The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1899-10-11
THE RATES OF PAY IN THE NAVY

The arrival Of the q. s. S. Adams In
Seattle harbor for the purpose OF ship
ping men and apprentices for the navy
has aroused public interest In the treat
ment and pay Of the men aboard our
men-of-war. The Visits OF the Oregon
and Iowa TO Puget sound made our
people more or less familiar with the
life and duties OF the petty officers and
seamen In the service.
To enlist as naval apprentice, q boy
must be sixteen years OF age, perfectly
healthy. Of good moral character and
have the consent Of his parents or guar
dian. He agrees to serve until he Is
twenty-one years Of age. At the train
ing station on Goat island, San Fran
cisco bay, he Is taught the ordinary
common school studies and prepared for
his professional duties In the navy. At
the end OF the first year he Is trans
ferred to a regular man-of-war In COM
mission. His promotions depend en-
tireiy upon his record and developed
abilities in his duties.
At enlistment as an apprentice third
class. he receives 50 per month and q
ration amounting to 80 cents day. This
ration Is given to every one in the reg
aiar navy. AS soon as qualified he IL
promoted to apprentice second class.
with SIS per month, and when his con-
duct and requirements Justify Il, to ap-
prentice first class. with $2l per month.
Thereafter the petty officers billets Of
master-at- arms. boatswain's mate. gun
ner's mate. Quartermaster. coxswain,
etc. are open to him. with pay ranging
from $50 to $40 per month. When he
becomes chief boatswain's mate, chief
quartermaster, etc. his pay Is again ad-
vanced to $50 per month. This pay
means a great deal more than 1t does
to men on shore. because there Is no
necessary expense aboard man-of-war
except for clothing. which Uncle Sam
furnishes at wholesale prices. A petty
officer of an economical turn can read
lily save a thousand dollars on q four
years cruise.
After becoming a chief petty officer a
man can aspire to the positions of boat
swain. gunner or carpenter, with pay
ranging from 500 to $3.50 per month.
These are life positions. Any man who
serves thirty years In the navy can be
retired upon three-fourths OF the pay
which he was receiving at the time Of
retirement. Thus q boy who enlists as
serves continuously, retire at the age Of
forty-six with three-quarters pay for
the remainder OF his life.
The commanding officer Of the Adams
Is authorized to ship men as we'll as
apprentices. Any healthy man can ship
az landsman with pay Of SIC per
month. Then he can be advanced to
ordinary seaman with $40 per month
and seaman with SCI per month. He Is
let's. Men are especially needed In the
engineers force OF the navy. A man
shipping as fireman second class gets
$50 per month. Then he advances to
fireman first class, with pay OF $50, OIL
er $S7, maehinist second class $40
water tender $40, machinist first class
A-<
list $40.
1t is to be hoped that a sufficient num-
her Of men will offer to enlist on the
Adams while she Is on the Sound to
justify the navy department In es;ab-
fishing a permanent naval rendezvous
here. with the Nips!c as q receiving
and training ship a. the Puget sound
naval station.