, but a boat
of this character is hardly more valu-
able TO the militia than to the regular
navy.
Every battalion with proper help
and direction from the department can
acquire information as to its contigu-
Gus coast that would be invalua BILE in
case of invasion.
Naval Militia.
Under the act empowering and au-
thorizing the department to loan IN
servicable ships to the naval militia
for purposes of instruction and drill.
during the past year the Dale has been
loaned to Maryland. the Portsmouth
to New York, the Wyandotte to Con-
necticut, and the Minnesota to Massa-
chaSettS. Owing to the unseaworthy
condition Of the Swatara il was inn
possible for the state of California to
utilize this vessel An expenditure of
about $4,000 would have been required
to make her safe and habitable, and
the department did not consider this
advisable, although in the large cities
an old vessel is a great factor in the
success of the naval militia. organjza-
ton, affording as it does a nucleus of
and an incentive to enlistment On
the Pacific coast no vessels are avail
dDle &nG on the AIlanI4E the SuDDly is
at present practically exhausted. SO
that it is impossible to meet the wants
in this respect of the orga MIA tons.
1.-THE naval militia is slowly but
surely. through natural evolutionary
process, finding its best field as a fac
tor in national defense ard as an
auxiliary to the regular navy. Its
main element of strength liea prirnar-
lily in fine personnel, marked by
great patriotism, zeal enthusiasm, and
high degree Of intelligence.
Il Fine Body of Men.
TT would be hard in any country to
find a finer body Of physically and
mentally well developed young mep
than those in these organizations. IT
is no exaggeration to say that they
are among the very best of our citi-
zens."
The secretary recommends. regard
ing inventions patented by naval Off
GERS, that inasmuch as the officers owe
their education and facilities for -e.
search to the government. devices
patented by them should become the
property of the government if desired
upon the payment of such compensa-
ton as the secretary of the navy deems
just.
The recommendation of last year is
renewed that the work of the coast and
goedetic survey be transferred, part
10 the photographic Office of the navy
department and the rest to the geologi-