Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1831-12-15


fore been completed; its benefits answering original
expectations, will be developed, and whether falling
successful, the trial. is hoped, will lay the foundation
for full information tho quantity and location of this
kind OF timber will assist the Government the rescrva-
ton Of those public lands where 1t abouns enable the
Department hereafter TO recommend substitute less
pcnsive and equally eficacious In the paper annexed
W Isl MINUTES detail OF the proceedings this subject
Intimately connected with the interests Of the service
the purchase and Of iron tanks in all our vessels
commissions they prepared only for ships OF the
line and gatcs built out OF the fund Tor the gradual
crease OF the The convenience derived from thom
in ballang tho increased capacity they leave
the greater security health i'm the quality of the water
all eonPr to render specific appropriation for this object
very desirable and in the end economical. (Ko
Tho building Of steam batteries is another subject OF
much interest While such astonishing improvements
making in the application of steam, would be IMPROVE
dent overlook its probable importance in mari
time warfare fail to keep pace with other nations
in new means of attack defence Tho experiment
made here after the successful introduction of this
power, in the building Of steam figatc was perhaps.
equal the state of skill in the of the power that
accident and as the machinery since obtained for other
steam vessels OF not the best extant for such
purposes Is recommended that appropriation be made,
TO enable the Department TO exchange it, to purchase
new and more appropriate machinery and to erect soon
az may be- two steam batteries ofwcvc heavy guns each
on the most modern and approved models. (L)
The Improvement of the navy depends much the
character of its officers and well its
se docks, yards and building materials that your aen-
ton Is invited TO Circumstances calculated exercise
in that respect favorable influence. Ii would hardly be
useful dccorous TO dwell former endatons
from this Departmental to changes
chiefly regards rank and pay limited peace establish
mcn naval academy further determinations in favor
OF service additional provion for hospitals, the abo
ton Of such large and vcxatious system of
allowances, division OF the duties Of the naval board
change in the powers of purser and in the mode of max
ing purchases fo the medical department Most Of these
recommendations have my decided APPRECIATION In add-
ton TO hcm tho state Of the service requires
the adoption Of few alterations connected with the in
strucon shpboard to young officers and with the well
fare of some who highly useful in their stations though
acting in subordinate capacities Thus il is believed that
greater benefits Of education to the youthful md.hipman
while at could be obtained by liberal compen-
saon TO schoomasers and scdulous attention the pur
chase and Of nautical books and
that the important class of sailing they arc not
in the line of promotion will become extinct without
cmoumens more nearly equal to what be commanded
by them i'll the merchant service; that the carpenters
samakers paid much less than those not in commits
sion and that the of gunners and boatswans
tirey insufficient IL happens that the moral and religious
benefits anticipated from the employment of chapains in
vessels abroad, though earnestly desired be full
y obtained by the Department. in the present condition
that class of officers This misfortune occurs in part
from the bodily iniirmes OF majority of them but
far springs from the smallncs of their number and
the inadequacy Of their compensation is hoped that
grcss will furnish remedy.
II gives much pleasure observe that the
OF courts martial is becoming less frequent that Your
solution TO project the oppesscd whether scamcn off
GERS, and at the same time to sentences into full
final effect against those clearly convicted, and that the
salutary alterations in punishmcnts recommended during
the past year, are beginning to produce beneficial in
huencc.
Notwithstanding the high wages and great demand for
seamen in merchant vessels the naval service continues
popular No difficulty has been experienced in obtaining
crew. seasonaby indeed the recruiting rendezvous
cioed some months age and in the time till more
men were wanted they made repeated applications for the
rendezvous TO be reopencd Much care has been
ed TO promote the welfare Of Whenever their
terms of service expire abroad they have for some
expense But the latter course attended by
and cost, arising mostly from short differences in the pc
RODS OF service in large and for which the
fectun remedy would be found in Congress authorizing
10 be enlisted not only for three years. but if sailing
10 foreign station within the first year, then TO extcn6
three years from the time of sailing Two orders are an
ncxed on, & 29 which have been issued during the
past season, chiefly with view 10 ameorac the condition
of this class of Besides these other attentions oil
late years. 10 comfort in their dress dryncss
warmth in their apartments sea- securities against
disease and better accommodations while SICK appear
have excited increased and permanent attachment their
part to that service in which they have helped
their country with such durable glory.
Many useful changes in the naval code, the prn-
shment OF offences, have before been urged and add
ton 10 them the power order yards and
within the limits of the United States in the same way az
on board public vessels at would be great convent
cncc.
The discontnuancc of the marine corps or its transfer
entirely 10 either the the navy, has been the sub
Jcc OF the former recommendations from this Department
In its present uctuating condition. without any mputa
ton the character of the officers of the corps
difficulties in relation 10 pay, allowances trials and orders
necessarily happenings and part Of which proceeded to
such an extent as to require pccs resolution of Congrc
in 1880, and particular provision in the appropriation bill
oil 1881 But by placing this establishment, in former
years has been proposed, wholly under navy discipline
and laws, most of these difficulties might, in my opinion
be obviacd all the present benefits of the service re-
ancd its increase i'm numbers rendered its
old associations preserved, and much greater economy
harmony, and energy infused into its operations without
dcogatng at all from the responsibility and usefulness of
the Should the system recommended in the docu
mcn annexed &C. No. l2) be fully adopted saving is
estimated at $4,000 annually. But in that event
the officers not needed should Justice transferred TO
the army, and the saving TO the Government would
then fall short of that amount In its hospital and staff
departments alone change of less extent as to officers
would to the public than ST. 900 annually; and
portion of the expensive call for barracks presented
in the estimates Of the present year, would rendered
unnecessary The appropriation at the last session. for
those at Philadelphia expressed that the officers of
the Treasury did not feel authorized allow the expend
turc
The condition othe pension andnavy hospital funds
they being under the charge of other officers in
ion with the Secretary Of the Navy will be made the sub
icct Of distinct report by the commissioners with view
to great and, in my opinion very sautary changes in
their future management. The of the priyateer
pension fund the past year is disclosed in the annexed re-
port. (N.)
The large supply Of lead in the hands of the Govern
men rents from the public mines being three or four
millions of pounds beyond what has been used by tho
War Department. and the great quantity needed in the
wy being annually for ten past about fifty thousand
pounds, induce me to recommend that from those rents
quantity equal TO naval wants be yearly apart and
placed at the disposal Of this Department
The deaths, dsmissons and designations the past YEAR
arc detailed in the lists annexed. 20, No. l TO 3.)
The general estimates for the ensuing year are present.
ed the document before referred to- and marked &C. No
to l5.) In these attempt has been made in conor-
-. Ill.