The age-herald., 1898-03-04
You'd Not Discuss Significance of His
 Visit.
PREPARATIONS FOR POSSIBILITIES
Wires Kept Running With Orders from the Government to Railroads for Transportation New
 Torpedo Boats.

New York; March 3.-Gen Wesley Mer- ritt returned today from his tour of in- spection of the southern Notifications in the department of the east Probably within a week he will start for Key West.
 Gen. Merritt was especially interested in the work now going on in the New York arsenal. During the past few days hum dreds of eight. ten, twelve and thirteen inch projectiles have been shipped from the arsenal to Fort Prebel, Me.
 Speaking of his tour, Gen. Merritt said: ''I pleased to say that I found the troops in excellent condition. first went to Fort McPherson, at Atlanta, Ga. Then we went down to Fort Barancas, in Pen sacola- From there we journeyed to New Orleans, where I inspected Jackson bar racks.
 'I may have few suggestions for the improvement of some of the posts have visited, but do not care to discuss that just now"
 When asked as to whether it was the in- tention of the war department to make Att lanta the seat of operations in case of hos tilities being declared, Gen. Merritt said he preferred to remain silent for the pres ent. Under no circumstances, he explained, would he go into the details of his pro- posed visit to Key West, nor would he dis cuss the significance of the fleet there at this particular time.
 To Report for Duty
 Philadelphia March 3.-Lieut William A. Gill, U. s. N., in charge of the hydro graphic office here, received orders from the navy department today to report for active duty on the monitor Miantonomah, March 10.
 Two other officers of the big monitor the chief engineer and his assistant arrived today and were formally received by the commandant. These are Chief Engineer w. M. Parks who lately has been inspector of the Columbia Iron works in Baltimore, and Passed Assistant Engineer Matthews, late of the Brooklyn navy yard. After submit ting their orders to Capt. Carey, they made an examination of the Miantonomah. Both are well pleased with her condition.
 The announcement from Washington that Capt. Mortimer Johnson has been assigned to the Miantonomoh as commanding officer was received with much favor on board that vessel The two big turrets on the Miantonomah were turned today for the first time in a year and worked satisfac torily.
 Negroes Volunteer
 Columbie, S. C., March 3-One thousand colored mlitiamen of South Carolina ten dered their services to Gov. Ellerbee today in case of war. The offer was made through Col. Robertson, colored, of Charleston. Gov. Ellerbe also received a volunteer as a private. This Is the first private of the war thus far.
 Two New Torpedo Boats
 Bristol. R. I. March 3.-The two new government torpedo boats, the Gwyn and Talbot, just completed by the Herreshoffs, were given their official speed trials today in Narragansett Bay under favorable con- ditions and both exceeded their contract speed-the former making average of 20.9 knots per hour and the latter 211. Sse Transportation of Guns
 Cincinnati, March 3.-The Southern rail- way lines having headquarters here today received inquiries from Washington for rates for the transportation of nine S-inch guns to Fort Morgan. near Mobile. The weight of the guns was given as 16,0oo pounds each.
 Vito Quickest Dispatch
 Portsmouth, N. H., March 3.-Orders have been received at the navy yard to make the outfit for the United States ship Lan- caster with the quiskest possible dispatch.