The San Francisco call., 1897-11-21

! Ties in Washington followed. and Adju-
tani-G General Barrett, who was then East,
! had an interview with the Secretary of the
Navy.
About this time it dawned upon the
minds OF the naval reserve men of the
San Diego division that it would be
good scheme to have the Marion assigned
10 duty in that qunr.er, and so influence
was brought 10 bear upon the department
at Washington. 1t Is reported that U. S.
Grant assisted his felow-townsmen in the
enterprise.
Yesterday at division headquarters of
the National Guard at the Bald win Hotel
a meeting OF the beard Of location was
held.
The session was attended by Governor
Budd, commando in chief of he military
and naval forces Of the State; Nj jor-
General n. Z. James, Brieadier- General
A. w. Barrett Cad adjutant-genera), Colonel
II. z. Bush, secre, ,ary of the board, and
Lieutenant w. S. Hu hes, United States
navy inspector and instructor of The Naval
Battalion of this Stale.
When the question of the assign ment of
the Marion was brought up at the sug
gestion OF the Governor. the adiutant
general submitted the following CORE
spondence on the subjec:
NAVY DEPARTMENT
WASHINGTON. ID. e.. oct. u, 1897
Sir: board OF survey having reported the
U. 5. Marion as being no longer serViceabe
the department. las decided to lend her TO the
State or California for the OF the San
Diego division of the Naval Militia. By The
provisions of an act of Congress approved
August 3, 1896, and entitled "An act to pro-
mote the efficiency OF the Naval Militia it
will be neces sary for the Governor of Ca ifor-
nil l. wit ton Mi firrr ttnN
Depa rtment for the loan OF this vessel to the
State. Upon the receipt of this application
the department. Will make the necessary
rangements for turning over the U. S. s.
Marion TO the manding officer OF the San
Diego division. Very respectfully,
THEODORE ROOSEVELT, Asss ant Secretary.
To A W. Barrett. Adj jutant- General, State of
California.
To the foregoing letter the adjutant-
general thus piled:
SACRAMENTO. Nov. 10 1897
SIR: Replying TO your letter OF the 29tn ult.,
relative to the turning over of the United
States steamship Marion TO the naval militia
OF this State | am directed by the Governor TO
make formal application To have the United
States steams hip Marlon delivered to the State
OF California for the use OF her naval militia.
l. is the desire to have The vessel 1or The use of
! the naval militia located at San Francisco as
she would be of much more service to US at
San Francisco than at San Diego Ii is also
the desire To have as much property and
equipment as is possible to be left on board of
her so that We may be able TO use her for
cruising purposes OF the naval militia.
When notification is received from you the
proper officer viii be detailed by the Governor
10 receive from aud receipt Tor to the Navy
Department the Uuited States steamship
Marion. 1t is also the desire if your depart
ment thinks the United States steamship
Camanche seaworthy, 10 send her to San
Diego for the use of the naval division there
l she is not considered safe to be sent to San
Diego by your department we wis b to turn her
back 10 the Mare Island navy-yard and be
lieved of further responsibility, as the Marion
will be OF much more service and can be
utilized TO better advantage. Verv respect
fully, A. w. BARRETT, Adjutant- General
The cost to the State government of
maintaining the Marion W i'll not all5hort
OF S400 month. and if any considerable
cruising shall take place the expense will
be much greater. General James, who 10
familiar with ships and service on the sea,
informed the Governor and his associates
that ghteen tiremen and four engineers
would be required on the ship.
Ii was the sense of the meeting that the
allowance of tie San Diego company
would not be sufficient for the mainten-
ance of the Marion.
AdJutant-General Allen had taken the
iorethought to ask Chandler, command
ing the San Diego Division, as to his
ability, with the funds at his disposal, to
care for the vessel, and the San Diego
commander replied that The money on
hand would warrant him in taking the
ship.
The mem5 5ers of the board of location
took widely different view of the propo-
sition and expressed he belief that the
Pinta was about the right size ior one
pany. After considerable discussion
as to the merits of the Pnta and !he num-
Der OF men that would be required to take
care of her it was decided that the Ad ju-
tant-General should request the Navy De-
partment at Washington 10 lend to the
Naval Militia of California both the Ma
ron and the Pinta, to be assigned as the
board of location should order, as the law