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

lions annually, and its constant exposure with many
In hle lives TO insult and rapne furnish strong appeal TO
the Government for the protection of naval force
Should appropriations be made for the ensuing year. in
conformity the estimates it will enable the Department
not only TO strengthen the squadron i'm the Mediterranean,
aud extend its cruising ground with beae sug
ges,ed; but to guard efficiently the
coasts OF South America, aud provide sufficient force TO
visit occasionally the Indian aud Chinese Another
beneficial change also be pshed, by thus hav
S ou power 10 keep one vcsSei o' war Ut Tor acoVe
service at the shortest notice within
y TO DC despatched 10 weak endangered point of
our relations in quarter OF the word and when not
wantcd to be employed on The home station Tor the pur
poses OF protection of discipline the
the Of the country appear require
list of the different vessels now in with
their several stations and commanders subjoincd (Do
Ii IL due To those having special charge Of the ministerial
duties OF this Department, TO add that the sctest
ton appears to have been paid the prompt and thorough
repairs OF all force destined TO foreign staons and that
IN point OF strength and perfect equipment for useful
vice, the vessels of the United States in
probably never in superior condition
The construction Of the two Dry Docks has advanced
with great rapidty during the past year Both
mostly completed, except the removal of the Golfer DAMS
and the finishing of some of the gates machi
merry They present TO the eve specimens Of
sonry scdomcd rivaled in beauty and soidy. The ex-
penditurcs each have been about $500 000 and, by
the 4h of next July is hoped that of the public
vessels requiring repairs may be safely locked these
useful economical and splendid convenicnccs for our
val establishment.
For greater detail hi, subject snd on the purchase
OF materials under the act Of Congress for tho gradual inn
povemen OF the navy reference can be had to the report
annexed (E.)
personal inspection, during tho past season, not only
OF the dry docks but of all the yards except that
Pensacola has caused the head Of this Department
high qualification at the prosperous condition Of of
them The building of house,, and sheds for the re-
ccpion of materials collected formerly for the gradual
crease and now collecting under the appropriation for the
gradual Improvement of tho navy conducted with
great regard to durability and COW eniencc
Experiments have been recently commenced, with
Wow TO settle beyond further controversy the best mode
and places in this country for depong seasoning, and
preserving the different kinds of timber i'll gone
raj here in naval architecture Whatever differences
OF opinion may once have existed in Europe may
prevail in America, this subject it is believed we pos
sess the means OF removing them far regards own
| service.
The buildings for accommodation TO the officers of wards
reported IN the surveys and plans of A. ID. 1925
progress where most needed and in xion with the
houses Sheds wharves, walls, and ship ways,
qure, annually, such appropriations be expended
without neglect OF more urgent duties An increased
estimate TO advance all these improvements is
Tor the ensuing year. &C, No. 9.)
The dsconunuancc of some, and tho establishment of
other navy yards have been subjects previous commu
nicauons from this Department But sufficient reasons
can be discovered by the former at
this time; and the latter measure should i'm nv opinon
depend much though not entirely, tho future increase
OF our naval power.
Among other contemplated nj, in those plans
were rope at some Of present yards All obser-
vation and experience in the navy show that in nothing
does II suffer at this time than from bad cortage
The mpostions in the quality Of the hemp in the manu-
iacture and in the tar numerous difficult of de-
'eSuon productive OF injurious delays when detected and
when not detected, exceedingly hazardous safety Of
both crews and vessels Indeed the reasons seem more
powerful in favor of making our own cor,iage than
oil building our own vessels manufacturing our own
blocks and anchors An estimate presented for the cree
uon oil two rope walks at appropriate sites (F)
The vessels in ordinary have been of the wards
covered so as TO shelter them cectualy from sn,hine
and storms and 10 render security from decay much great
er man heretofore 1t gratifying circumstance, that
most oil those vessels as well all those upon the stocks
are IN condition highly credablc 10 the persons who
planned and executed the present them
ana mat oy proper care in future, until put in commission
no probability whatever exists of much further decay in
me important portions of their expensive works. any
In those portions composed of the invaluable material
oil live oak. &C & III )
The three schoonors, authorized TO be built under
the act OF Congress OF February Sd, 1891 were com
menced at the yard in this CITY, one al New YORK
and ono at Charlcsown. They are all nearly finished
and the first named a plan seldom before attemnted
If successful it may prove source Of much economy and
uuhty Ia the construction of vessels of the lower classes
She has been called the Experiment. the others the
Enterprise and Boxer.
The whole purchases of timber and stores under the
act Tor the gradual increase of the navy and which re-
main in dePosite at the yards, million and half
in value.
The OF purchases under the act for the Gradual
improvement of the navy in deposte is nearly half mil
lion.
The amount of property hand for repairs, is almost
million.
The ordnance, provisions &c. amount to upwards of
million aud half more.
The paper annexed Cd will present any further dc. ,iJ
desirable on this subject BY this will likewise he seen
mat tho property belonging to the navy has rapidly in
spect TO the accounts for property which in amount
The moncycd accounts of the navy will probably be in
rules Tor The UNDERGOING
revision he object will be 10 ample security 70
the Government, strict of interests and the great
cSprccauons against waste from accident or neglect
ne real estate, as well as the personal property be-
longing 10 the navy establishment, is very valuable in
GUIDING navy yards, hospital grounds sites for magazines
and their respective buildings The titles TO some Of these
ana 10 e parts OF others, in disputes and the evidences
OF the titles to some not collected and preserved tope
ther would be very conducive to the security of this
estate and render the transaction of business
more expeditions and satisfactory the examination nj
the titles, and the various about the estate
and the collection and preservation Of all the documen
ary evidence OF those titles devovcd upon one of
the law officers of the Government.
The act of Congress of March, 9th, A. d. 1901 makes
the commander of the yard Washington the navy
agent Tor this Department In the changes since adopted
respecting navy agents no separate and permanent one
mas bccn appointed at this yard but the duties have been
performed by the commander without giving any security
10y bonds and without the usual check of an approval Of
MS purchases by another officer. The duties of agent
70 te Department were specially imposed on him in
made IN compliance with both the letter and spirit of the
act Congress and has contributed 10 public convenience
by the saving of Zinc and labor TO the officer, of tbe Co
yenmcnt and to those having business TO transact with IL
Is recommended for the obvious reasons before suggest
co. hat the duties Of navy agent the yard and 10 this
department be hereafter separated from those of the
commander oil the yard and that the usual respon-
SlDy and Just compensation, be annexed 10 the form
er Office &c, No ~ Indeed, the whole system of com
pesaton to navy agents whether or
mas lot many years depended much upon large and ar
brary allowances, very Fashionable some particulars in
point OF principle, that further