Edwardsville spectator. [volume] (Edwardsville, Ill.) 1819-1826, 1819-07-03

of money which haze been paid out of
the fund for the grsdual increase of the .
navy: the board of navy commissioners
respectfully submitthe closed papers,
which they hope viii afford satisfactory
information upon all other points en-
braced by the resolution These pa-
pers are marked
A. Which shows the number and
class of the ships which have been put
on the stocks, and the progress made in
building them.
b. Which shows the quantity and
kind of materials which have been pro-
cured, and are now in deposit, in COM
pliance with the provisions of the act
and
G, Which exhibits view of the con-
tracts made under the act for the gradual
increase of the navy, and designates
those on whichmonies have not yet been
advanced.
The paper c. shows that special con-
tracts for the live oak frcmos OF eleven
ships of the line and twelve frigates,
have been made by the navy commits
sioners from time to time. These, with
the line of battle ship building at this
place, and the materials of live oak on
hand, and those procuring from Black
beard and Growers Islands, which are
estimated as equal to the frames of two
frigates, exceed the whole number
authorised by the act for the gradual in
crease, three frames for line of battle
ships, and four frames for frigates. This
excess, however, is only nominal, for,
OF the contracts made, two, viz: those
with Mr.. Livingston and Mr. Snow,
which embrace the frames of three line
of battle ships and four frigates, have, as
was expected and intimated in our letter
of Goth January last, been forfeited by
the contractors. This failure on the
part of the contractors compelled the
navy commissioners, in the months of
June and September last, to enter into
contract with Messrs. Swift, Green and
Grice, for the frames of three line of bat
tie ships and four frigates, to supply the
place of those which Messrs Livingston
and Snow had failed, agreeably to their
respective contracts, to deliver. Hence,
the contracts now existing, including
those which have been completely exc
cuted and the timber procured at Black
beard and Growers Islands, embrace
the frames of nine line of battle ships
and ten frigates only, which is the num-
Der authorised by the act for the gradual
increase of the navy.
OF these frames of live oak thus con-
tracted for and otherwise provided and
providing, three for line OF battle ships
and two for frigates, have been COM
pieted, three more complete frames for
line of battle ships, and two more for
tfigates, Ga considerable proportion of
which has already been delivered) will,
no doubt, be delivered early in the en-
suing spring; and the commissioners
trust that they will be able to procure
from Blackboard and Growers Islands
and other sources, all the pieces yet re-
CURED to complete two more frames for
frigatcs. The residue of the frames
authorized by law, viz Three for line
of battle ships, (part of one of which has
been procured by the navy commission
ers at Blackbeard's Island) and four for
frigates, are to be delivered during the
year 1920; and from the known res
possibility of the contractors, the
amount of the bonds they have respec-
lively given for the faithful and punctual
execution of their respective contracts,
and the arrangements which it is known
they have made, the commissioners rely
with great confidence upon the faithful
execution of their engagements.
Satisfactory progress is making by the
contractors for cannon, calTonades, and
shot, and no doubt is entertained OF these
munitions being in readiness by the time
they will be wanted.
All the copper originally contelnpla-
ted for all the line of battle ships and
frigatcs, authorized by law, has been
procured. 1t has, however, since the
original estimate upon this subject was
made, been Judged expedient to use cop
per bolts in many parts of the ship in
stead of locust tree nails. Copper rods
for bolts being offered on good terms,
and being essentially better than locust
tree nails, contracts. have accordingly
been made for the additional quantity,
which this decision made necessary.
These contracts have been partly exc.
cuted, and will, no doubt, be completed
in due time.
The contractors for oak and pine
plank, beams and lodges, longconbings,
mast pieces, and all the other timber re-
CURED in the construction of ships, are
nropressinr and il is exnected thai the