The Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1837-1845, 1843-12-08


would recommend that the number OF mIdshiPmen TO
be kept as high il the beginning OF this year
About ten more pursers could be benehclaily em-
poyed. Several Of the sailing masters being from
age nhrmty unit for sea service small increase
of the number Is desirable. would recommend thai
the proyso limiting the number of officers Of the
Navy, which passed on the 4th of August, 1912,
be repealed far as il regards the warrant officers,
excepting midshipmen the present number being in-
sufficient for the wants Of the service.
The appropriation for increase, repairs &C., for the
year 1884 having been heavily drawn upon in
payment OF contracts made, and in the execution oil
plans and the completion OF works in progress anti
ror TO the commence of the present tsc year,
deemed necessary in October last to dischirgr
large portion OF the persons employed under this
head; leaving, however il Is believed, enough funds
xpended to meet most of the outstanding demands
against the Department chargeabe to this appropa-
ii n The ac' ofCongress of The 3lst August, 1912
which forhds the transfer of appropriations from one
TO another branch Of pendture in this Department.
has operated injuionsly Were these transfers per-
mtted ii is believed that sufficient means might be
ouad among the various unexpendeI balances of ap-
propriations to pay most if not ALL needtu OUTLAWS in
the fitting, completing, and reparing of vessels and
for payments on uncompleted contracts; and am
fully persuaded that the public Interests would be pro-
NOTED were Congress TO au'horze these transfers
early in the ems uing session.
There were several contracts made, some of them
years since for the supply of timber and various ma
tcTlaS lot lNuFy, NDlCn nave Without
ing been completed. Heretofore the Department has
been in the practice Of exceeding the time for conn
n!eing these contracts, where the interests OF the
United States have not suffered by such extension
The law of the g.! March, lSl3 requiriDg all con
TO be given by advertisement to the lowest bid
der to prohibit their further extension There
AaIe many contractors who would have large sums due
Jhem the completion of their contracts for previous
leiveries, being the ten pcr cent reserved on the
amoOnt Of those deliveries; but in consequences of
the non-extsnsion and non-fnl6lment Of those Coz
Kacts, these amounts remain unpaid. As the United
States have suffered no loss by these delays, and
1he parties exp ctcd extension according former
utsgc appears to be proper for the interpos
ton Of Congress for their relief Congress provided
tmr analogous cases by an act dated February 10TH
1882, and The passage Of similar act at this TIME
would enable The Department to effect an equitable
settlement of these cases.
Il il not proposed to make any contracts the
ing year for live oax for any other timber except
absolutely required for immediate use the Department,
intending 10 build only four small timber vessels dur
ing that tne and he timber for which being mostly
on hand 4fete
The docking of timber for long periods, large por-
ton of the time but partly covered with water,
of very questionable utility, and there posi-
tive injunes arising from the practice. Tie timber il
taken from the water, and before allowing it time to
dry Is hewn and put up for the frame of the ship
The planks are sawed from it to cover the frame
The consequences is great shrinking and liability Il
warp requiring additional expense for king from
the shriDkage of the pIanks and greater liability 10
leakage. II tends also 10 generate the dry rot which
disease, if may term it, appears to be fungus,
parastcai plant, ike mould germin ting IN the wood
and destroying the tenacy OF its fibre, which fangu
would be less liable to terminate in dry than in mois
wood. 1t is indeed doubted if it could terminate
all in perfectly d'y wood
A deficiency is apprehended in the appropriation
for provisions and clothing for the year. The
| SUN grained by Congress for this purpose was less
than that asked for by the Department and no, suf
Gent to provide for the persons actually in service
the passage OF the law. Efforts making to bring
the expenditure within the proper limits but owing
to the recent establishment of the Bureau of Provis
ions and Clothing and the state of its with
the ships distant stations, the Department has moi
yet been able 10 learn the precise condition of il.
xpendtures.
About S5 500 worth Of provisions, clohng ant
small! stores have been lost by The burning of The Mis-
| souri,, the wreck Of the Grampus and the wreck of
freight vessel at Port Praya.
The estimate from the Bureau of Ordnance an6
Hydrogrnphy.is some five hundred and twenty thou
| sand dollars more Than the asked for last year
of this about one hundred and sixty thousand dollar
areto pay for outstanding Contracts made the Boart
of Navy Commissioners some wears since and We
uncompleted Ii includes also an estimate tor a suf
icens number of powder tanks for all the SHIPS ano
briggs of the Navy, launched not launched that ar.
not now provide with them. 1t likewise includes ar
estimate for two hundred cannon Of large size.
In the Bureau of Yards and Docks the estimate for
the Improvement of yards Is about & 80 COO that
of last year. The estimate for coal on the suppo
sitIon that each steamer viii employ steam power four
months in the year. and the asked for is a very
liberal allowance even for this length of service.
In the plot of ground on which tie Navy Hospital
at Chelsea, Mass, stands, there many acres more
than OF any for the purposes # that establish
ment and pro iucing income. 1t his were sold a
handsome SUN IN sht be added to the Hospital fund
ard income be received from H. therefore respect
fully recommend that Congress authorize tie sale
much of this land as will not be needed for Ia,
Hosiita purposes and would further suggest tha
the Navy Department be clothed with authority IL
invest the Naval Hospital fund, amc untiag t,
over $1,000 and yielding no income, in some sal,
and productive securities.
| resolve was pas ed by the late Congress appro
priating four thousand dollars toward establishing az
agency in the State of Kentucky and in the s
oi Missouri for the pun Chase of American hemp 70
the use of the Navy. An agent was appointed ON th
let of July last for the State Of Kentucky and II
obedience to directions he visited the United State
| ropewaik at the Charestown Navy Yard for the pur
pose OF gaining information TO The kind and quat
| of water roied hemp used in the Navy and the mol
Of testing it's strength The appropriation for ihi
branch OF the naval service-Incrcase and Repair
having b en- mainly expended other contracts, th
! Department has recently directed lie agent TO max
no purchases and in this of the sppropria ion
mas not been thought eapedient 10 appoint any agen
for the State Of Missouri.
| MIR. Won Schmidt, intelligent gentleman, wei
acquainted with the culture of hemp la Russia md il
tins county, has been employed hy the direction o
the Department the last on The culture an,
prep saton OF hemp in this vicinity. lie is en-
gagged ia constructing machine for breaking it ant
separating the 6bres from The stalks without roung
Suould be succeed, of which there is a air, promise
great saving of labor will be made aud the hemp thu
prepared viii be much superior quality and strength
TO hemp prepared by the old method of rotling. Mr.
/ Nun SrhmIt- IL amended. He has, hoe,
employed TO translate The pamphlet on The culture an,
| preparation of hemp published at Odessa IN Russia
and to Inch the attention OF Congress invited b,
commu oIcatlon from THIS Dcpar inept, dated LIST o
| Mach, Io43 The expense of this translation fo
which here Is no appropriation, three hundred dol
| lars. The Translation Is submitted with this report
/ rssrscsfvy saggcst modification OF the ration
% as % dispense with The spirit portion nov allowed
That the frequent and hab ual use of ardent spirits
injuri usly affects the human system, ia truth b.
ii.ved to be now generally understood and admitted
by all iniei gent ply sologss. lis evd iDAu
not less the moral than on the pbyscal conJi,Ipg