The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1896-02-28
PORTSMOUTH MEMS
Edncatlon OF Eneinecr..

! Ihe Following Is from u report sent
/; 10 Congress In 1865 by the Secretary of
! the Navy on the subject of educa ton
| OF engineers:
Extract from the report of the Secre-
tary OF the Navy. 1862 XVIII pnre.
education OF engineers. etc:
TO attain and maintain our true no.
/ Sition "a; II ntval power. the best talent
Oh Tie country must be found among
the officers who are to conduct the va
ried operations or the service. and ade-
qudte provision to secure such ability
anu accomplishment should command
me attention OF those who have charge
oi our naval affairs Our naval school
~ producing officers Of skill. well cdu-
Gated Tor their professions; vet IL orr
ships and steam machinery are not nj
| me highest attainable point of perfer-
tioh, ana the engineers are not sktlful.
tho education and ACCOMPLISHMENT of
our oIiicefs VIII be unavailine to give
us the naval superiority we should Oh
tain.
'y the Introduction of steam into
naval operations new corps is en-
| grated into the naval service OF men
enmipihing science with mechanical
SIKH anu genius. whose professional al
tainments and practical power demand
the fostering care of our Government
Our naval engineers. like those of the
army. should be thoroughly educated
70 thir profession. for on them the mo-
i've power of our vessels and the elf
ciency of our steam machinery must
mere afterdepend. Steam engineering
should indeed be one of the most i'm
portant studies of all naval officers
and should he taught at the Naval
Academy. II would be we'll to cncour-
age such young men as exhibit ant
ness for mechanical studies To cultivate
| 'heir peculiar talents. whether as naval
| CONSTRUCTORS on engineers. In that de-
rarttnent In which they can render the
highest public service. Other Govern
meilts pursue this course. and we shall
| ma our advantage In giving similar en-
courHEemcnt 10 the young men of our
own country.
| IT is a question, indeed. as sails are
subordinate To steam. whether every
officer OF the line ought not to be ed,i-
Gated To and capa bic of performing. the
duties which uevolvr upon engineers
The means OF acquiring practical as
well as theoretical knowledge of the
SUBJECT should be furnished by the Gov
eminent. and IL would he well if every
inishipman were to receive instruction
IN this now important branch OF his
profession. If the public Is not vet pre-
pared To combine what at present ARE
two distinct pursuits ana make every
| naval officer and engineer as well as "a
sailor. ! would recommend the rorma-
| ton of class at the Naval Academy
OF youths. giving preference 10 those
who may have already evinced me-
chanical skill ana aptitude for engineer
ing. who might be educated with spe-
cial reference 10 their profession as en-
sineers. After two years study they
could he received into the corps by con-
ferrinE on them the appointment OF
third assistant engineers and assigning
them to duty. The naval service and
the country have suffered injury that
can be scarcely estimated from the
want of thorough. capable and well ed
ucatcd engineers
| Many OF our most efficient vessels
have been disabled ana crippled In the
midst Of their cruise, and sometime
even at the Very commencement of
their service. in consequence of the in
capacity Of the engineers whereby the
country has been deprived not only the
use of the vessels Tor weeks and some
times for months. hut the officers and
| crew have been constrained to inactiv-
! NY instead of being employed against
the enemy Some measures are neces-
sary to correct and prevent these dis
us,ers. so injurious to the country. ana
know Of none so thorough and COM
Ilete as that of publicly educating and
training engineers to the service"