Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1841-12-23
No. 6s.--yOLUME XXXVIII.

thsee small vessc!u of war, aud finish the rigatcs
Cumberland, Savannah, Rar,an, and ST. Lawrence.
The balance in The Treasury To the credit Of the
navy hospital fund is S27 D07 % This fund ~ gra-
dfly increasing, from the assessment of 20 cents per
month upon the pay Of officers, seamen, and marines,
SO mat continuing surplus may be expected. re-
csInend that authority be gwen To invest these
reises as they accrue, III some interest herring fund
80 mitch Of It's annual increase may not be needed
for the particular purposes Of the fund mag be adyan
tageousy applied III other forms, 10 the comfort Of our
seamen. the average annual increase of this fund,
sem the LIST January 1896 haa been S2 223 81; which,
- had been invested III per stock, would have
next 49, - 80 49, 80 - '''"1'y
- appropriation for the "suppression of the riave
! IA -" es iemans unexpended the sum Of 1896
| ca", is "eeh cnrrIed 10 the surplus fuud re-
fnena lhatIt be reappropriard and the further pum
! %, S.,oO0 be added, in oreer 8, na, ',,.s: ~.
bHities OF this fund " ''S'' ou''a"a'"g ia
-, o,ler The head OF "contngences no, co,,ooro,cd
a.r. ,ha, .. .ie appropriations Of the last ,hreo
years NE SUN Of 926 76 of which 81 o.c
e.rricd 10 the surplus fund on the Is, of ~ WIZ 10
fund. Ff'' pu'Posss Of the
For the condition Of The navy pension fund" =.
specliu!iy refer you TO the annc,ed reno-, or, ~
missioner Of Pensions. F " VIC So'''
The operation OF the apprentice system Continue. ..
be highly encouraging. Complains are ncc,osnar
made that the pledges of the Governmen, are ~,
deemed, but no sufficient evidence has w, raLI -,
Department Of the existence Of any scrie,s -
Great interest is felt in the success of this
and every effort IS used to 10 the apprentice ali
the benefits and advantages promised By the terms az
enlistment The vigilance of the Department, will be
constantly exeredto guard against oil abuses and In
introduce INTO the system every practicable improve.
ment The number Of apprentices enlisted is about
900 This IS not favorable result as might hu yo
been expected An extension Of the system is contem
plated 10 give 10 boys in the interior of the corn
try opportunity 10 join the service without subject
ora To no a
on the seaboard.
Great difficulty IS experienced in the enlistment of
seamen To what cause this should be attributed am
unable 10 say and, consequently am prepared TO
suggest any remedy. II ~, however, probably true
that The is ofoo little consideration in The
general estimate Of the service. Laws aud regulations
securing TO hun the enjoyment Of his Just rights liberal
wages pnncually paid and application il not
an extension, of the benevolent policy which provides
for hun or his family when he is disabled or killed in
The seryicr would probably for ships of war
the preference IN most cases those Of the merchant
service
Experiments in Gunnery and proectiles which have
been conducted for several successive seasons under
the direction of Captain NJ. G. Perry in the vicinity
OF New York, have been continued on board the IT, s
steamer Fulton, Captain John r. Newton but under
the general control Of Captain Perry. In testing Gun
IN the usual mode, 1t unfortunately burst killing seve
raj men and wounding others have caused The sub.
ject to be investigated by court of noniry. whose
the accident may have been, Just censure can be al
tached to the officers who conducted the experiment
Measures have been adopted and are now in process
OF execution for supplying the navy with the requisite
guns. Less progress has been made than was desra
be- because Of tie great pains which have been taken
10 obtain The best which could tie procured in the coun
try In short time they viii be furnished of the va
rious descriptions used in the service including the
Paixhan guns.
Under the appropriation Of the last session for The
q IN Tho palt, e
improvements IN ordnanca, in the construction of
steamers and other vessels Of war; and other matters
connected mth The narat srrriee ana The nntanal de-
tpnan,s, however, have already been authorized and
others under the consideration of the Depart.
ment from which very beneficial results are confident
u anticipated IL is not proper, however, 10 make
them public at this time. So many scientific and prac-
teal men throughout The country turning their
attention to this subject that may reasonably expect
great advantages from ndclous Of this appropri
ation
have, under your dreciions taken measures for tho
construction of steamer on Lake Erie in compliance
with the act of 9th September l94I
regret 10 say that the measures which have been
adopted for the preservation Of 1--we oak and red cedar
timber, under existing laws, have not been attended
with the desired results Whether this is owing To the
neffciency in the laws themselves or to want of due
vigilance aud fidelity in the agents employed am I'M
able 10 say but have the most conclusive evidence
that the timber is daily taken in large quantities from
the public lands without authority and contrary law
This is a serious mischief, and one which calls for
prompt remedy. II is confidently believed that the
agencies now authorized By law will not answer the
purpose. The awless bands who engaged in these
depredations pay respect the unsupported auhor
" of the agents and, as IT is almost impossible 10
bring them TO justice through the ordinary forms of
trial, they are lett 10 plumber unresraned The pre-
Of military force, charged with that especial
duty, believed 10 be absolutely necessary preserve
this most valuable timber. A very small force would
answer the purpose. single steamboat with her ord-
nary crew and a few marines, under the command Of
active and Judclous navy officer would be able 10
pass rapidly from point 10 point, and extend full protec
ton to every timber district which is accessible by
ter The cooperation Of cutters might be az
orded, if required This would be at once the mos.
effectna and The cheapest expedent. Agents nigh.
st be employed 10 watch the interior Districts and To
give notice of all trespasses committed on them Pow
should be given TO arrest offenders and 10 bring them
before the proper tribunals for trial The penalties and
for!eures prescribed ny the acts Of IS7 and 1881 are
supposed to be sufficiently severe the only difficulty
now is TO detect offenders and bring them TO Justice
Additional legislation aso is probably necessary 10
define accurately the limits Of the reserved districts,
and TO prevent all interference with private rights The
whole subject is respectfully submitted as one which
claims the early and serious attention Of Congress.
Every effort has been made, pliancc with the
law, to obtain water roied American hemp for the
If the navy, but hitherto without One con-
tract has been made, but the has been una
BILE to comply with It's terms We are, therefore, for
the present thrown upon our former resources for
supply of this article, hut shall continue to use all
possible eSerlons to carry out the wise policy Of Con-
gress upon this point.
That reform is necessary, IN every part Of our
val establishment, is on all hands admitted and 1t is
subject of general regret that it has been long de-
ayed. The delay has been in the highest degree inju.
rous to the service and is daily rendering reform
and difficult, it becomes and more indis.
pensabe. Impressed with this truth and anxious that
no time should be lost in commencing this important
work, respectfully bring to your notice at the ear.
lest day do not PROPOSE however to present at this
time more than the outlines Of the many import
ant subjects 10 which ldesre to invite your attention
1t is presumed that Congress- If il should act upon tho
subjec, at ALL will refer il to committees of their own
body, before whom hope 10 he prepared 10 lay all the
inf rmation that may be required.
The first step ought 10 be the preparation Of full
code of laws and rules for the government and Iegu.
l,ion Of the naval service. Without this every other
measure of reform will be unavailing. II is of the
sence free government that tho rights, the duties.
and the responsibilities of all men, in all conditions,
should DO ascertnned and accurately densd and it ID
of the essence of tyranny that men should DO punish.
ed for imputed offences a, the arbitrary discretion