Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1842-12-20

n-oct;csbfe means the quality Of chain cable Ton.
II is believed that the present day, We are not
sprpa ssed in this respect by any other nation anu,
improvements shall advance hereafter, as rapidly as
hcretofore We may, short time, safely chaeb3e
the competition OF the world
| ;.n,,l,r advancement has been made in iron tor
ordnance Too much Importance cannot be auacacu
10 The soundness Of cannon. The bursting oil a SUI
ole run in battle is often disastrous than many
hroadsides from enemy. 1t not emily Destroy NE,
and wihdraws so much from the effective ca'.ery Vi
The ship hut il also creates confusion ana dsosoel e@
cites in The minds OF the distrus IN the soundhess
Of the other gurs, and thus olscourases ana fenoel
lhcm limd. Hence, no consideration oil mere money
saving, should ever enter into The arrangements ioi
procuring ordnance for the navy. True economy re-
cues that the rcry best guns 1chich be made, and
none others should be used Upon th's oea inns
Department is acting. No cannon IS received "hich
does not bear the most satisfactory tests, ana YET u 10
not found that the cost OF ordinance is any greater nah
heretofore. On The contrary, guns OF Inc same Kinu
which have heretofore cost more than one hundred ana
thirty dollars per on have recently been contracted
| for CT ninety 1--we dollars
In conner the frauds which have been practised upon
the Government, have been gross ana enormous
Pure copper ought last upon ships bottom, twenty
wears; and vet that wch have used upon our ships
Of war; has not lasted upon an average more than Sc
ven Upon examining portion oftie copper recently
taken from the bottom OF the Columbus, found mat II
exhibited the appearance Of worm eaten WOOD the rea
corroded and fell ont Even that which remained, IN
of the oughness which belongs TO pure
copppr would not bear to be bent, but broke short oil,
like piece of cast iron. 1t is impossible 10 be too
careful in procuring article costly copper No.
thing but the application Of proper scientific tests, can
detect lis impurities, prevent the grossest and most
ruinous lmposllions single defective sheet on the
bottom of large ship, will render il necessary 10 bring
her into dock, and will thus cost the country Ten times
as much as would have been required to prevent any
h,o n btu'c hntf 10 mn laIl
part Of her entire cost md this cost is than dou
bled by using copper of bad quality
The great Importance of guarding against mposi.
lions in this respect, has induced the Department to
institute a series OF experiments, under the manage
nent of Professor Johnson, the results OF which pro-
mise to be Of great benefit TO the economy OF the SER
vice. These results have the honor TO communicate
copy of Of Mr. Johnson report, hereto annexed.
AS steam ships will hereafter form part OF our Ma
Wy, becomes important TO ascertain what kind OF fuel
can b. most advantareously used. With this view
have taken measures 10 cause proper analysis TO be
IN de- of the several Goals Of country and also OF
those of England All persons interested in this sub
jet, invited, By public advertisement 10 send
samples oil their coal 10 the navy yard IN Washington,
order tina, proper comparison mg be made, I'M
der suitable philosophical Tests About thirty samples
have been SENT and some progress has been made IN
the examination of them. Professor Johnson, to whom
this investigation has been nrusted, was called from
Washington before any conclusive results had been
obtained; but his experiments will be resumed soon
possible and will undoubtedly present mass Of most
useful information this important subject
The application Of scientific principles in the me-
chanical arts is universal. The mere art,zan,
whose skill is derived only from practice, is far behind
the times. Science is lending her aid TO the arts,
in all their departments, expanding their powers, null
tipiyng their uses, ond per!ectIng their works
respectfully suggest that this aid is no where more
important, than ~ The various operations connected
with n naval establishment. When consider the
,har md nr fhe ar
the cosilness of many OF them, and the high import
ance that they should all be of the best and most du
rnbs kinds, the prop-iety of ubec.ing them to all
cessary iess, and Of improving their quality as far as
possible, will at once be admitted This can be done,
only by the union Of science with practical skill
The knowledge which obtain from e1perienec is
always slow, always costly, and not always snrs that
which we obtain from apartment, particularly IN ply
steal science, rarely decevrs, and seldom fails, richly
10 repay US. The experiments which have already
been made, under the direction of this Department,
have impaired degree Of information, which could
not have bfen derived from any other source and which
will more than repay their cost, in the building oil
single ship. These experiments, however, are but the
beginning Of wha! might b. accomplished in the saine
way. If the Department were in condition to avail
itself OF the improvements which daily made in
practical science, the most important results would
be realized in The improved quality of our ships
and in the general economy Of the service. respect
fully recommend the subject to the favorable consdera
tinn OF Congress.
shall, in few days, have the honor 10 lay before
Congress code of rules and regulations for the Navy,
prepared in obedience 10 their directions.
invite attention 10 the existing laws the suhiec:
Of Navy pcnsons, which appear to me to need many
changes and notifications.
have thus, Sir, submitted, without reserve, my
views OF the prcsen, condition and actual requirements
of orr naval service. IL my duty 10 do this without
reference 10 any othe. considerations. Whether my
recon- me daons shall be adopted not Of
depend on the view which may be taken of them by
the legislative department ofthe Government In pre-
sening my own views, simply discharge my own
duty TO those 10 whose better Judgment, all the mea.
sures which have proposed must he referred
All which is respectfully submitted.
a. P. UPSHUR