Evening star., 1918-02-17

tary truck specifications for the War
Department. Following the drawing up
Of the tentative specifications general
meeting was called. at the request OF
officials Of the War Department. in
order to obtain as complete advice as
possible, at which were present the
chief engineers of representative
truck manufacturing companies through
meeting that a special committee was
appointed to go over with officials OF
the transportation division the specifi-
cations already drawn up and to give
It was following such preliminary
meetings and conferences that the hnal
present standard motor truck was
evolved.
One of the many vast problems that
has had to be. faced by the United
States Shipping Board has
Recruiting been that OF recruiting
and training officers. en-
oeaaneA. gineers and crews for the
greatly enlarged merchant marine in
prospect Much study was given to this
detail. and recruiting service was es-
tablished. with offices in the custom
house building in Boston.
The first work that was taken up was
that Of training deck officerR The
Scholarship method of training officers.
while successfully employed by the
states of Massa chusetts and New York,
proved too slow. with too limited a
number of graduates for the present
emergency.
A plan was therefore adopted OF TAX
ing men already trained by experiences
intensive training in special navigation
schools under the direction OF the re-
cruiting service Since this sexvice has
been in operation 1t is reported by
officials of the shipping board that
more than $1,000 men have applied for
training as officers. From these appli-
cants only those qualifying by expert
enoe as seamen have been accepted.
A large number Of navigation schools
have been established already by the
board on the Atlantic, Pacific and gulf
coasts. For this purpose the country
has been divided into seven districts
following, as nearly as possible, the
geographical divisions employed by the
United States steamboat inspection
service. The cooperation of that serv-
Ice with the recruiting service, by the
assignment of local inspectors to the
work of examining candidates for ad-
mission to the schools. quite naturally
has been of the greatest value to the
shipping board experts.
The teaching STAN Of the recruiting
service has been made up OF the best
available technical talent for the teach
ing of navigation, including experienced
sea captains as we'll as teachers from
scientific schools and technical universe
ties.
For admission to these schools mini
mum of two years experience at sea IS
the steamboat inspection service govern
ing the fitness as seamen of men granted
licenses as deck ctficers. During the
period of schooling the men receive no
compensation from the government, and
no allowance for expenses. The schools
are not yet being run to their capacity, in
order not to produce licensed officers
faster than they can be assimiiated by
the ships awaiting commission.
The next work to which the attention
of officials of the board has been directed
is that of training engineers. For this
purpose the field for advancement through
special training 10 open to oilers ana
water tenders on existing sengOing yes
and to stationary and locomotive en-
gineefs Of suitable experience. For this
purpose engineering courses under the
supervision of the recruiting service OF
the board have been established at some
of the leading colleges and universities
<
During the past year and certainly
during the coming year, when the price
of all kinds of
No o+;ono1 Eorae% feed is so high,
;, grazing permits
Grazing Permits. on the great ma
tional forests of the country should be
almost invaluable.
In this connection officials in the De-
partment of Agriculture in charge of
the grazing on these forests are taking
the present as good time to notify the
holders of permits for gra1ing live stock
that the payment OF any bonus or al
lowance for waiver of the grazing
privilege in connection with sales OF
live stock or ranch properties win be
cause for the revocation OF their per-
mits.
This is in accordance with one of the
regulations governing the use OF the
national forests for grazing privileges,
which provides that permits will De
granted only for the exclusive use and
benefit of the owners of the stock and
will be forfeited If sold or transferred
in any manner or for any consideration.
To protect permittees who may wish to
dispose of their property against the
losses which sacrifice sales would in
volve, it has been customary to allow
continued use of the national forest
RANGES by the new owner; w Without n,i
cials point out that holders of per
mits who wish to go out of business
would not be able to obtain fair value
for their property. But the procedure
has aimed throughout at such safe
guarding of the situation as would pre-
vent the acquisition of anything ap-
preaching vested rights in the public
property by private individuals or COM
panies.
Owing to the great and ever-growing
demand for use of the forest ranges.
which is now in most regions far be-
yond their capacity, the grazing privi-
lege is of large value. Upon the ma
tional forests the government applies q
system of regulated use designed to en-
courage production, promote the up
building Of the country along healthy
lines, and secure the greatest good to
the greatest Humber, but makes only
moderate charge for the grazing per-
mitS. ~
In the view of those in charge of the
national forest grazing business at the
department. it would be entirely unfair
for the public to forego maximum re-
turn for the value of the use of its
property and then allow those granted
the privilege of use to collect this value
from others as the price of surrender
ing their privileges. Such a practice
would, they say, make competitive dis
posal by the government Of the grazing
the only logical course.