The Rhode-Island Republican. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1809-1841, 1814-03-31
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Interesting Congressional Report.


shecing ereeufioa Of the Laws TOR fhe in
crease of The Navy, 10 the Chairman Of the
4 Committee on Naval .4fairs--Afareh To-
\ Ordered 10 be Printed. --e =.
4 NAVY DEpARrMExr, March 8, 1914. /,
SyR--In compliance with your request 10
be informcdof the progress made In the build
ing of the vessels authorised by law, Of the
steps taken in respect to the procuring OF tim
Der under the act Of the 3oth Of March, 1912,
and in relation to the dock yard authorised by
law, have the honor to submit the following
Information :; sts ~ ia
Three ships Of "a guns each, nnd of the
largest class, arc now building OF prime mate
rials and in the most substantial and 'dursbie
manner, viz. one at Portsmouth,, New Hampr
shire one at Cbarlestown, Massachusetts. )
and one at PhiladeIphis. Thstwo5fosmer il
is expected, will be launched in the month OF
July, and the latter in tho month OF Decsm-
Der next. ~ r-'f 9-~t@rtt sgG ~ 49,
Three ships of a. guns each, of-,hejIarges,
class, are also building of durable materials,
IN the best manner, viz: one at Philadelphia,
one at Baltimore, and one at the navy4yardtin
this city. The TWO former, il is expected,
will be launched by tho middle of April, and
the latter in all the month Of Julyncw. =
The six sloops Of war, authorised by law,
have all been built in the most substantial
manner and of good materials. One of which
has sale on a cruise, three arc under sail
ing orders ready for sea, one is nearly manned
and is expected to be ready for sea in the
course Of ten days, andon il now hlting at.
the navy yard in this city. ~
Six barges have been purchased at Phila-
dclphia, also four at Baltimsrc and one at
Norfolk. 1
Eight have been built at Baltimore, ten are
noarly completed on the eastern shore of
Maryland, four have been built and one is now
building a, the navy yard in this city, Eve are
building at Charleston, sc. six at st. Mary's,
Georgia, and preparatory measures are now
an operationsto increase the force in North.
Carolina and at Ncw.O Orleans in vessels Of this
description, as fast as men can be procured TO
man them.
Previous TO the year 1915, it appears that
no timber had been procured nader, the act of
March so, l8l2 |; but early in, the year lsl g,
timber to the amount of $4,000 dollars was
purchased at BALTIMORE under the act of
March 30, 1878, " suitable for rebuilding the
frigates Philadelphia, General Greene, New
York, and Boston but as there is no appro-
-priation or authority to rebuild those friga,as,
and as the Philadelphia is not in existence,
and the General Greene, New-York, and Bos-
ton are rotten, worthless hnlks, that would
cost much more, in proportion to their value,
10 rebaild them than to build new friga,cs of
a bettcr class and vastly superior construction;
part OF that timber has been applied to tho
building of the ~ and the sloop Of war Al Bal
timore, and "a and ~ at Philadciphis. ti' \
Contracts for and purchases Of timberto q
very considerable amount, have boon made
for naval purposes during the year 1913, but
which have not been charged to the particular
appropriation OF the 3oth Of March, 1912,
though applied to the same purpose as timber
chargeable to that appropriation would have
been, viz. in building the three 74s AZ Ports.
mouth, Charlestown, aud Philadelphia the
~ gun ships at tho latter place, and the ~
and sloop Of war at the navy yard in this city;
also, In the repairs Of the ships Of the navy,
and in preparing several sets of spare masts,
spsrs, tops, sc. &c. ready for the ships which
may returned damaged and tho residue is
applicable to similar purposes. s. et
These have been charged either under the
head OF repairs, or to the appropriations for
building 74s and frigates, which, sppropria.
tions, il 10 conceived, are properly chargeablc
with timber purchased fov those purposes
blk csrgoes, amounting to twen.y-six huadred
tons of Georgia yellow pine ,imber, which had
been cut for the use of the British navy, bvt
entered the eastern ports of the United States
on account OF The war, have been purchased
on favorable terms also, q prize cargo OF
northern timber. These are properly charge
able 70 the annual appropriation for the pur-
chase Of timber. A.contract was mado il. .Au-
gust last for the, delivery at Norfolk and this
place OF u quantity Of yellow pine plank, thick
stuff, beams, and mast pieces, sufficient fors2
ships of "a guns each, and two ~ -gun frig-
ates. The timber under this contact is now
delivering. Contracts for timbersyst 10 be
delivered, have been made at the eastern sta
tions, the particulars of which are NOT yet in
the department. A recent contrActlhss been
L. L.. 80