Virginia Argus. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1796-1816, 1809-07-04

formation of you upon the following
points:
How many gun-boats have been
built under the existing laws?
What has been the average, or ag-
|grega,e cost of building then.
In what situation arc they new pla-
ICED, or contemplated to lie placed?
How many OF them are lad up, and
how many in actual service, aud where
stationed?
What the annual expense of those
to be continued in actual service?
What viii be the probable state OF
those gun-ooats at the end OF one year,
which may be laid up or unemployed /?
What will be the propable state of
Those, at the end of one year, which
may DE kept in service, On the coasts
Tor in the harbors
Which would best promote the true
interest of the nation, and of the navy
department; 20 continue the system
OF the gun-boats hitherto adopted, and
dispose of them in the manner now
authorised by law, or TO be sold, ex-
|cePt SO many as he may think expedi-
ent to BE- retained IN service?
What would be the difference in the
lexpense OF keeping one or more fri
gates on our coasts, or seadi1g them
&c the Mediterranean should it be con-
Is'dered exPedient to keep any armed
Ivessela an the Mediterranean seas!
Upon the foregoing points the com
mittee wisa you to give as full view
las yeu can from such data, as you now
possess?
Is 1t at this time expedient to make
any modification OF the laws of the II.
States, IN relation to the navy depart
ment
1t SO, what are the notifications YOU
deem expedient, SO far as you have
had time and opportunity to examine
them:
Accept assurances of my high con-
sideratioa,
JOS: ANDERSON,
Chairman Of the committee.
NAVY DErARrMEET, JUNE 9th, 1909.
SIR,
have received your letter OF
the 29th ult. requesting information
which | have now the honor 10 give
upon the points therein stated.
| There have been built ander the ex
isting laws, one hundred and seventy.
six gun-boats and bombs and the a.
vrrage cost OF building them may be
calculated at 5000 dollars.
[1,5s4 cool
The paper A. herewith sent, afford.
the requisite information IS to the ST
tuaton in which these boats are now
plat ed (; the number laid up the nun.
Der in actual service, and where stati
oued.
Paper B. is an exhibit of "the snnu
al expense OF taking care Of them laid
up"
Paper c. is an exhibit Of the annua
| expense of maintaining one gun boat
and % of them on one station for in
stance, New Orleans, in actual ser.
vice.
I AS to the "probabls state of those
gun boats at the end of one year, which
may be laid up, or unemployed"
will observe, that with all the care thai
can be taken with them, they will un
avoidably decay in greater or less
degree those built of green, will o
course decay much sooner than thos,
built Of seasoned timber. To keep ;
lgun-hoat in state q: preparation fol
service, we shall very frequently be
Subjected to the expense OF repairing
her an expense 20 an amour
which cannot be foreseen. The sail
and standing and runnirg rigging, a
Ipresent belonging to those lad up
will, probably, at the end OF one year
De SO much injured as to- be unht Go
use their SIN al boats and wats casks
Sunless w5ll protected from the rain ant
sun, will sustain considerable iniur-
in the course Of the same time, am
they Cannot be so protected withou