Alexandria daily gazette, commercial & political. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1808-1812, 1809-06-14
CoMMlTTrE Room,
Nay 29th, 1902

SIR,
THE committee to whom has been
referred a resolution of Senate, authorizing
xhe committee to enquire, whether 1t be ex-
pedient at this time to make any modlflca-
lions of the laws relating to the army and
navy of the U. States, have directed me to
ask information of you, upon the following
points: >.
How many gun-boats have been built,
uuder the existing laws
What has been the average, or aggr egate
cost Of building them
So Inswhat situation are they now placed, or
contemplated to be placed!
How many of them are laid UP, and how
many in actual service, and where station-
ed
What will be the annual expence OF tax
ING care of those laid up!
What the annual expence OF those to be
: scpntinued in actual service!
What will he the probable state OF those
o,n boats at the end of one year, which
NAV be laid Up or unemployed {
what will be the probable state of those,
at the end of one year, which may be kept
II service, on the coasts or in the haroois
Which would best promote the true IN
terest of the nation, and of the navy de.
partment to continue the system OF gun
boats hitherto adopted, and dispose OF them
in the manner now authorised by law, or TO
authorise the president to cause them to be
sold, except so many as he may think expe-
dient to be retained in service
What would be the difference in the ex-
pence of keeping one or more frlgates on
our own coasts, or sending them to the Me-
diterranean, should it be considered expes
dent to keep any armed vessels in the Me
diterranean seas
Upon the foregoing points the committee
wish you to give as full view as you can,
from such data as you now possess.
Is it at this time expedient to make any
modification of the laws of the u. S. in re-
la,ion to the navy department
If SO, what are the notifications you
deem expedient, so far as you have had time
and opportunity toe xamine them!
Accept assurance Of my high considera-
ton,
JOS. ANDERSON,
Chairman Of the Committee.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
9Th June, 1909.
SIR,
l have received your letter OF the Goth
ult. requesting information which | have
now the honor to give upont the points there
N stated.
There have been built under the existing
s-c ,Ie he
average cost of building them may be calcu-
lated at $4,000.
The paper A. herewith sent, affords the
requisite information as to the situation In
which these boats are now placed the
number in actual service and where station
ed.
Paper B. is an exhibit of the annual ex
pense of taking care of those laid up"
Paper c. is an exhibit of the annualsex
pense of maintaining one gunboat, and "a O
them on one station for instance, n. Or
leans, in actual service.
As to the probable state of those boat
at the end of one year, which may be laie
4 up or unempIoyed," I will observe, tina
with all the care that can be taken of them
they will unavoidably decay in greater o
less degree; those bailt of green, will o
course decay much sooner than those bull
of seasoned timber. To keep gun boa
in state of preparation for service, w
shall very frequently be subjected to the ex
pence of repairing her; an expence to Al
amount which cannot be foreseen. TIL
sails and standing and running rigging, a
present belonging to those laid up, viii, pro
k.ol~i <aff r., Il 49,