The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-11-15
SEATTLE. FRIDAY. NOV. Is.
YOUNG MEN FOR THE NAVY.

While young men are hesitating about
which OF the overcrowded professions they
shsli take their chances in, they might turn
their attention 10 the opportunities afford
ed tY the Geld OF naval engineering. Com
modore Melville. chief engineer OF the
navy. and one Of the most enlightened Of
Neials IN a department rather too famous
for old-fashioned Formally. has repeatedly
declared that our magnificent new war
vessels have not a sufficient number Of
trained naval engineers TO properly look
oas for them. The naval academy has not
even Supplied a sufficient number OF cadet
engineers o Oh the vacancies In the corps
caused by casualiies and retirements. The
few engineers now In the navy are over
worked. and the alarming number OF break
downs Ia The personnel during the past
three years show how arduous their du-
ties are. This corps must be increased.
no says. or ruin awaits the machinery of
our cruisers and battleships.
SO far back as 1872 an act a. congress
was passed authorizing the president 20
detail twenty-five naval officers as pro-
fessocs In scientific engineering. Senator
Squire has called the attention Of the
University Of Washington 70 the emporium
ity this affords. ana together with Presi-
dent Harrington he IS urging upon Presi-
dent Cleveland TO detail an officer for ser
vice st that Institution. Chief Engineer
Melville has in;lma,ed his willingness 70
find suitable man IL the president APP
proves
The building OF torpedo boat here
would afford an excellent object lesson
with which 90 round out class instruction.
and az the naval engineer is fast becom-
ing a most Important parsonage. the COM
pensatlon is llkcly 10 be increased.
II is proposed 10 secure the passage OF
a law at tho next session OF congress 70
permit the appointment as cadet enRi-
neers ia the navy OF such graduates OF
educational institutions as show aptitude
Tor naval engineering. This privilege s
90 be conditioned upon the establishment
~ course iu engineering satisfactory
TO the eaglnoer-In-chief aua approved by
the secretary OF the navy. Graduates ap-
years and % receive postgraduate in-
strrction 10 marine and mechanical en-
gleoertnS ard naval architecture. Those
passing o satisfactory examination a; the
ead OF two years are 90 he appointed as
sistaut engineers. Those failing agu 20 he
hororaAiy discharged with enc years sea
pas. As i' VII take the civ{l institutions
az least four years % establish such
courses ~ Instruction. fhis bill viii not
AFFECT any cadet uow at Annapolis. TAA
argument SoF this measure Is that Some
talas must lie done - give more naval
engineers % the service. as the naval
academy has failed to graduate SUFFICIENT
cadets in che eosiueertnE division. II thls
S. due to the uawJ.asaoss 81 Tire cadets
10 enter tie engineer corps. then recourse
must 10 had. Il IS urged 20 other ,uStl-
tutlans. TIE multiplication - graduates
having knewlelss 81 naval engineering
wiu provide q naval engineering reserve
Ter wur.
TAls IS tn accordance with the RECON-
ueaaatlous az CAiet Engineer MeivilIs.
WHO. in one - hts recent reports. ssf3:
while urea Ire saetect 81 education
/ cali attention - What believe 20 be
hsghly desirable. v.L gh- repeal q tAe
law lul,,ng appointments ia the easi-
neersnS eoTp~ - graduates n ths ANAL
academy. The great technical schools 81
the country are turning out every year
large numbers cf young men specially
trained "a ths elements 81 aecaan}-al en-
slneerlrg who enly require experience 81
sea and a course of poss-gra1vs.e instrue-
ton - make saera valuable eas 3nce~s Ia
the navy. I recommend that congress he
asked % provide. uader suitable condi-
,icns. Ger the admission - a certain nana-
her o. such young Rsn as prove On exata-
inaucs - have she proper attachments
They should serve two years or prosa-
ten IS cadet engineers. ard tAen De ex-
amjaea With ths candidates fron AanR-
poss fos commission ss assistant snEs-
neers. the examination II be competitive.
Cannot see why = yeaug man Who Cts
hla.sels a!aAsgs sS.ezse ~ taS seNssl-