The San Francisco call., 1896-05-03
GOAT ISLANDS
TRAINING SCHOOL,
Judge Morrow Talks En-
Enthusiastically About
the Project.
BIG DEMAND FOR PLACES
Young Sons of the Rich and
Poor Already Seeking
Information.
IMPORTANT TO SAN FRANCISCO.
The Government Will Soon Appoint
a Commission to Divide the
Now Desert Island.

1t is less than ten days since the Presi-
dent signed the bill providing for a naval
training school on Goat Island. vet since
this action scores of mothers and fathers
with sons within the required age have
called on the Federal officers, anxious to
know when the station would be formally
opened.
1t is generally conceded that a naval
training ststion at San Francisco will be of
vast benefit to the Pacific Coast in general
and this City in particular. Judge Nor
row, who really fathered the scheme, is
greatly enthused over the school, and de-
clares with much earnestness that it is the
most important recognition yet accorded
to California.
ITO Senator Perkins and Congressman
Hilborn must be given the credit for the
training sta ton, " he said yesterday. "The
Senator has been indefatigable in his eff
forts to secure the passage of the bill. He
also worked very hard to secure an appro-
priation of $780, 600 with which to begin
work on the buildings, but Senator Cor
man, who. as is well known, killed two
battleships, opposed the proposition and
so the appropriation was temporarily de-
feated. There is no question in my mind,
however, but that the next Congress will
authorize the construction of suitable
buildings.
During my term in Congress made an
effort to establish such q school, but yes
sel-building was thought to be more i'm
portant at that time, so this matter was
placed in the background. Since the
President signed the bill authorizing the
training school scores of people--the very
best in the City-have made inquiries of
me as to when the station would be
opened. The lack of manufactures in
this City makes an institution of the kind
authorized by Congress particularly de-
slrable. The boys will be well educated
and, what is nearly as important, trained
in such way as TO develop the physical
man.
at may not be generally known. but
there is only one training school in Amer
lea and that is in Newport. 1 refer, of
course, to sailors and boys. Annapolis is
reserved exclusively for the training of
officers. Heretofore the mum ber of boys
allowed in the navy has been 750-men
and boys, 5000. Owing TO the demand for
Sailors the attendance at Newport is only
about 800 or 400 year. The full limit of
$50 will soon be reached, however, and it
is proposed that half be stationed here and
the balance at Newport. 1t is not impos-
sble that in time the limit Will be raised
to 1900. This will, of course, greatly in
crease the importance OF the GOat Island
station.
"The department will, 1 suppose, in a
few days appoint board to select the site
on Goat Island for the training station.
This board will consist of one army officer
and two naval officers. When this is done,
some of the ships composing the Pacific
squadron will be set aside as training
ship. ready to receive such boys as care to
enlist. OF course, wheL the buildings are
erected, proper exercise grounds will also
be constructed.
"Boys between the ages of ID and II will
be allowed to enlist, and must serve until
they arrive at the age of 21. The wages
paid range from 50 to $21. In every par
ticuiar the training-ship becomes a man.
of-war, and is differed by commissioned
and petty officers of the regular service
''In due time the pub bic generally will be
informed of all the conditions incident to
enlistment, and l believe that the present
year will witness more demands TOR places
than the station can accommodate, until
the buildings are erected. For all this we
have to thank Senator Perkins and Con-
gresham Hilborn.''
The establishing of training school on
Goat Island forever does away with the
aspirations of the Southern Pacific to Sc
cure a lease on this valuable property.
They have made all sorts of propositions
10 the Government with view of securing
foothold on the island and some years
ago came very near succeeding.