The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-12-04

tons, and on faint and difficult objee
-FOUR hundred and sixty-sx observation.
nave been made on stars with the prime
vertical transit instrument, and ZAP oh.
serVatioDs upon PA stars have been madt
WITH the new steel altazimuth instrument
During the past year large amount OF
surveying has been done on the coast o.
Cuba by the Yankton and Eagle. The
former has made a careful survey OF tins
port of Santiago, and the latter of Guam
tanamo bay The work In both places
has been completed and much Information
of Importance secured.
In Guantanamo bay more than 200 sig
nails were built and over 25,000 souniings
taken A new deep water channel wa;
discovered from the lower bay to the port
of Caimanera, through which vessels OF
twenty-slX feet draft may pass. 1t was
also found that there was an error in the
ge graphical position of the bay, as es-
tabllshed by the Spanish, OF nearly one
mile In latitude and more than a mile in
longitude. The harbor of Santiago was
equally as thoroughly surveyed by She
Yankton. but as that port is much olie!
there were not so many errors Discovers
in the existing charts.
The department has recently had a sur
vey made of cable route frora H1n1lulr
to the Philippine islands. the route ron
San Francisco to Honolulu having been
surveyed some years ago. The Nero sa led
from Honolulu on the t6h OF May, via IN,
Midway Islands and Guam, to a point OF
the east coast of the island OF Luzon
where she arrived August l, having mad
$50 soundiags. The length of the ronto Is
1872 knots The reports received from
the preliminary line of soundings indicate
that the route VIII prove entirely prac-
ticahle. 1t Is the intention of the dspart-
ment 10 also survey a route for a caale
from the island of Guam to Yokoh ana
Japan.
The report refers to the absence OF coal
ing stations, and 1t is stated ARRANGEMENTS
Will be made for coal for the navy at
Honolulu, Pago Page. Guam Manila and
Porto Rico, in addition to those stations on
the United States coast.
1t is proposed hereafter to use only
smokeless powder In the navy.
The value of real estate and chatteIs
at the navy yards is given at $50 719, 0U4.
and of naval machinery plant $i,425 ,061
me secretary recommends that con-
gress authorize the following construction:
/. Three armored cruisers, of about
$4,000 tons trial displacement, of a maxi
mum draft at deep load not to excsed 26
feet, carrying the heaviest armor and
most powerful ordnance for vessels of
their class, to be sheathed and coppered
and to have the highest practicable speed
and great radius OF action.
2. Twelve gunboats. OF about 900
tons trial displacement, to be shesthed aud
coppered.
And. third, ms recommended a year
ago. three protected cruisers of about 5000
tons trial displacement, carrying the most
powerful ordnance for. vessels of their
class, to be sheathed and coppered. and
TO have the highest practicable speed and
great radius OF action. The Increase in
the tonnage of the last three named yes
sells from 5000 tons, as recommended n
year ego, to 5000 tons is suggested by
the naval board on CONSTRUCTION as better
adapted to the present needs of the SER
vice.
In his recommendation regarding the
law governing promotions for conspicuous
gallantry, the secretary says:
THE department again urges that legis-
lation be enacted providing that advance
ment in rank for services rendered dur
Ing the war with Spain shall not in ,osfere
with The regular promotion of officers
otherwise entitled TO promotion, and that
officers SO advanced to higher grade by
reason of war service shall be carried as
additional to the numbers in each grade
10 which they have been promoted. While
those engaged in the battle OF Manila have
been doservedly rewarded--ana no men
ever deserved reward more richly--those
who took part in the operations at San
tiago. displaying the same conspicuous
conduct and extraordinary heroisn, have
received no recognition whatever for their
great services except the recommendations
for promotion by the president. which
have lapsed. not having been acted uron
by the senate The department believe,
II due TO these gallant men to suggest that
their services be recognized and equal
justice done them and that, In accord
ance with the, statute In such cases made
ana provided. you recommend that the
thanks OF congress be given to the COM
mander In chief OF the North Atlantic
squadron and to the officers and men un-
der his command as they were given IN
the case OF the commander in chief and
officers aud men of the Asiatic squadron.
The North Atlantic squadron was charged
with great and exacting duties. Including
the blockade Ut Cuba. cooperation with
the army. ana the pursuit. blockade and
capture or destruction OF the Spanish
squadron under Admiral Ceryera all of
which II discharged with signal efficiency. (
IT was campaign OF great scope and enor-
nous responsibilities. aud was brought
TO successful and giorlous contamination
which terminated the war by the desiruc-
ton q the Spanish sea- power II was
marked by unsurpassed precision, brill
liancy and vigor. That the men who. b
such achievements. earned their country's
gratitude have received no reward from
Its government is an omission which II
can not be doubted Will be cordially and
generously repaired. II reward BY The
present system OF promotion is abandoned,
as above suggested, the department re-
news n., its sugsestiop embedded ID. senate |