The times., 1899-11-03


The scarcity OF officers Voted.
The annual report Of Rear Admiral
Crowninshield. Chief of the Bureau of
Navigation. was given out by Secretary
Long late yesterday afternoon. Consider
able space in the report is devoted to the
recommendation OF naval barracks similar
10 those adopted by the British navy for
housing enlisted men who are nor aboard
seagoing ships. Such a system lis strong
ly favored 10y Rear Admiral CROWN
SHIELD. wha recently made a tour Of in
spection Of the navy yards and barracks
il England. Concerning the subject the
report says.
Closely connected with The subject OF
the new barracks now in course OF con
struction at the two training stations, Buff
faIo and Newport, is the matter of housing
all other enlisted men of the navy who
are not on board seagoing ships The gen
elaI service men as soon as enlisted. as
well as others awaiting assignment 10
ships in commission. are still- as IN the
past kept on board receiving ships Of
war which rooted over and with their
masts removed are, in fact nothing more
than floating houses. These vessels are
stationed at the several navy Yards, as fol-
lows: The Wabash at Boston. the Vermont
al New York the Richmond al League
Island, the Franklin al Norfolk, the Inde-
pendence at Mare Island. These vessels.
being constructed of wood, constantly re
quire repairs amounting in the aggregate
each year TO many thousand dollars.
Large permanent crews are required
for each ship for their proper care and
preservation. IN the past these vessels
have answered their purpose fairly well,
but the time has now come when We should
replace them by permanent barracks on
shore. This, from every point OF view,
appears desirable. For the health Of the
men, for sanitary and hygienic reasons,
for drills and discipline for economy Of
administration, for proper recreation Of
the men. and. as I have already mentioned.
for reduced cost Of repair and maintenance
and care-taking, permanent buildings
should be constructed al or near our sew
eral large naval stations.
Quarters Too Crowded.
If an additional reason for this change
Is needed. il is found in the fact that some
of our receiving ships are al times too
crowded for either the comfort or health
OF The men Several hundred newly enlist
ed recruits assembled last July and Au
Island have so crowded that vessel that her
commanding officer has been obliged 10 re
quest the bureau not 10 send him any
more men. and the bureau was forced i'm
mediately 10 take steps TO reduce the num-
Der On board that vessel.
The permanent crews Of the receiving
ships Wabash. Vermont Franklin Rich
monl and Independence amounting in all
IL September. 1898 TO s5S men. this al an
average ccst Of $50 per day for pay and
maintenance IA large part OF them being
petty ofncers) cost the Government S297. .0eo
per annum- Half Of this number II men
rCuld be sufficient for caring for barracks
10 accommodate q much larger number Of
recruits than are now quartered on the
receiving ships above named. In other
words. there would be an annual saving 70
the Government OF Sl4s500 il barracks
We're substituted.
Ia short. the annual saving ia the one
item Of care taking alone 10 say nothing
OF he many advantages OF health, com
fC-t. and discipline. is more than sufficient
10 Justify. from q business standpoint. he
erection OF barracks and the abandonment
OF hulks. To carry this measure into effect
actually represents a net saving 10 the
Government OF S14S,500 per annum while
al The same time, the facilities for quarter
ing men are doubled and perfect modern
system Is secured.
As there has been some question re
garding what has been done by the BRITISH
Government IN this matter OF replacing The
old huIks and guardships by barracks and
Tor the purpose Of more fully informing
myself on this subject visited recently
The great British dockyards Of Devonport
and Portsmouth. In London ] also con
suited with the permanent Secretary Of Jht
Admiralty Sir Evan AcGregor. who in-
formed me thar il had been decided bs
the Admiralty 10 abandon entirely the old
system OF QUarteriDg the seamen aboard
huiks. and that il addition 10 the large
and cOmmOdious barracks already con
structed al Deyonport and Sheerness. even
larger and more extensive system q bar
racks is about TO be built al Portsmouth.
The DevOBport barracks.
The seamen's barracks at Devonpor.
are permanent structures, built Of stone
and in every way are most substantial
and their interior arrangements are such
as fulfill all the requirements Of health
comfort. and discipline. These barracks
consist Of six separate buildings already
completed and occupied with several
others in course OF construction Eacf
building VIII readily accommodate 500 sea.
men and in an emergency this number msy
be increased 10 500. a large driu hall IL
included, as wen as a gymnasium wher,
gong on. Mess halls and cooking arrange
ments complete in every detail. wash
rooms provided with hot and cold waite
Tor scrubblug clothing and hamunOcks. ans
completely appointed bathrOoms-ali adj
very greatly 10 the health and we'll beinj
of the men. a parade ground is provided
are also grounds for cricket football
end other outdoor sports. which are fl
every way encouraged. There are separat
rooms and Tnesses IL each building FOR III
chief petty officers; also an administrative
building with quarters, mess room an
Gfflces for the officers on duty al the bar
racks or seamen's quarters.
Not only England, but France. Ger
many Italy, Austria Russia. and Japa
have aiTeady constructed barr a Ks for sea
men The United States. OF al the grea
maritime powers, is therefore the onl
country that has adhered 10 the old cusior
of quartering its naval recruits and sue
men not aboard commissioned ships
hulks.
The tendency has been FOR several year
past IN some Of our receiving ships 10 &c
part OF their establishment on shor,
This is particularly the case with the Yer
mont Al the New York navy yard where
has been found necessary for convenience
and comfort 10 erect a variety Of building
and wooden sheds on the cob dock Thes
structures are not laid out on any gene Z
plan but have been added 10 from time [
time as the eXigeucy and crowded state {
the ship demanded. They DO not compol
with the dignity Of the Government, O
the contrary. they are q disgrace, an
should in the near future be removed wit
the Vermont herself, and replaced b