Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1826-12-14
DOMESTIC.
The JoltoUing Report accompanied the P1esi-
dents Message to Congress.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE


NAVY.
The following Report is respectfully submitted
to the President Of the u. States by the Secretary
of the Navy:
On the I'd January, 1918, the law entitled " an
act to Increase the Navy of the United States"
authorized the building of four ships not less
than "a guns each, and six ships TO rate IL guns
each
On The 10Th April, 1916, the law entitled 90 an
act for the gradual increase of the Navy of the
United Siates,'' was passed, and authorised the
building oil nine ships to rate not less than "A guns
EACH and twelve ships to rate not less than A guns
each, including within these numbers ONE "a, and
THREE "A gun ships, authorised by the preceding
act.
BY these two laws, therefore, Give ships of not
less than "a guns, and fifteen ships of not less than
"A guns, were directed 10 be built.
OF the twelve 74's, seven have been launched,
and are in various stages Of forwardness; of the
fifteen 44's, one was burnt the stocks in the
Navy Yard. at Washington, 10 the year 1914,
and may be considered replaced by the one
lately purchased; four have been launched, seven
are on the stocks, and the frames of the remain
Ing three have been contracted for See paper l.
accompanying the report Of the Navy Commits
sioners
BY the law Of I'd January, 1913, $4,000, 900
were appropriately; by that of 29th April, ISl6,
and subsequent law of Sd March, 1921, eight
millions of dollars were appropriated, TO carry the
objects of those laws into execution, amounting in
all to 10.5o0.o00. The appropriation OF eight
millions included previous sum of S60J.000, for
the purchase " and supply of a stock of every
description of timber, required for ship building and
| other Naval purposes" This appropriation ex-
pires with the present year. II was not founded or
any specific estimate OF the cost Of building abc
equpping the number of vessels authorized, and
is not sufficient to accomplish the object. What
addition may be necessary, there are not compel eni
means within the reach OF the Department, at this
time, TO ascertain with accuracy. Nothing more,
however, will be required during the next year. as
there remain, OF the former appropriations, about
$500, 600, which is than can be usefully ex-
pended.
AT The time of the passage of the law of 1916,
there were three ships OF the liae, the lndepen :
dence, Warrington, and franklin; four fri.ates OF
the lst class-the Constitution, United States,
Guerrero and Java, and three of the I'd class The
Congress, Constellation and Macedonian. These
added 10 the number authorized By the laws before
mentioned, and the frisaie purchased in August
last. under the authority OF the law e. I7h May,
1926, will give, " hen they are all completed, ~
ships OF the line, Il frisates of the lst class, and
frigates OF the II class; TO which may be added
the Fulton, which is al present used SIS receiving
slip at New York.
There also in our Navy 3 ships Of q guns
each, the Cyane captured in 1915. and the John
Adams; and four sloops of Is guns; to these were
added, by tie law of 81 March, 1925, ten sloops
of war, 10 carry no, less than twenty guns; making
when complete, i 8 vessels OF nearly the same
class. and which may be ranked under the denou,-
nations OF sleeps Of There are also 1 schoo-
ners of u guns and other vessels, used as re-
ceivins ships.
In The report from this Department of 81 Dec.
1925, it stated that of the roops of war, au-
III s,j y Ia 4.
completed within The year. Since tina, time those
hree have been finished, and sea- One
has been recently launched, and will be immediate-
~ put In commission; the others are far advanced
and the whole would have been entirely completed,
if the contractors for certain portions of the
rais had no, produced disappointment by failing to
comply with their contracts within the times spe-
cited. 1I,ey Will all be launched during the next
year, and may be ready for sea within 6 WEEKS
after launching, if no difficulty should be expe-
rienced in procuring ,eamen. See paper !.
From this statement il will appear that the
whole naval force, authorized by law, consists
Of
IL Ships OF the line, Exclusive Of two on Lake
Oniario.)
II Frigates of the lst class.
Frigates Of the % class
l6 Shops OF
Schooneys OF twelve guns, ard 3 other yes
sells.
The whole of these, with the exception Of ) OF
the frigstes could be prepared or active service at
sea, In few months, should the situation and in
terests OF the nation demand their employment.
For their and other particulars, refer to pa
per I, and Naval Register OF 1927
BY the law of9ih March 1914, the sum OF five
hundred Thousand dolls appropriated 80 Tor the
purpose of building, equipping, & putting n,o s.r-
vice one or more floating Batteries, adapted 10 al
tack Iepel, or DESTROY vhips of the enemy which
might approach the shores or enter the v siers oi
the United States.
This law was executed, in part, by the purchase
OF one Steam Engine and the building OF one yes
rel, the Fulton; in other respects, it has been W
executed, in consequence, il is presumed, OF the
peace which soon succeeded It's enactment BY
the Sd section Of the law for the gradual increase
| the Navy, passed in April, 1916, the Presden,
was authorized to cause TO be procured the S;san,
Engines s. all the i'm perisbsble materials necessary
| for building and egupping three Steam Batteries,
on the most approved plan, and best calculated
FOR the defence OF the ports and harbors Of The u.
nited States. The frames Of the three vessels
| have been procured; two Of the Engines, with al
their appuftenances, and part OF the third Eugine
purchased The Steam Engines and vessels pro-
cured were OF the best construction known al lie
time; il IL probable that Others Of more approved
form, both for economy aud power, might now be
obtained. This is a subject 10 which II IL presumed
Legislative attention viii, before long, be directed
BY the law just referred to, it is manifest that Con
gress at the lime Of its pasrage, looked to this spe
ces OF vessels as an efficient means oil protection
FOR our porls and harbogrs, aud subsequent expe-
renee and jmprov ements have justified the opinion.
The powerful agency Of Steam has been con-
stanty yielding, both IN point OF economy aud
skill TO the Improvements OF Tie sge, aud there can
now be little hazard in anticipating, that at no