The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1897-11-27

Italy has fetal of 20 docks, of which
can accommodate battNesh.ps.
| Russia has docks capable of accom-
| modating battleships.
| Austria has docks capable of accom-
modating battleships.
| China has 20 docks, of which, Port
| Arthur, is capable of accommcd dating
| battleships
Japan has docks capable of accom-
! modt3IIng battleships, of them belong
ing to private companies.
Navy Yards and Plants
Referring to the. report of the chief
of the bureau of navy yards and docks,
! he finds need of great Improvement and
names appropriations to this end He
also finds the complaint of favcrit-
ism in the employment of help, promo
tions reduction and dismissals without
well-founded grounds.
In the ordnance departments he reports
progress in keeping with the demand.
The reserve supply is up to require
ments. also. OF the 1853 gurs required
| for the secondary batteries of the ships
of the navy, S65 have been completed.
! The secretary recommends the erection
| of mandatory for making gunpow-
| der
BecarSe of lack of IN glzines, new ones
have been erected a.. Fort M.f1in, near
Philadelphia, and on ST. Julien's creek.
near Norfolk
Und.r the head of navig,s ton the sec
rotary recommends a stem wheel boat
OF Light draft for patrol service on The
Yukon river.
Naval Academy .
The superintendent of the naval acad-
envy, the board of visitors concurring.
recommends that the ult.rnai e age of adj
mission be placed at Is years instead of
20, as a PRESENT. The condition of build-
ings at the academy is such as to require
the attention of congress.
Bureau of Equipment
Under this head, refeancs is made to
the purchase of coal as follows:
The principal item of expenditure I'M
der the bureau Of equipment is for coal.
During tbs past fiscal year 1875, 318 tons of
coal were purchased, ait cost of $685.
921.72, an average of s4.75 per ION. For
the fiscal year ending June 80, 1896, the
purchase of coal amounted to 116903 tons,
at an average cost of $3.50 per ton.
Over 115.000 tons of coal were used by
the new ships of the navy, of which As
per cent. was for seago,ng and 90 per
cent. for auxiliary purposes.
Personnel of the Navy
In this matter the secretary says:
1t lis pleasure to report to you the
high character and fine sense of duty,
the professional Attachments the patri-
oic spirit of the great body of officers
of the lime and staff of the navy and
marine corps. The whole impulse from
their entrance into. tire service at the
naval academy, is to develop not only
efficiency I'm the performance of duty,
but variety and breadth of ability and
culture. They have the liberal educa-
tion of extended foreign travel. Their
employment nec5sslates the study not
only of International and commercial re-
lartions, but also of modern scientific
forces and Their application Ito the practi-
| cal demands of a great d. paltmen, of the
| national life.
| The question of a reorganization of the
personnel of the navy has been agihated
| for "a long time. While this is rather a
| matter of form than of substance, and
| while am actual ssrvice, whatever griev-
ance exists in this nespect Is certainly
always ait the minimum when a level
head is in command, it is yet undoubted-
ly true that some better adjustment Of
the different elements of the naval corps
cam be had whereby present frictions can
be diminished and the whole service
strengthened and stimulated In all its
pairs. The department has, therefore.
appointed a board, with the assistant
secretary AIS chairman, who have the
| subject under consideration, and whose
report will be transmitted TO congness.
Number, Pay and Glass of Officers and Men
The following table shows the present
number, class and pay of officers and
men:
Pay of 1908 officers on the ac-
tive list. 49,. -. =. =. ...$3,4145Oo
Pay of 46S officers on the retired
Pay of II 900 petty Officers sea-
men and either enlisted men,. 3,4OS,Ss5
Pay of 1900 apprentice boys AT
training stations and ON board
training ships. -. -. -. -. 129,600
Pay of 20 mates (sec 14OS, Rev
stat)... -. -. -. =. =. -. $4,000
Total. -. ...-.. -. -. ISIS, 007, 9n
Our Merchant Fleet
Under this mead the secretary says:
Dt Is important that We should be able