Constitutional Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1824-1832, 1829-12-22
DOCUMENTS
ACCOMPLISHING. TtsG FRLSlpENTS 3-EssAOa
NAVY YARDs-pRBsENr ! PROPOSED.
.1coy Commissioner Qbice,

ly submit the result.
The plans of the several Navy Yards indicate the
improvements rI3de iii embarrassing OF officers
quarters, store houses, ship houses, blacksinnhs'
shops, timber sheds, timber docks, spar sheds, boat
sheds, Sc with the dry docks in progress at Norfolk
and Boston; and he paper will shew the
Der md description of ships ordinary, and the state
sl1 condition of each
lhe query The number of Navy Yards now
established and IN Operations is one OF snch impor-
fllirn 80 command the most arrest attention and
Investigation. The Commissioners fully sensible
tat its discussion may excite strong local feelings
AMI ih"y aware OF the responsibility of any opin
ION they may express upon the subject but referring
exclusively 10 the unbiased dictates of their iudg
men IN the performance Of an important Official duty
and claiming the indulgence which liberal comrnl-
Iry will not fail to extend to honest efforts, locking
solely 10 the advancement of the public good, they
approach the question with confidence proportioncd
to the sincerity of their convictions.
sis not ne lumber of Navy Yards greuier ,iau
Is Consistent either with economy, or the wants #
the seryic -
To mantain any yard beyond The number re-
eeSsAsy Tor building nnd cquippia@ ships with
tie utmost desp itch. in vie, be consist eni ell
thtr with economy or the wants of the service
|, Is obvious that tn greater the number of Navy
trds, the greater mlis necessarily be the expense
\ yard, used Tor general purposes, tha is for build
laF, epai.ug, eqnippng and v,etuai!ng Navy, re-
Cl.'c~ n'1r!y tiI se;t al officers slpcrintcnd it,
lijaougI il may be Cuiy occasionally set! for sucl,
Purposes. The principle Of accuun, biily in each
>ard beng necessarily h same, the s.ame system of
cE;ncks must be maintained, whether the amount of
rd-
not instantly used tor grneal purposes some Of tho
gubaltern officers gu proba bly,. be- dispensed with
odt not IN sufficient number 20 AFFECT, materially the
aggregate nmouut ofcXpen cs five keep lii the
preservation Of syst IN.
~ err, h. disregard economy, ulaTsihl. r,o SONS
night be ass. gnad, for Increased number of
yards It might TIC urged that mll;iplyiur their
nuplber, would multiply the chances of feachnr one
OF them in of ulrrrency-sucl Us dis rass in
storms disasters brittle; but when we look to the
Localities OF onr present var IS, there are but lew OF
them that claim 4 decided Preference even on
this, the most favorable, but certainly lagot; view
OF the subject The harbor of Boston can be catered
only when the wind shall happen TO b. fair I3snow
storms in wi1'er 10 ogsn spring end fall present So,
rious and frequently insuparab!c difficulties. The
objections apply with considerable force 10
Portsmouth, New Hampshire. New York Philulel
delpha, and Pensacola, are all Objectionable, as ne
Their Of them Is easily accessible; and the two iat.-
cannot be entered BY ships Of great dtRught, ever
at high water.
1.-THE number of Navy Yards were confined t., the
number necessary for Inc service i'll peace or in war
many advantages woult result The expenses would
be reduced, and efficiency greatly promoted: srstnr
and uniformity might be ino;e EASILY preserved and
the accountability Of those having the direction rem
dcred more certain and precise Ry redIcinr H.
number of yards, moro work would necessar, bo,,o
30 be done at each Tins would enable thr Eornr,-
Hrnt to concentrate ariltcers, ship carpenters and
ether mechanics and give them Constant nTr NIL,
ara the Government would have in It's poy,ar ~ -
Leo e. retain in its service, the most valuable at fxl
aud moderate wages. We should escape the inrop
d, ~ nDDuiCt
in5 mechanics at so many different points to execYtc
the pubic works and dl5charglng them when snch
works done.
-his state Of things not Only compels,ls rreouo,1
- pay high wages, but to accept the services of n
Nor those possessing the most skill becor7e 5s
Sontontcd when discharged, and will never return
unless from necessity. BY having few yards, and
thos" lu!'clouSy arrange and provided with tho no
cessiTY cOnVenIences, much might be gained in the
amount of daily obour performed. Ship carpenters
and other mechanics, working under covers can not
NltT irND ntt+Trl 1utrh Il,,
ny other nclciDent weat her--a consideration n,
postant to the Government, and calculated to render
employment IN It's service an object of competition
With the best While time would be Lost
when working under cover, without a cover il Is he
cved that for six months Of the year the work nsr
week would not average than ~ DAYS Thus
oacasong loss OF one fourth of time to save which
!.3chanicS would readily agree to probably 10 per
cent. less wages-wlne ship built under cover -
worth probably 25 per cent. than when built in
the open ar, coast antiy exposed to sun and rain
II would be difficult to innate fully the value %
chosen bodies OF mechanics selected for their skill and
industry, and prepared with every necessary convc
Meacc, faithfully to execute the public works in the
best manner and IN Che shortest time. In peace,
ecouen; would be greatly promotcd--n war he Ilnb
g5t interests Of our country would be subseryed.
@W,ag olner considerations claiming attention. it
ro4g 20 observed that, by reducing the number of
T. ry Yards many materials suitable for the con.
s.5l.t.ln of small vessels would in he buildyg of
.-cc slps be saved. In TIE present state Of thnps
@tcn materials arc distributed amoUg so !ulpy Yards
L'' IA "%pcncG and dionlty of collecting them ut
eng ne point, frequently exceeds their value
ing this question then in reference 10 tie ex.
ana o he efficiency "i our naval establishments
The Commissioners dncil, dly Of the opinion that
The present. number of Navy Yard is greater than
1. eca5j. ent ciLhcF With economy the wants Of
The s--.icc."
Tie question here ariscs-uhat number Of NAVY
src. a.rs the Navy viewed in IT, preaeat and prob
--'e future state. requr", TO secmc to ii al the adj
rap'1Ees aud facilities necessary TO render il IA the
D. hes degree efficient,
ioi.fn q satlIactory opinion upon his important
t2'"', ~ 1as' look to our scab1arl and consider well
.ae .o1.-...- gi our habo-s. Il VIII be found nat
.tnoryi rr~' Sou-, there are but lew Of Them which
c'n te safely aiered by ~ Of tie linc. or even
re fe nd surely it w be concedcd that
fox ruT a-.--..
'i thine frontier presents two prominent TO-
Il - which a sLlll lnuadlrcr nn-1r ..--..LL -.