Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1827-12-22

" hsisilaae, secure a.ose rreels.on aid esiisia>
y in the settlement OF accounts, and at the end OF
the Limitation of the two years required by law
the balance would be passed, it now is, TO the
surplus fund.
In the expenditure of the appropriations of the
present year, 30 Tar as The Department Informed,
there has been no loss or deialcstion. The dis
bor-ing officers have exhibited punctually and
iai'hiulness. and as much accuracy, the circun-
stances before alluded to would permit.
Under the appropriation made in 1926 for a
survey ITO ascertain the practical facilities OF Ball
timore, Savannah, Brunswick aud Beaufort, for
Nsvalrurposss." ths, of Baltimore was cornple, ed
before The last session os Constsss, and the resul,
communicated, in answer 20 resolution of tue
House OF representatives. Since that time sur-
yeys OF Brunswick, and Savannah have been made
by l.'ent Stockton, and his report is in The Depart
meat. I.ie time necessarily occupied in them,
rendered IT impossible to complete Beaufort, dur
ing the spring and summer, without great hazard
10 the o'hcers and men, the health of several Of
then having suffered before that of Savannah was
ended as nSw IN progress, under the supefin
'entence Of the officer, ard will be finished
without delay, hen the whole will be ready to
oe communicated TO Congress These surveys
have been n,,ds by competent Officers, and will
furnish suficien, information. to decide how far
those places afford "practIca facilities for naval
purposes" They are, no weyer, unavoiably in
complete. The time within which il was suppos-
ed desirable TO make them, and the means grant,
ell by the appTo ration, did not permi, them TO be
so made as 10 tarni perfect surveys and charts of
those hafoors. Nor can such surveys be made
without the aid OF the means con tempIated b,
The Act of 10Th of February, 1907, to provide for
surveying the coasts OF the United States
1he report of tina UniteJ States Commission i.
ers' Under the law for the gradual increase of the
Navy is annexed.
Under he second section of the act for ,be
s'ao'si Improvement OF the Navy" passed a, the
last session, contracts have been made for The
,a'hes OF SHIPS OF the line, frigates and :
sloops of war.
Under sulhony vested in the Executive reser
Eh.iohs OF land have beeu made in Louisiana an 4,
Alabama and oil tract adjoining the Navy Yard
al rennsacoIa. Ofders have been given to the
SoH'fnSndant OF the Yard to plant live oak on the
latter. An examination OF the coast of Son,h
Caroiiun, Georgia, and Florida, as far S,utb n.
hiusqulto lnlet, has been made, with view to
tue purchase and reservation OF land HAVING Tina
ger upon II. Much less was found than hal mr.,
Viously been hoped for. Orders have also hesn
e'Ven, and are In course of execution, for the
examination of the west coas, of Florida. 4, 20
manifest from the Information already obtained.
mat we shall be obliged to plant extensive tracts
Oh land with the live oak that w shall, after
Jew years. be deprived of ibts most yaIuahle
timber Tor the uses of our Navy.
ne AIN section of the act referred 10 authorizes
,he fresideot "to cause TO constructed two ,rv
SocAs Tor The use OF the navy, the one 10 tb e
south the other 10 the North of the Potomac .,
The two sites selected ale, at the navy Yards or
aosport IN Va. S Charlestown in Massachusetts
Loainmi Baldwin, Esq. was appointed the enei.
neer 10 superintend the construction of the docks
Contracts for large portion of the labor and
materials Tor both have been made, and The work
al ChsTiestown commenced That at Gosport
VIII be comnenc ej in short time At,eniion
mas been made 10 the direction of the law RESI-
peciins The Marine railway at Pensacola, but the
s'ua'ion OF The Navy yard and improvements
the subject o'
In the early part OF last summer Board Of
Ciacers composed of Commodores Bainbridee
Chauneey and Morris, was directed to {. exan,fns
thoroughly all the Navy Yards and prena,e -
Tor Their improvements and the preservation of
'ne public property thereiD,'' which mich, be
suoiu''ea to The Presileht for his sanction These
ohicefs have devoted TO this obisc, az large nor.
'ioh Oh Their t.'ne as could be spared from their
1.hef urgent duties. and have made sone progress
ne whole wal be completed 10 the course Of the
"'o'e'' OF early In The spring; and FROM what has
afeady been done, entire confidence IL fen ,b.,
su.n piahs VIII be prepared aud sanctioned "a
WIN Sre"tiy promote the public interest, render
o"i navy and dock yasds uch as the interest of the
hation demands, and prevent an unnecessary and
was'eiul expenditure Of the public money No
law which has been passed since thar for The ora
auai increase OF the navy, has he'd more ssIuiary
influence upon its interest, than The one of which
this provision forms pait
u report " CT the expenditures under this act
ana Inc measures taken 10 carry the same into eff
feet" is suhjoined -
ne discipline, economy and efficiency Of the
se,siee' are OBJECTS OF unceasing attention, and it
IS believed that they are as worthy of commend,.
ton as at any former period But in this as in
piece4oS years, experience has proved, that MAJ
ny OF TIE evils which have bean 81 often noficed
sun exists Some which were within tina comne
'ency OF the executive. have boon removed. otbe,s
must await legislative decision, it would be inrro-
per again TO present in detail the views ~ b;cb
nave before been tskeo, the questions of rank
and pay IN the Navy; OF a want of regular or
SanHa'Ion; OF code OF criminal law CT repula
'lons; and Of Naval schol!. But the Ds0a,t
hsnt would not discharge It's obligations to the
service, II II failed TO express conviction tb.,
discipline, ecoEomy md efficiency would be nro..
mosed by Judicious legal provisions on these sub
jscts.
In no service, either of the army or navy. in
any sge or nation, hes n force, such as we nov,
send TO sea IN sQuadrons, been commended bv
Captains; and peiisct subord,nalion and disciy
pine, without which there can be neither Ell
r'eney hnr econoiny, cannot prevail unless so
iafss force has commanders OF proper gasde -
Rank - as Indispensable in the navy as in the ar.
my equal justice TO the officers calls for the e.
fbiisbmsnt Of higher grade. Several of tho.e
upon orr list Of Captains have been such for more
thsn quarter or century; have commanded
forces superior To those always commanded Ia,
Generals on lend; hsve borne themselves as raj.
snily, ADD done The state ss much service a. ,6ei,
military rigais on shore; yet they are eth Gan.
tsins, and with the compensation of Contains.
while their patriotic competitors, s.ifh ,ervice
less protrseted; anil no, more energetic and de-
serving arc rewarded by = lust and wise (.o,e~.