naval establishments, and, although expensive, have been introduced largely by private ship-building firms.

For sentimental reasons it is recommended that the Hartford, which is likely to be condemned, be repaired. For a sum probably less than that fixed by the Board of Survey she could be made to render valuable service as a cruiser for several years and then still be useful as a receiving ship.

Attention is again called to the condition of the single-turreted monitors; they are a source of considerable expense to the Government without being, in their present condition, of much actual value.

The present tugs, which are now obsolete, expensive, and of but little actual value, should be replaced by six modern tugs of about 200 tons displacement each.

Tables of the vessels of the Navy, with data referring to them, and a statement of the condition of the vessels now building, are appended. In accordance with the act of Congress of August 3, 1886, two navyyards will soon be equipped for steel and iron war-ship building of every type and size. The navy-yard at Mare Island is also being fitted with a complete outfit of modern ship-building tools. Mare Island, our only yard on the Pacific coast, is particularly well suited for ship-building purposes.

BUREAU OF PROVISIONS AND CLOTHING.

Paymaster-General James Fulton, Chief of the Bureau of Provisions and Clothing, which, under the late partial reorganization of this Department, has become the purchasing and store-keeping branch for all the bureaus, submits the details of the new organization of his bureau, and gives summaries of the office work performed during the year; also statements of the appropriation "Provisions," "Contingent provisions and clothing," "Clothing," and "Small store" funds, "Sales at auction" and schedules of proposals to furnish naval supplies invited under advertisements and of contracts made for the fiscal year 1888.

By the consolidation under this bureau of all general supplies for the Navy a large amount of work has been devolved upon it. Experience warrants the continuation of the system and has developed improved. methods of business.

The chief of the Bureau recommends, in view of the importance of the boards of inspection at the various stations and the amount of work done by them, that they should be furnished with suitable permanent office room and given clerical assistance. The appliances for carrying out the necessary tests and proofs should be furnished the board so that they may be equipped for their work as well as similar persons employed by great mercantile interests.

For the first time in the history of the Navy it has been possible to prepare complete statements by classes of receipts and expenditures of supplies throughout the entire service, and of the total valuation of supplies on hand for issue at all shore stations.

In regard to the purchase of tobacco for the Navy, the PaymasterGeneral recommends that Congress be requested to repeal the act approved March 3, 1881, entitled "An act to regulate the mode of pur chasing tobacco for the United States Navy," and that tobacco be purchased as formerly prescribed by section 3721 Revised Statutes.

Under the act tobacco must be purchased at a fixed time without regard to the actual needs of the service. This requires costly separate advertising; further, the act requires that the lowest bid shall be accepted for furnishing tobacco equal to the United States Navy standard. As there was no standard at the time of the passage of the act, the natural effect of competition has been to lower the standard of an article which is actually paid for by the enlisted men, and should therefore be suited to their taste and of the quality preferred by them. The tobacco purchased should also be so specially prepared as to meet the varied circumstances of naval service.

In regard to the advertisement now required by law previous to the submission of proposals for supplies, he recommends that in view of the improvements in the methods of business due to greater facilities for communication and publication that the time be reduced from four to two weeks, which would be in the interest of economy and quicken delivery of supplies.

On account of a decision of the Acting Attorney-General dated August 2, 1888, the Bureau does not deem it necessary to renew its recommendations submitted in a prior report in regard to the bonds of pay officers.

BUREAU OF NAVIGATION.

Commodore J. G. Walker, Chief of the Bureau of Navigation, submits in his annual report a sketch of the operations of the Bureau during the last year, together with estimates for its support and that of the offices under it for the expenditures which will be necessary for the naval service during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1889.

Included in his report are those of the Superintendent of Compasses, the Naval Inspector of Electric Lighting, the Naval War College, the Hydrographic Office, the Naval Observatory, and the Nautical Almanac Office.

He states that after a six months' competitive trial fourteen chronometers of domestic manufacture have been purchased, and that chronometers of foreign make are no longer purchased. Spy-glasses are hereafter to conform to a standard one at the Naval Observatory. Advance has been made in the construction of naval compasses. The libraries of cruising ships have been enlarged by the addition of modern books. The placing of the entire subject of electric lighting in the hands of an expert inspector has produced excellent results. Ocean surveys have been successfully carried on by several of the smaller vessels of the Navy with satisfactory results. In connection with the

important subject of the destruction of derelicts he recommends the constant employment of a small vessel for that purpose. A party has just started for the purpose of continuing the determination of longitude of important points by telegraphic signals. The present field of labor is in Mexico and Central America.

In regard to the Hydrographic Office the Chief of Bureau strongly recommends the giving of more space for its important work, of use to the whole maritime interests of our country. To meet this necessity a separate building is suggested where all the work can be done more economically, and, besides, storage room may be had for the immensely valuable copper plates for charts, which are very bulky and are now accumulating in great numbers.

In the Nautical Almanac Office the volumes for 1893 and 1894 are in a state of forwardness.

At the Naval Observatory two additional computers are required in order to bring up the important work of the transit circle, which is now falling behind.

The time service has been extended and has given great public satisfaction. Five thousand dollars are asked for, to continue the service properly.

The magnetic observatory work is progressing, and the results will be ready for publication at an early date. Attention is especially called to the proposed charting of the heavens, and the necessity for an adequate appropriation to enable the Observatory to perform its share of this great work is requested.

The Department library, composed entirely of books on technical subjects absolutely necessary for the working of the Department, is greatly hampered by the smallness of the amount allotted to it; an increase from $1,000 to $2,500 is earnestly desired.

The very important work connected with the publication of the Naval War Records has hitherto made slow progress. By the act of July 11, 1888, the first actual impetus was given by Congress, and it is hoped. that, in view of the great demand for the records and the danger of losing many important documents which are now in private hands, Congress will be liberal in its allowance for the prosecution of the work.

The Naval War College, now in its fifth year, has done good work in furnishing, in the shape of lectures on techuical subjects, the result of the close application of specialists having access to all of the best means of information, to the officers of the Navy, whose time being occupied by their general duties, and who, not having the necessary facilities for reference, are prevented from keeping pace with the advance of the naval art of war. It is earnestly recommended that whatever changes may be made in the administration of the college nothing may be done to interrupt the attainment of its main object, namely, the systematic study by naval officers of the practice and methods of modern war as applied to the special necessities of the United States.

In regard to the establishment of a system of naval reserves, the Chief of Bureau asks favorable attention to the subject, which has as an object the supply of a reserve to meet the demands of the country for : rapidly manning and increasing its fleet upon the outbreak of war. At present no means exist for providing the fleet with a single trained man beyond the number prescribed by law for the peace establishment. The passage of the Whitthorne bill will do much to remedy this evil.

On July 9, 1888, an act was approved to hold an international marine conference to secure greater safety for life and property at sea. The importance of the conference, for the calling of which Congress has already given authority, can not be overestimated, and early action is suggested, with a view to preparing thoroughly for the proposed deliberations.

BUREAU OF MEDICINE AND SURGERY.

Surgeon General John Mills Browne submits, in his report as Chief of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, a statistical report of the health of the Navy, together with estimates for the coming fiscal year, and a statement of the condition of the Naval Hospital fund.

He recommends the construction of a small hospital at Portsmouth, N. H., navy-yard, on Seavy's Island, in place of the almost uninhabitable temporary quarters now occupied.

He reports the yellow-fever hospital at Widow's Island, Penobscot Bay, Maine, as now prepared to accommodate fifty patients, with a possible accommodation for a much larger number. The conveniences for exercise and transportation have also been improved.

Improvements have been made and are to be made in the steamheating apparatus at the Chelsea and Brooklyn hospitals.

The hospitals at Philadelphia, Pensacola, Mare Island, Washington, and Yokohama, Japan, and at the Naval Academy are reported in good condition.

The unoccupied portion of the hospital at Norfolk is in a decayed and dilapidated condition, and would require an expenditure of $32,000 to put it in serviceable condition. An appropriation of $5,000 has been expended in improving the hospital grounds.

The Bureau again calls attention to the great necessity of erecting quarters for the senior medical officer at the Mare Island Hospital. He is now occupying quarters which are needed for other purposes in this very important hospital, second only to that at Brooklyn, and which could be made to save the Government much expense if it could furnish quarters for persons who have now to be transported to the Naval Asylum at Philadelphia.

The Museum of Hygiene is reported to be in a flourishing condition, the collection and library increasing rapidly and affording instruction not only to students of hygiene but to builders, architects, and persons interested in sanitary houses all over the try, it being the only museum devoted to the subject now in exi

the United tes.

The Surgeon General reports very discouraging results in filling vacancies in the lowest grade of the Medical Corps; seven of the twelve applicants, to fill eleven places, were found physically disqualified, and only one of the remaining five passed professionally.

A statement is made in regard to the insane patients, belonging to the Navy, treated at the Government hospital at Washington.

NAVAL ACADEMY.

REPORT OF THE SUPERINTENDENT.

Commander W. T. Sampson, U. S. Navy, Superintendent of the Naval Academy, gives in his report a résumé of the results of the examinations during the year, by which it is shown that the percentage of the admissions has been increased from 58 to 64 per cent., and that excellent results have attended the course of instruction.

Greater weight is being given to practical professional qualifications, which will no doubt increase the usefulness of the graduates to the Government.

In treating the subject of the cataloguing of the Naval Academy library, which now contains 29,500 volumes, Commander Sampson makes a most valuable suggestion, which should not fail to strike the attention of Congress. He states that the great labor required in making the catalogues for libraries prevents their ever being as correct and complete as they should be. That each library is going over an immense amount of work which is similarly gone over in others. To ob. viate this he suggests the preparation of a great catalogue printed on cards, which could be procured for special catalogues, just as the books themselves are.

The superintendent recommends that the enlisted men on duty at the Academy shall be general service instead of special service men, as thereby a better class of men can be obtained, the former being entitled to the advantages of re-enlistment. It is most important that none but the very best men should be brought in contact with the cadets, especially upon their summer practice cruise.

In the estimates for the next fiscal year the following items are submitted, in addition to the usual estimates:

(1) For the purchase of the private property which lies between the portions of the Government land and entirely separates them. Until this property is purchased the 11 acres outside the Academy limits and belonging to the Academy can not be inclosed, improved, or made use of in any way beneficial to the Academy. This has been previously recommended, the principal reason for so doing being the necessity for more room for drills and physical exercises.

(2) An item for the purchase of an electric-light plant. The necessity for much study in artificial light and the great importance of good eye