Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1910-10-10
Things You Want to Know

Few Of the departments Of the govern
ment have shown such remarkable
growth in a single decade as the Depart
ment Of the Navy. It costs twice as much
to maintain the American navy today as Il
did during the year OF the Spanish Amert-
can war. and three times as much as dur
ing the year preceding that war. Il re-
quires 10000 men in It's upkeep and en-
largement About 5000 Of these are re-
quired to man the fighting craft Another
2lOOO are employed in trade and labor
positions in navy yards and elsewhere,
while there are some 5000 clerical and pro-
fessional men employed by the department
outside OF Washington. II costs about $780,
10000 year for the maintenance and en-
largement Of the navy. More than $780, 900
900 Of this goes toward upkeep. The Eng
lish navy is twice as large as ours, yet
cost OF maintenance is but little greater
than ours. This is due largely to the
higher salarien that are paid in the Ameri-
can navy.
Secretary Meyer has made complete re-
arrangement Of the administrative fea-
lures OF the departmental service. When
he became secretary he concluded that a
civilian head Of the department needs a
number OF professional advisors not oc-
cupied with the details OF administrative
positions and appointed four aids. These
men have nothing to do with the business
end OF naval management, but maintain a
general oversight OF the military features
OF the service.
The cid Cor the fleet advises with the
| secretary concerning all movements OF
naval vessels. and the makeup Of the
various fleets and squadrons; assists in the
preparation of war plans and strategic
movements and digests for the benefit OF
the secretary, the work Of the general
board, the naval war college. and the office
| Of naval intelligence. The aid for person
mel keeps the secretary informed as 10 all
problems Of manning vessels of the navy,
transfer of officials, etc. The aid for
material looks after the furnishing Of sup
plies and equipment for the naval estab-
| lishment. He has general oversight of the
work of the bureau Of construction and
! repairs, steam engineering, ordnance and
supplies and accounts. His advice covers
every field from the purchase Of the soar
which the sailors use to the signing OF
contracts for millions OF dollars worth OF
/ armor plate. The AID for inspection makes
careful professional examinations of al
equipment, navy yards, coaling stations
docks, etc, connected with the building and
maintenance Of the navy. Through thes,
| aids the secretary has divorced the bust
ness end Of affairs from the military end.
The average warship begins TO decline IL
usefulness after ten years. 1t is then sale
to become obseescent Too good to throw
upon the scrap pile it is not good enough
to maintain its place in active service
| IN Of
to the best advantage. 1t may be PLACED
in reserve, ready for an emergency, o.
turned over to tho naval militia for tn,
training OF amateur tars. There are tact
full as we'll as economic questions to b.
considered in the disposition of obselet
ships The staff Of aids cooperate witt
the secretary in such matters.
The administrative details OF the depart
ment are handled by a number OF bureaus
That OF navigation looks after the issu
| ance, recording and enforcement Of tn
I orders OF the secretary to the individual
officials Of the navy. 1t has charge of tn
training and education Of the officers ant
men of the navy, the enlistment and as
signments Of duty of all enlisted men, an,
everything relating to the personnel Of tn
force. There is a great demand for goo'
men in the service, and an abundant sup
ply of Indifferent ones. During the fisca
year Of 1909 there we're $1,000 application
for enlistment, of which $500 were re
jected because Of physical disability, an
80 900 for other reasons. There were 1900
accepted for enlistment. OF the 400
jackies in the service, 1900 were servin
their first term and less than 1000 ha
enlisted for more than three terms.
The bureau Of yards and docks ha
charge Of the navy yards, docks trainin
stations. the powder factory, magazine
and the naval academy, so far as furnish
ing watchmen and laborers for cleanin
purposes is concerned. The old bureau o
equipment has been emasculted by the ney
organization, its duties being largely dis
tributed among the other bureaus. It for
merly had charge Of the equipment OF a
vessels with rigging, sails, anchors, zoe
men stores. nautical and navigating in
struments, binnacles, flags, lights and IN
shops for making all these things.
The bureau Of ordnance has charge Q
the guns and ammunition and all matter
closely related to their preparation an
handling. The largest gun foundry in tn
world is operated under its direction a
Washington. Here are made all the bi
and little guns with which the America
warship Is equipped. The big 12-inch gun