Alexandria gazette & daily advertiser. [volume] (Alexandria [Va.]) 1817-1822, 1818-02-13
INCREASE OF THE NAVY
OFFICIAL RLPoRT.
NAVY Commissioners Office, :
January 20, 1918. )

January zuj ioio')
SIR-The board of navy commission
crs have been honored with your COMMIT
nication of the 9th instant, enclosing
cnpv of a resolution OF the honorable the
senate, and requiring of them all the IN
formation within their knowledge. in re-
Iation TO the objects of that resolution.
In obedience to this call they make the
following report, and accompany 1t with
detailed statement, marked A, which
thew trust viii be found to meet tuL!y
your views of the information required.
OF the proceedings which nave been
bad under the act for the gradual increase
of the navy, the exhibit will show;
That contracts have been entered into
for the live oak frames, cut to mouids, OF
eight line of battle ships, aud eight III
gates; that the frame Of ore line OF bat
tie ship and one frigate, is now cutting
Fl en- Backbea d Island, under the direc-
ton OF the board, from timber belonging
to The u States that one line ot battle
ship is now building from prom'scuous
timber, collected at this navy yard, and
that here is also promtscuors i've oak ioi
framing frigate, collected and collect
ing at this yard, which make the frames
Of ten line of battle ships and ten lrl-
gates.
OF the cor. acts, however, it has been
ascertained lat one which embraced the
quantity of live sak required Tor the
frames of one line Of battle ship and two
frigates, will not be executed; and doubts
are entertained whether another ol the
contracts, wlich is for the frames OF two
ships of the line and two tris ate., will be
executed. Hence the commissioners can
only state, with any degree Of certainty,
tbat provision has been made tor the
francs of seven ships OF the line anu six
frigdies.
Of the coppe- and lead required in the
construction of the ships authorized,
when the quantity contracted for shall be
delivered, (and nearly all has been deli.
vered) we Shall have suiliciency for ali
the ships IF the line authorized, and for
ten Irgates.
OF white oak and pine, il will be per-
ceived that we have contracted for, and
otherwise prov ded, as follows:
A sufficient quantity of oak plank for
seven hips OF the line and tour triga' =
Beams, fer Eve ships OF the line and
four frIgates.
Lodges, long combings, and ranging
timber for seven ships Of the line and i've
frigates.
knees for six ships Of the line and
three frigsles.
Mast stuff f. three ships Of the line
and two fricates; and we have also en-
gagged and Lave nov delivering, the HEELS
anu keegson pieces for five ships OF the
line ard one irigate.
OF cannon, CarrOnades, round and
grape shot We have contracted for the
quantity reqsircd for two ships OF the
! line.
of iron, we have engaged, and have
now on hand, nearly all that is required
for four sh,ps Of the line and one frigate,
UIon the subject OF the steam bate
ries, authorized by the law for " the gra-
dual enc ease y the navy the comm's
sinners have engaged one steam engine
Of one hundred horse power.
The cOrnml- toner's have also esab-
Ii>hed 40 anchu. shop az tnIs navy yard.
where al the anchors required vii be
made. They arc also making at this yard
| iron cables.
One ship Of the line is o dered to be
laid down at each oil the following navy
yards, viz.
Portsmouth, Bos on,
Newly York, Philadelphia,
| Washington, Norfolk.
preparati0ns are also making IN each Of
these yards, and materials tn cOnslde
rabIe extent have been coll, cted.
OF tile ships ordered to be LAID down,
these at y. York. Norfolk, and Wash
iugtoa, have been put on the s'ecks, and
are progressing: those at the other points
named, will be laid down as soon as cir
cumstances viii aGmt.
The SHIPS now building under tie ac
for the gradual encrease Of the navy
are regular two deck ships, aud unless
guns De mounted on their gsugway
which is not usual, they will mount The
same number OF guns with our present
seyenty-iOurs. lIuA~rto no ship havin!
but two decks. has rated higher than ai
eight, aud we beg leave to observe
! that the ships DoW building, are CT inie