New-York daily tribune., 1843-12-11
Rennrt Of the Sfrretary Of the NAVY.
navy DKpAarMgNr, Nov. IS, lsli

the following abstract, which contains ai 'iia' II
important: :,
The following table shows the present strength
of cur Navy: -.
sbin Of. .12o /. lst class yes ofwaraa each
ships of the line. go each gun !,s%a 1ioop''
% s,is.,.s 81 Sips for store ships 8 :,
r:. so IL brigs and schrs. :. 10 :
ffissss, fassss Of. do Store ships.lo 10 .
"There are also frst-class sloops reaay ,oi
launching Besides these there are 'l,e e S.ss "ns
ship Mississippi of IL guns the @ a..on - 70 gnns
the Princeton (Erricson's propeheil oi - suna;
ths r1nan of 4 gems, with Hunters submerged
us.e,s -uo 49, The Poinsett of 2 guns and an Iron
stssn,er, she Michigan, of guns, nearly ready
~ Iapnch on Lake Erie. There are likewise four
small schooners employed as packets or receiving
vessels Total, including vessels OF various de.
scriptions, 76."
The Washington, 80 guns has been broken up
The ship Franklin and razee independence arc
to be repaired at Charleston. The Constitution
also at Norfolk, and the slooP OF war Yorktown
at New York, are undergoing repairs. Bng Dol
phin is awaiting repairs at Norfolk.
"Inouiries were instituted early IN the summer
as to the cost of building iron steamer OF aDou
1000 tons, at Pittsburg, with Hunters submerged
wheels and in the execution ef this plan d con
tract was entered into, early 4n October, WIN
Messrs Tomnson & Co.. for building 1t at DC
finite price per pound, aud the whole cost not 10
exceed, in any event, $l50,OOO, with guarantee
of speed at the rate Of nine miles per hour' from
her steam power, i'll smooth water.
"Some months since order was given 70
build small iron steamer at the Washington
NAVY Yard, on Hunters plan, to be partly OF
galvanized iron; but owing to the heavy drafts
nnon the appropriation, for other purposes, that
work is now suspended.
Constructions were also given in April last, Tor
the building of six soops of war OF the largest
class: two of which have been launched, and the
others are on the stocks nearly ready for launch
inp. The work on two of these has been sus-
pended for the present In addition to these sloops
ON the Stocks there are of the vessels previously
named as constituting part of the naval force,
the following on the stocks, VIZ, the Vermont
and Virginia, 80 guns each, at Boston; the Ala
bama, 80 guns, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
the New York, 80 guns at Norfolk the oantee
frigate, SO guns, at Portsmouth, New Hampshire
and the frigato Sabine, SO guns, at New YORK.
The cruising ground of the Home Squadron ex'
tends from the Banks Of Newfoundland TO the
river Amazon, taking in the Gulf OF Mexico and
the caribbean Sea-lhat of the Mediterranean
Souadron in the Mediterranean Sea-that OF the
Brazil Squadron extends from the mouth OF the
River Amazon TO Cape Horn, and the east along
the Equator to the SOUTH western boundary OF the
African station, Cape Negro, thence down the
coast to the Cape of Good Hope.
The Pacific Squadron cruises along the whole
west coast of America, and westward from Cape
Horn to west longitude, and southward between
those meridians.
The cruising ground of the African Squadron
extends fron the Madeira and Canary Islands to
the Blight of Biafra, and west from the coast of
Africa to the thirtieth degree of longitude.
The experiments of the war steamers Union
and Princeton have been highly satisfactory to
the Department. Improvements have been made
in the Navy Yards at Portsmouth, N. H.,
Charlestown and Gosport; and others arc pro-
posed in the different yards during the year.
/" For the service of the next year, the employ
lnent Of the following force is proposed:
I" For the Home Squadron, three irigates, SIX
sloops, swn staamels, and five briggs aud schoon-
ers; making Ii, all sixteen vessels. For the Me-
diterrsnean, three ifgacs, loar slooPs, one brig,
and one store ship-nine vessels. For the coast
one store. .ship-seven vessels For the coast OF
Brazil, two frigates, three sloops, one brig and
one store.slip--eeven vessels. For the Pacific,
three fgates, four sloops, two brigs or schooners
and one store-sMp--ten vessels. For the East
Indies, two frigates, two sloops one brig and one
store-ship-six vessels. For the Lakes, one
steamer. For special service, the steamers Mis-
sissippi, Princeton and Union, and the small iron
steamer now building at the Navy Yare, Wash
ington.
'tThis increased force seems 10 be called for to
afford adequate protection to our national inter-
ests embarked i'll our increased and growing
commerce on the distant stations. The force
proposed to be added to the Home Squadron, the
cruising ground of which extends from New
foundland to the river Amazon in South Ameri-
ca, seems to be necessary IN guarding our own
Shores in protecting the immense capital en-
ployed in the coasting trade along our whole sea
board, from the st. CroiX TO the SABINE and in
giving countenance and assistance to our foreign
commerce with the West India Islands, and with
the ports on the American Continent"
The ships to be employed arc all ahoat, and
the officers, most of them, commissioned and in
pay. AS it is necessary for u well-disciplincd
navy that the officers should be in active sea ser.
vice, the Secretary recommends the " employ
ment of a sufficient number of vessels to require
the services of every officer that can be spared
from shore duty and capable of sea service"
The proviso passed August 4th, 1912, limiting
the number of officers is recommended to be re-
peaiea, except as it regards Midshipmen--the
present number being considered insufficient.
on account OF the heavy drafts on the appro-
priaslon for increase and repairs &c. many
workmen have been discharged A repeal oTth
act of Congress forbidding the transfer of funds
from one branch to another in the Department is
recommended, as it operates badly Had it not
been for this act all that was needfpl for o,,s.s