Worcester morning daily spy., 1898-03-23
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it is probable that if the government can
make the necessary arrangements a sta
ton will be secured"
At the war department bids We're
opened in the bureau of ordnance for
supplying 100000 pounds Of brown pris-
matte powder, for the seacoast fortifica-
ton guns. There were only two bidders,
the California Powder Co. and the Du-
pont Powder Co. The former concern Of
fered to supply powder at the rate of
S2175 cents per pound. Twenty-one days
after receiving the contract it will begin
delivering the powder at the rate of
25, 900 pounds weekly. The Dupont COM
pany bid at 32.175 cents per pound for
that to be delivered at the powder arse
nal at Dover, N. j., and 34175 cents per
pound for that to be delivered at the
Benicia arsenal Cal. In day or two the
ordnance bureau will award the contract
for supplying the department 2,O0O,OO0
smokeless powder rifle ball cartridges Of
so calibre. Two concerns submitted bids
for furnishing these cartridges, the Win
chester Arms Co. and the Union Metal
lie Cartridge Co., both of Connecticut
Their bids were substantially alike, and
the contract probably will be divided be-
tween the two companies.
The war department has received in
formation of the recent arrival at New
York of the steamer Nordkyn, with 500
pounds of foreign smokeless powder
aboard This powder is for testing p!ur-
poses at the Sandy Hook proving
grounds
The navy department was notified to-
day of the arrival of the cruiser Clncin-
natl and the gunboats Castine and Will
mington at Port Antonio, Jamaica This
is about the same distance from the
south shore of Cuba as Key West is
from the north shore The gunboat Ma
rita announced her arrival at Panama.
The Marblehead has gone from Port
Tampa to Dry Tortugas.
The officials state that there is mis-
take in the Key West dispatch saying
that the Massachusetts as well as the
Texas passed out yesterday for Hamp-
ton Roads. Only the Texas has made
this move, although the Massachusetts,
may follow later
Capt. Barker, naval aide to the secre-
tary of the navy, returned to his desk
at the navy department today after a
few days absence. He went to Key
West on secret mission, the exact ma
ture of which has not been disclosed. In
asmuch as he conferred at length with
Rear Admiral Sicard, commanding the
North Atlantic squadron, and with Capt.
Sampson, president Of the naval court of
inquiry investigating the cause of the
Maine disaster, there appears to be good
reason for the inference that his bust
ness related to that affair and its prob
able consequences. Secretary Long is
authority for the statement that Capt.
Barker was not sent to Key West to get
the report of the naval court and did not
bring it back with him Beyond max
ing this statement the secretary refused
to say anything with respect to the bust
ness that caused Capt. Barker to visit
Admiral Sicard and the other naval of
| ficers In Florida.
| One of the most active branches of the
navy department just now is that en-
gagged in the enlistment Of recruits foI
| various positions in the service. Yes
/ terday notice was given by advertise
ment that recruiting stations would be
| opened in a number of cities, mostly or
the coast. Today the enlistment bureau
gave notice that i board of officers
would be detailed to visit various cities
in the vicinity of the great lakes, where
there are a number of men willing tC
enter the service. Many of them are
Scandinavians who have been at sea in
their native country The board will
consist of Lieut. Simon Cook, Surgeon
w. A. McClurg, and an engineer officer
and boatswain who have not vet been
named. They will visit So Paul, Du-
luth, Milwaukee and Chicago. Seamen,
ordinary seamen and machinlsts Of sew
eral classes are wanted, the ray ranging
from $19 to $40 per month.
Word comes to the department that
the recruiting board which has been at
work at New Orleans has accomplished
good results Fifty men were enlisted
at that place, and they are to be shipped
promptly to New York, and are to be
distributed among the various ships ac-
cording to the exigencies OF the service.
From New Orleans the board goes to
Galveston to continue its work.
Lieut.. j. J. Blandin, formerly of the
Maine, has been ordered to Washington
for examination for promotion. Lieut..
G. F. W. Holman, also of the Maine, has
been ordered to duty at the Newport
torpedo station Lieut. F. r. Fletcher
has been detached from the Newport tor
pedo station and ordered 10 the bureau
of ordnance, Washington