Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1843-12-12

ing the duty of higher grade, is often Subject OF
cont n.ion and perpexlly and is Liable 10 abuses. ne
ut " of such allowances somewhat questionaoie
but II expedIe mt 10 continue them, the law might be
benefclsliy modified II should define accurately
what constitutes higher command, and perhaps also
prov de- that eAta pay be allowed, unless expressly
stipulated in the order direct Dg The ohcer 10 perform
such duty.
Parsuint to The act of Congress OF March 3D., 1913,
| Captain Rousseau, Commander Adams, aud Lieut.
Stephen Johnson have examined and survey Inc mar
bnr nf Memphis reference 10 it, capabillty TOT "a
: Naval Depot and Yard, for the building and repairing
steamships and other vessels of aar at that p ace -
The report Of these officers has been received, and &c
companies this.
An appropriation Of one hundred thousand d Z. ars
was made at the last of Congress for the par
pose Of building floating dry dock, sufficiently large
to second class rlgatr on such plan as .he oe
creiay of the Navy should approve, TO be usea III
sacsll After various inquiries the examination o. Va
fious plans, and the consideration OF the oilers oil per
sons proposing to build il, no plan YVES presented oy
hch Bile dock could be built within the UNITS OF
The APPROPRIATION and the Department d'd net ieei uu
thozed TO enter INTO contrac, requiring larger eS
pendture than The sum appropriated tor The purpose
The plan presented by S. D Dakln, for sectional
DOCK had the preference of the Department; but one
of a suitable re, with the necessary machinery 10
work it, could not be built within the sum appropriated
detailed report the subject, with an estimate OF
the cost OF such dock, TO be used as the eevating or
floating power, and connected with level rail- track
by which ships be- taken upon The land win ease
Il and safety, will be submitted III another commuhca
ton when all the necessary facts and conclusions sha
have been received from the persons having that sub
jecl in charge. MIR. Sanger the Engineer OF t'e bu
reau Of Yards and Docks, in compliance with the re-
solve Of Congress- is making the necessary examna
tons az TO the PRACTICABLE ty ofusing the Croton water
rs an eleyatno rover for a dock at New York. When
his survey shall have been completed, the Department
!. will report upon tha. subject
In the est mates are included The cost Of the nppara
tus for laboratory the Washington Navy Yard and
Ig and rtap lnts IL
believed that great advantages may be derived by
employing scientific persons IN testing the quality oil
copper and various ether materials and in The prepare
ton of many articles used in the service, which have
heretofore been found, when used, of inferior quality
II is highly important that competent person be EN-
poyed the preparation Of fuses, rockets and other
ire works indispensable in the naval service So deli
cent the in this knowledge that the fuses
necessary for It's use are obliged TO be purchased
The Medical Department OF the Naval Service re-
qurrs TALENT education and moral worth, properly TO
81 H. of high order in other branches of that ser
vice. but the Surgeons and Assistant Surgeons have
, no military rank modification of the law, by which
medical officers in the naval service shall be entitled
II rank in manner sn'lir 10 that prescribed IN the
r army, might be heneically made.
Commander Wilkes, with the officers under him, has
been assiduousy engaged in preparing the Hydogrsph-
zeal results OF the Exploring Expedition for publication
Before the end of the year forty plates OF charts will
be ready for publication comprising upwards OF seventy
general and local surveys of the groups and islands of
the Pacific. Many ready 10 be given out 10
engrsre.
Commander Wilkes reports, that the Narrative pre-
pairing by him, under the authority CT Congress, will
be ready Tor the press previous II March neat.
The Naturalists and others, also employed in the
description and arrangement Of the several branches
of natural history For their pay and that OF the per-
necessary in the keeping and attendance OF the
Hall, and to compt Il the arrangemcns, small eppro
prla,ion is asked The whole is making rapid an
approach TO comp lelon can re expected IN snch
duties The report and est male of Commander Wilkes
, is Submitted herewith.
In lie general estimates, for the half current year
ending June 30 h, lS43, and the fiscal year ending
June 3h, 15I4, fifteen thousand dollars required
"fnr nt of The building for Depot of Charts
and Instruments. That sum is embraced IN the amour
appropriated FOR enumerated contingent expenses IN
The act Of Sd March last but the 'erecon Of building
for Depot' not specified therein and the law pro
hbiis Tie application Of any part OF the amount appo
pra;ed for "o'iar objects than those enumerated ;
therefore, legislation necessary to perfect and legal
zc the application of the $4,000 to ;he erection o
Depot, the object for which, the amount was specified
in the estimates and for which purpose it il applied.
II append the report OF the Superintendent OF the
building, which he asks for appropriation of TWEEN
ty thousand dollars for grading the grounds, Nc The
house he has estimated or would be convenient but Is
deemed essential at this time. ii IS proper TO re-
mark that this building adapted in its form and struc
ture not only for Depot Of Charts and instruments,
but for Astronomical Observatory, and for other
scientific investigations.
II cannot but he gratifying you {, learn how great
an interest has been evhced by the Earned societies
and scientific men Of Europe, as well as al home, up
the esiatl shment Of Institution by the Gn:ern-
nen in which portion of the duties viii be the adj
vancenrcnt of science. Great liberal ty Of feeling
expressed towards the officer sent abroad for the pur
chase Of instruments; and, another mode IN which
their grea. sat sfacIon was shown, extremely valuable
presents of books made 10 lis library, through
n him.
II Contracts awarded 10 the loves. bidder have been
made the last year for heavy ordnance, but the
contractors have failed to fulfil their engagements, and
consequently, the guns have not been procured The
policy Of giving contracts for supplies OF such lmpor-
lance 10 the lowest bidder in preference to known ana
experienced founders, is Of questionable ulli'y But
such the pre- sent requirement Of the law The low
priced guns not always the cheapest Inc is
If lives during the last war and sInce that Tune, rom
the bursting Of guns beard our ships IS sad to have
been nearly AZ much the loss from the enemy shot
Ammunition, as well as guns. IS by law TO be procured
IN the like manner from the lowest bidder Powder
made from the Nitrate Of Soda III lieu OF the Nitrate oil
of Potash appears well and about strong when
first mlGe as that manufactured from Salt Pe'rc but
deterorat,s daily, and is nearly worthless in a few
months and, yet this inferior ingredient cannot be de-
tscted excep, by II chemical analysis. True economy,
hence would to dictate that different rule lh1n
tim, of giving contracts The lowest bidder, regardless
the skill and character Of the manufacturers, should
/ prevail in procuring the ordnance arms and ammunl.
ton for The service.
A series Of experiments have been made a. The
Washington Navy Yard by Professor Johnson, 10 test
the qualities tf coal of Different kinds, preliminary
pot, of which is appended. Charles Reder, PROBES
E scr Johnson, and DR.. Thomas F. Jones, have been
engaged in making experiments upon salty vsises tor
/ preventing EXPLOSIONS in steam boilers Professor
Jehnson has 80 made series Of experiments t. test
ard improve the strength Of iron, upon the principle OF
thermoension. After these several experiments shall
have been completed, reports will be made concerning
4 them.
1t has been found that the force allowed by the act
of the 3st August Sl2 is inadequate for the perform
ance of the duties required in efficient adninis,ra
ton of ths Department, An estimate has therefore been
su, United for three additional clerks for The Office o.
Sccrt Try The Navy; three for the Bureau of Con
st-ucilon Equipment and Repairs two for the Bureau
m Provisions ard Clothing; and one to take charge OF
all the books and papers OF the late Board Navy Com
mssioners and the Library Of the Department
The estimates the different bureaus and the Com
mandant of the Marine Corps Of the sums that will be
required for The proposed service OF The coming year,
!, are ssrt with this report.
r. All OF which is respectfully submitted