The morning journal-courier., 1908-03-02
TO GRADUATE 7,OOO
Naval Training Station Exceeds Last Years Record by
 Three Thousand.
SAILORS FOR NEW SHIPS
Newport Station Turns Out More Men Than All the Other Stations
 Combined.

Newport, R. L. March 1.-Com- mander William r. Fullam, '. s. N, commandant of the naval training station here, gave out the information to-day that it is expected to graduate this year 1000 apprentice seamen, yeoman, musicians anl cooks for the general service, as against i,002 for the fiscal year 9f 1901. By June Commander Fullam n hJpes to send l. 300 apprentice seamen to the new ships going into commission.
 Speaking of the expected increase of 5000 men over last years record, the commandant declares that the Newport station has become one of the most important branches of the navy. turning out, he says, more men for the fleet than all the other sta tions combined. While the station has been greatly expanded in recent years, the appropriations, it is claim ed, have been inadequate to complete necessary improvements. In this connection Commander Fullam points out that if the items asked for, in- cluding a large pavilion for winter drills, were approved the total cost of the Newport station would be about s2,0O0,O00, which only equals the amount already appropriated for the Great Lakes station, the completion of which is said to need another million dollars
 Commander Fullam has just return ed from Washington, where he ap- peared before the house naval com mittee to show what the training sta tion needed and while the naval bill for navy yards has been considerably cut the recommendations of Com mander Fullam were given partial en- dorsement and approval in the naval appropriation
 | Commander Fullam declares Mar l ragansett bay to be the ideal harbor l of the United States and the key to 1 the approach of Long Island sound, making it all the most important as a naval and military station, where there are already located the naval war college the torpedo and coaling stations, Forts Adams, Creole and Wetherill, and speed courses for test ing naval vessels.
 Since the establishment of the train. ing station the total appropriations fol public works Improvements there has been s9O6,6S3 and Commander Fullan, says:
 The amount appropriated up to the present time for a seation of less ca paoity as North Chicago, is upwards of s2,0O0,000, and the estimate for tho completion of that station contemplate' si ,000, 900 more. The sums appropriat. ed in nearly all cases for the New port station have been insufficient tC carry out the proposed work in a sub stantial and enduring manner Exces sive repairs have therefore been re- quired. In the case of one building the cost of repairs and improvements in five years has been % per cent. o' the original cost of the building. Tht effect of this condition is shown in the continually increasing amounts neces slry to maintain the station. Build ings have not been of fire proof n struction. and temporarily woodel buildings have been tolerated, resulting ln one instance of loss of sl0o,00i through fire. Other buildings are ir similar danger.
 i In addition to the urgent need of 2 pavilion for winter drills, commander Fullam says there is necessity for 2 new bridge to connect the city witl the station, and for a coaling shed ant I paymaster's storehouse on the north end of the island. It is costing thu government large sum of money eacl year to carry coal and stores from tho l south Co the north ends of the station