The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1899-10-26
Silver
(hne ounces.
"a. 43S, 900
Admiral Melville's RepOrt-Indianfans
at the Capital.

at the Capital.
WASHINGTON. Oct. 25.-The three lead
ing features Of the annual report of Admiral
Melville. engineer in chief Of the navy, are
the chapters devoted to personnel, to the
merits Of electric versus steam machinery,
and to the proposition to consolidate the
Naval Construction Bureau. The general
lessons of the war, 1t is said. were in no
way Indicative Of any desirable change in
the machinery OF our chips with the excep-
tion Of increasing the cooperating plants
and the adoption with all practicable and
economical promptness, of the water-tube
type of boilers
Admiral Melville expresses his inability to
see indications Of the benefit to the navy
which was expected to result from the oper-
ations of the personnel bill. He said that
his hope was to see a vast addition 10 the
number of officers who would give attention
to engineering matters and he still hopes
that a comprehensive union of the line and
engineering vocations will result, and that
no department regulations may be permitted
TO exist which will prevent this consumma-
tion. Departmental regulations insisting
upon service of the line officers alternately
in the engine rooms as well as on deck are
necessary, he says, to give them practice.
An important chapter in the report deals
with the scope of the work now executed by
the Bureau of Steam Engineering which Is
set out in order to combat the proposition
to amalgamate the constructive bureaus Of
the Navy Department, a matter which, the
admiral regrets, has even been speculated
on. He says that not only is the trend of
modern mechanical work in all branches
towards increased specialization, but the
wisdom of such a trend is not questioned
by the leading talent in the outside world
of constructive work The Steam Engineer
ing Bureau has finally arrived at the con-
clusion that 1t is mistaken policy to carry
so far along the practice of driving the
auxiliary machinery Of ships by electricity,
and the present report presents a strong
line Of reasoning to support It,
General Davis, at Porto Rico, to-day
cabled the War Department that no more
relief supplies are needed there before the
transport scheduled to leave for Porto Rico
on Nov. s. -"
A delegation from Richmond, Va, called
on the President to-day to invite him to be
present at the launching of the torpedo
boat Shubrick on Oct 81. The President
accept the invitation. He will leave here
on the morning Of Oct. 81, arriving at
Richmond in time for the ceremonies He
will return the same evening. Secretary
Long Attorney General Griggs and proba-
bly, Secretary Gage viii accompany him.
To-day's statement Of the condition Of
! the treasury shows: Available cash bal
ance, s2s3. All 800; gold reserve. s253.5l3.001.
Prof. Dean c. Worcester. one of the Phil
| ippines commissioners. accompanied by his
| family, reached Washington to-day TO at
| tend the meeting of the commission, which
will probably take place the latter part OF
! the week. Tomorrow Professor Worcester
will cali on Secretary Hay and later will
visit the White House. He declines 10 be
| interviewed in regard to his observations in
| the Philippines. Colonel DENLY conferred
with the President to-day.
The fact that Russia has opened to for
| eign exploitation the gold lands Of Siberia
! is announced in report to the State De-
| partment from United States Charge Pierce.
/ at St. Petersburg. He sends copies of de-
! cree providing for the sale OF gold lands. 20
February next, and it is noted that the sale
Is open to any persons. whether Russians
or foreigners.
The secretary of war this afternoon re-
ceived a telegram from Governor Murphy,
OF Arizona, saying that considerable trouble
has occurred at Naco, on the Mexican bor-
| der, between American cowboys and Mex
| lean officers. He recommends that a COM
| pany of troops be ordered there from Fort
| Huachucha, 10 remain until the trouble
| has subsidized. He says that the civil off,
| GERS will do everything possible 10 maintain
! order, but may not be able 10 do 50.
|
w. II. II. Miller ex-attorney general, is
| registered here tonight. General Miller is
| here upon legal business.
l
Leon o. Bailey is registered at the
| Raleigh Hotel tonight.
Andrew ]. Lehman. OF Blufftor, Ind. late
private Company A. Seventeenth United
| States Infantry. will enter the Soldiers
| Home in the District of Columbia. and the
| ouartermaster's department was to-day or
! dered to furnish him with necessary trans
p0rtafin.