Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1831-12-13

pirate sites.
The vessels in ordinary have been, at
most of the yards. covered. 50 as 10 sheiter
them effectuaily from sunshine and storms, and
to render their security from decay much greater
than heretofore. 1t is a gratifying circumstance
that most Of these vessels, as well as all those
upon the Stocks are in condition highly credit
able to the persons who planned ane executed inc
present mode Of preserving them; ana 'ha'. oy
proper care in future, until put IN comm'ss'o'''
no probability whateve, exists of much luther de-
cav in the important portions of their expensive
works. or of any decay in those portions compos'
ed of the invaluable material of live oak.
The three new schooners, authorised to be built
under the act Of Congress Of February Sd. 1851,
were commenced, one at the yard in this city,
one at New York, and one at Charlestown. They
are all nearly finished, and the first named on a
plan seldom before attempted. II successfully
nay prove source Of much economy aud utility
in the construction Of vessels OF the lower class
es. She has been called the Experiment, and
the others the Enterprise aud Boxer.
The whole purchases of timber and stores, un-
der the act for the gradual increase OF the navy,
and which remain in deposite at the yards, are
over million and half in value.
The amount Of purchases, under the act Tor
the gradual improvement OF the navy, IN depo'
The amount of property on hand for repairs, is
| almost million.
| The ordnance, provisions. sc. amount to up
wards of million and half more.
The paper annexed will present any further
detail desirable on this subject BY this, It Will
likewise be seen, that the property belonging to
the nayy has rapidly increased, and is increasing.
Some new regulations in respect to the accounts
| for property, which exceed in amount the money
ed accounts Of the navy, will probably be intro
duced into the rules for the service now under
going revision. The object will be to ensure
ample security to the Government, strict care OF
its interests and the greatest precautions against
waste from accident or neglect.
The real estate, as well as the personal proper
tv, belonging to the navy establishment, is very
valuable, including navy yards, hospital grounds
sites for magazines, and their respecuye build
inps The titles to some of these, and to parts
of others, are in dispute; and the evidences of
the titles to some are not collected and preserved
together. II would be very conducive to the Sc
cury ofthis estate, and render the transaction OF
business concerning it more expeditions and sa.
tsfactory, if the examination OF the titles, and
the various controversies about the estate, and 1t
the collection and reservation OF all the docu-
mentary evidence Of those titles, were devOlv-
cd mon one of the law officers of the Govern
|
ment.
The act of Congress of March eth, A. D.
1904, makes the commander Of the yard at Wash
ington the navy agent for this Department. In
the changes since adopted respecting navy agents.
no separate and permanent one has been appoint
ed at this yard; but the duties have been perform
ed by the commander without giving any secuf-
ty by bonds, and without the usual check Of an
approval Of his purchases by another Officer
The duties Of agent to the Department were me-
yer specially imposed on him in practice, till the
past summer. This last change has been made
10 compliance with both the letter and spirit Of
the act OF Congress, and has contributed to pub
lie convenience, by the saving OF time and labor
to the officers of the Government and to those
having business to transact with it. 1t is recon-
mended, for the obvious reasons before suggest.
ed. that the duties of navy agent to the yard and
to this Department be hereafter separated from
those of the commander of the yard; and that
the usual responsibility, and just compensation,
he annexed to the former Office. Indeed, the
whole system Of compensation to navy agents,
whether permanent or temporary, has for ma
nv wears depended SO much upon large and arbi-
trary allowances, very questionable in some par
cuIa, in point of principle that further lesIsla'
ton on the entire subject seems highly proper.
A new arrangement in respect to the draushts
by our agents on two foreign stations and in r'-
spect to the payment of the draughts drawn on
all of our foreign stations, when payable IN
London, has lately been concluded on terms
much more advantageous to the Government.
As a part of the plan for the gradual improve
ment Of the navy. the attention of this Depart
,nent has. for some years, been turned to the
rearing of live oak, and to its preservation when
found growing on the public lands. About
quarter of century ago it was estimated that
the full growth of between four and hive hundred
acres Of timber trees was annually requisite to
keep the British navy its condition at that time;
and such is the rise in value, as well as scarcity,
of good building materials in the progress OF high
agricultural cultivation. that the royal forests OF
England, preserved for public purposes, have
sometimes been considered one great foundation
of her naval greatness.
The plantation Of trees, commenced few
years since in Florida, was not deemed proper
subject Of further attention by my immediate
PREDECESSOR. more, however, it is presumed, from
doubts about the legality and necessity OF that
partc ular measure, than about the utility OF care
\ ci ...,.,, o., e;tbpr the uroWth or safety of our