The Washington weekly post., 1900-11-27

4AS surgeon GeneFdi reports tnaI tnere
are now seventeen vacancies in the list of
assistant surgeons. but expresses the
nope that these vacancies will be filed as
soon as IL Is generally known that there
have been conferred upon assistant sur
geons in the navy better accommodations
on snipboard than heretofore and also
the same rank as assistant surgeons in
the army.
Although the seafaring class of our
people Is a comparatively large one, 1t Is
not now brought into touch with the
naval service and the Navy Department
In time OF peace in such manner as to in
struct and prepare any part of il for as
slstance 10 the regular service in case of
a sudden outbreak OF war. Means should
De provided to this end and the matter
should receive the immediate attention of
congress and provision be made, as recon-
mended in my last annual report, for en-
rolling, in addition to the naval militia.
which is an organize ton Of the states and
under their regulation, a naval reserve Of
q national character which shall be under
the call and general direction Of the Navy
Department"
Expenditures and Estimates.
The report shows the total appropria-
tions, exclusive Of public works, for the
fiscal year 1900, to have been sS5, ,3SS, 24730;
amounts drawn, s23, 400, ,276.S5; balances,
June 80. 1900. S1. .96.45. The estimates for
1902 are SS7,172630. OF this amount s21.-
12,Sl7 is for construction and machinery,
&OO0,O00 for armor and armament, and
100000 for equipment.
Continuing, the report says:
Formal possession was taken April Z,
1900 of the island of Tutuila, together
with the other islands of the Samoan
group which are now the property of the
United States, and naval officer was dc
tailed to exercise the necessary govern
ing authority. Late reports from this
station indicate that the natives are con-
tent and prosperous. The work of estab-
fishing a station for coal and other naval
purposes in the harbor of PagO-Pago, ISL
and of Tutuila, has progressed satisfae-
torily during the past year. steel coal
storage house has been constructed, and
pier and steel wharf are approaching COM
pletion. These facilities will add mate
rally to the value of this harbor, one of
the safest and most commodious in the
Southern Pacific, as a convenient port for
the navy and for merchant vessels.
1.-THE survey by the U. S. S. Nero for
trans-Pacific submarine telegraph cable
between Honolulu and the Philippine ISL
ands has been completed The survey
developed the fact that an almost level
plane of soft mud, at a general depth of
ABOUT "a ,tOU tAtSiuS Aichi
lulu TO the Midway Islands, affording an
excellent route for a submarine telegraph
cable; that between the Midway Islands
and Guam another level plane from S,lOO
TO 1900 fathoms deep is found. but is
broken at intervals by reefs and occa-
sionally by submarine mountain ranges.
The first thousand miles from the Midway
Islands. with the exception OF one isolated
peak not far from Ocean Island rising 10
utthin eighty-two fathoms OF the sur
face, is substantially ieVei. ,,
41kmong the interesting discoveries
made in the course of this survey was
that of an ocean ABYSS, tue ueepess
known. which was found 70 the eastward
of the islands of the Ladrone group, ana
near the parallel Of Guam. Here were
made the deepest ocean soundingS ever
recorded, the greatest depth reacned Delhg
g. 269 fathoms, or siXty-slx feet iesS lhah
six statute miles The object of the ex-
nedition. which was the discovery of a
satisfactory route for an all-Amer1can
"a hle connecting the Paci1c coast with
the outlying island possessions OF the
United States in the Pacific, was accom-
plished, the reports or the soundlhgs ana
OF the character OF the bottom showing
that such route exists.
Experim enis in Wireless Teiegraphy.
"In view of the possibilities of the system
OF wireless telegraphy, experiments there
with have been conducted by two vessels
and a torpedo-boat of the North Atlantic
Squadron in connection with a station es-
tablished by permission of the Treasury
Department on the grounds of the High
land Lights, near the entrance TO the port
of New York. A board of experts, con-
ssting of three naval officers, was de-
tailed by the department to carry out
series of tests with view 20 aseertaining
the capabilities and usefulness TO the
navy of the system.
after a series of trials. extending over
a week, In New York Bay and at sea OFF
Highland Lights. the board made favor
able report on the Marconi system, the
only serious defect found being what is
commonly known as interference. The
board recommended that the system be
given a thorough trial in the navy, but
the department did not consider il advis-
able TO conduct further experiments at
that time, although an apparatus some
what similar 10 that used in the MarconI
system was installed at the naval tor
pedo station at Newport, r. l., and in
struetions in its use have since been given
TO various classes of officers in attend
ance.
''The department, wherever Il has been
found feasible. has improved existing coal
ing facilities and Is gradually aceunulat-
ing at the most important points a suffi-
cient supply OF coal TO insure the success
full ami economical conduct Of the opera
tions OF our fleets al home and abroad.
'-rhe Navy Department, .n common with
other departments, suffers Inconvenience
from the accumulation Of public records.
AS this condition OF affairs exists 70 a
greater or less degree ia almost every de-
partmental building in Washington. a
wise regard for the public interests In
volyed demands the speedy erection Of
general hall OF public records. This should
be a separate building. specially designed
for the purpose OF receiving and preserv-
ing. in such orderly arrangement as
would render them conveniently access
BE, the annually accommodating archives
OF the several executive departments.
such a general hall CT public records
need not be, originally, a large or costly
structure, but should be so located ami
planned as-to admit Of enlargement from
time 70 time hereafter whenever nece5-
sary 20 accommodate the growing archives
OF the government, without destroying It's
architectural unity.
a measure u now pending for the
erection of a statue to the late Admiral
David u. Porter In view Of the distin-
guIshed services which this officer rem
dered 70 his country. the measure Is eOrdi-
ally recommended 10 the favorable action
OF the Congress.
Urgea BY Judge Adyseafe General.
''The following legislation recommended
by the Judge advocate general OF the navy
IN his annual report Is commended to
favorable consideration:
L That naval soErrs-nsriai and courts q Ia
aHiFy b empowered % eafoFes ssisn6Saes before
them o. eidiisn witnesses. sessts bali No. lsss
Fisty-slxff coagrexs first Eesxton eonferyinf such
HE PR0pRIETORS OF
E$ lffa.~nsfs G~g~ n