The Washington herald., 1909-06-20
Uncle Sam Willing to Spend
Millions for Training Jackies

and are practically ready for occupancy.
Il would be possible FOR the institution 20
be opened this fan. 50 great has ths
progress been made upon Il. but It Is
likely that the formal openlng viii NOT
take place until July /. 1910, when Rear
Admiral Albert E. Ross, who has been
In charge OF the construction since its
inception. says It VIII be completed
Il is planned 10 care for between 2os0
and 1900 recruits for the navy at the new
training station. and many more than
this number could be taken care Of in an
emergency Several thousand Well-drilled
sailors can be turned out each year, and
the result win be a greatly increased
efficiency among the rank and file COM
posing the United states navy
Bids were recently opened in Washing
ton for new work on the Naval Institute
which VIII aggregate half a million dol
lars James COrse. OF Racine, was
awarded the contract for the coustruc-
ton Of the officers houses. which include
a commandments house for $4,000 and six
junior Odicers' houses al $4,000
The principal work Of the coming
year, however. win be on the medical
department buildings. which viii involvs
an expenditure OF S313. 90 and will be The
finest OF their kind in the West They
Include a hospital which VII cost 49,
Ho, senior medical officers houses S2z-
oo9; Junior medical officers houses, Sss,-
90. and hospital laundry. Z7.000. The
Noel Construction Company. Of Baiti-
more, was awarded this last important
contract
GunbOat Nashville There.
Before the station is completed the
gunboat Nashville VIII have arrived n
Chicago, which viii be utilized as a train
ing vessel By the Illinois naval militia.
Great preparations are being made for
The reception OF the Nashville. but IL IS
likely that the vessel may be used in
connection with the new station when Il
is completed
The ancient man OF war WOlverins,
formerly the Michigan. the oldest iron
vessel in The United States navy. as vel
as the first vessel OF It's kind 70 be used
on the Great Lakes, viii also probably
be seen much more frequently in the u
cinity OF Chicago than formerly. But
just what the plans OF the Navy Depart-
ment are for the equipment OF the station
with practice vessels are a secret al pres
ent, ana il IS unlikely that their plans
VIII be made known for some time 10
come
II was the work OF the Illinois naval
militia during the Spanish-Anerican war
that first called attention 70 the pOssfoIli-
Ties OF the Middle West as a recruiting
station for sailors. The naval militia OF
+ the several States was assigned 10 the
I vessels OF the navy and the many auxil-
I larry cruisers that the emergencies OF the
Z war called into service. and acquitted
/ themselves Ike veterans Many OF them
showed ability that afterWard enabled
/ them 70 obtain the commissions in the
I navy that were then open 10 enlisted
men
4 The sudden impetus which the war
+ gave the navy made IL necessary 10 IN
crease the enlistments with all possible
rapldlry. and stations were opened Al
many different points IN the country. Il
I was FOUND that the young men Of the
/ Middle West responded with greater
I aiacrity 70 the call OF the recruiting on
\ Ger than did those Of the East At The
( present time The Chicago naval recruit
ing ofice IS the second In size n point OF
F. the number OF enIisCmelrs IN the country.
while that in New YORK City IS the first.
The Chicago recruiting Office averages
[ about twenty enlistments e week. this
I being about % per cent of the applica-
( tons. The requirements for enlistment
are exceptionally rigid, and q large num-
Der Of those who apply ne-er. reach the
+ examining physician, being rejected as
unit az sight. However. those who are
/ accepted are sure OF a thorough training
& and q living which is theirs as long as
they 1--we up 10 the requirements OF the
naval regulations, while the chances for
4 advancement are considerably more than
they have been in years gone by