The silver messenger. (Challis, Idaho) 1890-1912, 1906-09-11
MAKE GOOD SAILORS
MEN FROM THE MIDDLE WEST
WELCOMED IN THE NAVY.
For Those Who Have a Fondness for
the Sea, Service on Uncle Sans
Ships Offers Many In
ducements.

For the past few years the navy
has been recruiting quite extensively
in the middle west.
From data obtained at the navy de-
partment, it appears that a superior
class of men are obtained from this
section. A less number of recruits
are rejected for physical causes at the
hnal examination at the training sta
tons, and the men show an unusual
1egree of intelligence and aptitude
tod learning their new duties. A
large number of mechanics are re.
cruited from cities in the middle west
but the greater proportion of boys
who enlist in this rating are sent to
a training station, where they are
given thorough course of instruc.
ton, fitting them for the duties OF
the seaman branch. For a young man
with a fondness for the sea a fine
opportunity is open in the navy
While the pay at the start for appren
tice seaman is small-only SIG pei
month"; must be borne in mind that
be Is paid this rate only while he is
undergoing instructions and not &C.
tually performing any duty aboard
ship; then, too, his board, lodging and
medical attendance, and original out
fit of uniform are furnished him
gratis. His transportation from the
recruiting Office to a training station
is paid for by the government, ano
should he leave the service because
OF physical disqualification he is
furnished with transportation to his
home. An ample opportunity for pro.
motion is open to him. After master
ing the details of any particular
branch of the service, such as the
seaman branch, or any of the mechan.
ical branches, he is eligible for ad
vancement to petty officer, third class
which pays $50 to $35 a month
After reaching that rating, advance.
ment to second class petty officer
first class petty officer and chief pet.
ty officer depends entirely upon his
own capabilities and conduct. The
pay of chief petty officer is $40 per
month, to which should be added free
rations, lodging, medical care and
hospital treatment, If he be in need
of it, There are extra allowances for
certain duties, such as service aboard
submarines, for experiences in signal.
ing, or as a gun pointer; reenlist.
ments, good conduct medals, and
other things which bring the pay of
a chief petty officer with a permanent
appointment to SIS or $85 per month
clear of living expenses.
Further advancement is open to the
man OF ability who studies and i'm
proves all his opportunities to war
rant rank. This position pays from
81, 200 to $1,000 a year and allow
ances, and is life position, with all
the benefits of longevity pay and lie.
tirement that commissioned officers
receive.
1t is not impossible to even attain
commissioned rank in the navy. It
means hard work and a great deal of
study, but the fact that every year
since the passage of the act authoriz-
ing the commissioning of men from
the ranks, some candidates have
passed the examination, shows that
the goal is within the reach of any
bright, capable young man who is
willing to work for it. Once he is
commissioned an ensign, he is on
exactly the same footing as a grad
uate of the naval academy, and is
eligible to promotion to the higher
ranks, the same as the other members
of his class, and should easily be
able in the ordinary course to reach
the grade of captain, if not even that
of rear admiral, before his compulsory
retirement at 62 years of age. The
first man to take advantage of the
provisions of this law was Lieut. H.
b. Soule, U. S. N. He was serving
as gunner in 1901. at the time of the
passage of the act; and passed sue.
cessful examination that year, receiv-
ing an appointment as ensign. Since
then he has been promoted to lieuten-
ant, junior grade, then to lieutenant,
and is now nearly half way through
that grade. He entered the service
as apprentice, third class, at 50 per
month.