Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1834-12-10
rpoRr OF THE SECRETARY OF H NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,

prpoRr OF THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
NAVY DEPARTMENT,
November 80, 1884.
tn the President Of the United States:
Sra: In laying before you, at TINS tlme, a sue.
e;nct view of the condition of our navy, ana It's
onsr,tions during the past year, it affords me
great Measure to state, that its gradual increase
and improyement are such, as might nave oeen
anticipated from the ample means ioI l"d 49, ~
nose which have been afforded oy inc ioeiai
policy of Congress. naval force
I've hasn promptly performed; our
80 hssn nrotected in the remote as well as the
ns;yhborinv seas; our national characteI nas
hesn sustained at home and aDroau, "nhe q
49, nortion Of our naval othcers, seatnen anu
marines, have been kept IN acliVe service nue n
= strict discipline. calculated to mt them ior all
ths duties which may be required Of them, whe-
cher in defending our property on the ocean
tom nirates or open enemies, our shores from
hostile aggression, or our flag from insult.
An inspection of our navy yarGS a' 1oits-
ron,b Boston. New York. Philadelphia, WASH
;n1ton and Norfolk, made in August and Sep
tamher last, in company with the Commission
ers ot the navy board, has afforded me the most
SatiSf,ctorv evidence Of our means. In a snort
time, OF increasing our navy 10 any extent 'e
exieencirs Of our country may require.
The officers in charge oil those statiohs per
form their duties with great ability and zeal; the
building and repairing OF our ships are CON
dncted with despatch and economy; ana tue
annie materials on hand Tor naval purposes are
preserved with the greatest care, ana oy oil 'ne
means which science and experience can sug-
ge-t TO prevent decay.
line and seven frigates now building, Tor Inc
connletIon of which additional appropriations
T., the amount of 81 1877 $40 Will De requlTeu' Vi
five ships Of the line, two trigates, ana SIX Scoops
of war in ordinary, requiring repairs "hich VIII
cost S1.36 81, 000, in addition 10 the ma.eIiais III Ea
baud for that purpose; and OF one snip OF .ne
line. four rrigates. eight sloops OF war, anu sA
~ ,onars nm comm! sSion,- in all, twelve snlps
of M. line. thirteen frigates, fourteen Scoops VI
war. and six schooners. Besides winch, tne
frames Of ships procured, or under cohtiao', y
"a. Gradual increase OF the navy, and DINER ma
tariaIs on hand or under contract lot hat pur-
nose will afford the means OF bringing INTO Inc
s.,vice a. soon as it can probably be required,
an aJd;t,onal force of FIVE ships Of the line, ele-
ven frtyates, seven sloops OF war, ana TWO
schooners, the building Of which may De imme-
diately commenced on iduhSHihs '' ''
now upon the stocks.
O,r vessels in commission during the past
year nave been employed, as heretofore in pro-
iec,ing our in the mediterranean, IN
the West Indies, on the coast OIL bfaZli, anu III
the Pacific ocean. -
The ship Of the line, Delaware, ,he Tlga'es
limited States aud Constellation, the sloop OF
w,r Jnhh Adams, a I'd the schooner Shark, nave
bsen thus employed in the Mediterranean; ano
the frjpate Potomac after her return "ouh tue
Pacific AMI Indian oceans, was repalreu, ah"
sailed on the Goth Of last month to JON the NE
diierranean squadron, from which the iiiSa:o
Cons,eIL,tion had been ordered 10 return. ms
fr;oate arrived at Norfolk on the goth Instant
The sloop of war John Adams returned to the
limited States i'm February, from the Medlterra-
mean. and sailed again for that station in August
last, after receiving necessary repairs.
On the West India station, the Sioops Oh waI
Vantalia ST. Louis, and Falmouth, and the
schooners Grampus and Experiment, have been
empIoyed. The st. Louis returned 10 Norioik
IN INV last where she has been repaired, ana
r. I'M whence she sailed on the 1llh instant 10
resu,nr her station in the west lnoles. Inc
Vaudila returned in August last 10 I>orioiK,
where she is undergoing conSlueraoie repairs,
,rhi,b !, i believed will be completed early next
month, when she will return to the west lhoia
squadron o,.,r;o Eric
Iexing on, and Peacock. and the schoohers Eli
terprize and Boxer, composed our SQUADRON y
the coast of Brazil. The Erie did not san ir
This station until August last. Tie Lexington
returned to the United States in April, and the
peacock in MAY last. The Enterprise return
ed in ApriI, and sailed again ior tne oraLi'ah
station i'm July last, in winch month tne poker
returned to the United States, and, after oeihg
rsna;rrd sailed for the Pacific. The PEACOCK IS
nnw underuoin. considerable repairs, and Is ex-
nected to be ready for sea early in Feb. next
For our station in the Pacific Pa III iu the ,s ar,ga tie
Brandywine sailed on the I'd OF June E iaS 5 10
co-operate with the sloops oil war FaiTneia
ami Vincennes, and schooner Dolphin, and with
the Boxer, now on her way to that station, from
which the Falmouth returned on tne lstoi reo,
mary. and after having been repaired, saheo
for The West india station in March last:
Our naval force, consisting OF commissioned
and warrant officers, petty officers, seanen,
ordinary seamen, landsmen, and boys, amounts
tn a mo. and our marine corps, under its new
organization, will consist Of commissioned DIN,
GERS. non-commissioned officers, musicians and
privates. tn the number Of 1883; making a to-
tai of Z 355.
The dry docks at Boston and Norfolk have
fully answered the most sanguine expectations
that we're formed of their usefulness. They are
now deemed indispensable to speedy and eco
nomical repair of our larger vessels. But the
two already finished are not sufficient for the
nnrpose of our navy. An additional dry dock,
a. some Intermediate point between Boston and
Norf,lk. would greatly promote the purposes