# United States Statutes at Large/Volume 4/19th Congress/2nd Session/Chapter 94

Chap. XCIV.—An Act for the gradual improvement of the navy of the United States.
Act of March 2, 1833, ch. 67. Act of May 31, 1838, ch. 92, sec. 2.Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That, for the gradual improvement of the navy of the United States, the sum of five hundred thousand dollars per annum, for six years, is hereby appropriated, to be applied as in this act prescribed, and as may, hereafter, be directed by law.
President authorized to cause to be procured ship timber, suitable for the construction of vessels of different classes.Sec. 2. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby authorized to cause to be procured, ship timber suitable for the construction of vessels of the varoius classes now recognised in the navy of the United States; and also the timber proper for the construction of steam batteries; and to make the proper measures for having the said timber duly seasoned and preserved, so as to be fit for immediate use.
Measures to be adopted to preserve the live oak timber, growing on the lands of the United States.Sec. 3. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to take the proper measures to preserve the live oak timber growing on the lands of the United States, and he is also authorized to reserve from sale such lands, belonging to the United States, as may be found to contain live oak, or other timber in sufficient quantity to render the same valuable for naval purposes. ​Two dry docks.Sec. 4. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause to be constructed two dry docks, on the most approved plan, for the use of the navy of the United States, the one of said docks to be erected at some point to the south, and the other to the north of the Potomac river.
Marine railway for the repairs of sloops of war, &c., at Pensacola.Sec. 5. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause the necessary examinations and inquiries to be made, to ascertain the practicability and expediency of erecting a marine rail-way for the repair of sloops of war, and other vessels of an inferior class, at Pensacola, and, if it shall appear from such inquiry an [and] examination, that such rail-way would be useful to the navy of the United States, and can be constructed at a reasonable expense, that he cause the same to be constructed, on the most approved plan.
Navy yards to be thoroughly examined.Sec. 6. And be it further enacted, That the President of the United States be, and he is hereby, authorized to cause the navy yards of the United States to be thoroughly examined, and plans to be prepared, and sanctioned by the President, for the improvement of the same, and the preservation of the public property therein, from which plans, no deviation shall hereafter be made but by his special order.
Money appropriated to be paid from the treasury.Sec. 7. And be it further enacted, That the money appropriated by this act shall not be transferred to any other object of expenditure, nor shall any part thereof be carried to the fund denominated the surplus fund; and annual reports shall be submitted to Congress of the expenditures under this act, and the measures taken to carry the same into effect.
Approved, March 3, 1827.