The daily Madisonian. [volume] (Washington City [i.e. Washington, D.C.]) 1841-1845, 1844-12-04

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properties and advantages Of dry dock and II n,
different kinds OF floating docks with or without
basin aud railways. A board Of officers and ongl
neers, consis ing OF Commodore Kearney and Car
Wymsn, Of the Navy, and Capt. A. Tslcott, and I
p. s. Sanger, Civil Engineer, ordered TO pel
form this duty and 10 examine the barbors of Pei.
sacoa and OF Portsmouth, n. H., for the purooss
me ntoned in tie said section. Unconlrollable eli.
cumslances have delayed the board ia The perfu-
nance of their duties But they have made eonsit
cradle progress and their report may be expected d
early day will be consistent with the thorous
| examination necessary TO correct conclusions :
| In discharge OF the duty deyolsed on me by the
section first above recited, repaired TO New York
and examined the site al Brooklyn aud the plaps OF
| docks submitted for my inspection.
One Of these was Giberts balance dock and the
other the sectional dock of Messrs. Moody & Dskn
Both floating docks Messrs Moody & Dakip have
patented plan OF basin and railway an appendsge
TO receive the vessel which has been elevated by thar
dock. am not aware that this last improvement
had cen put into actual operation, otherwise tbapby
| model. In view oi the terms employed and of he
duties imposed by the two sections above referred
TO, construed the law TO require the establishment
| Of Dry Dock at Brooklyn. 18th our own expri.
ence OF the admirable adaptation of such structures
| TO the purposes of the Navy confirmed by the p,ac-
| lice OF the principal maritime powers Of Eurore
felt il to be clearly my duty TO proceed with The gone
| Dry Dock already commenced on a plan simiI.r l.,
those which had been so successful at Norfolk and
Boston. OF The relative properties and advantages
OF floating docks with or without basin aud rail
ways, and of the stone Dry Dock for The purposes
the Navy do not Deem II proper To express an opin-
ion the aid in forming correct conclusion 10 be
expected from the board charged with that inquiry
| by the direction Of Congress, not at nv COM
| mand.
| The work on The stone Dry Dock is progressing in
satisfactory manner, under the direction ii William
Gibbs McNel Esq. Engineer Of the Dock
The estimates from the Bureau of Yards and
Docks also provide for Improvements at tie several
Naval Hospitals. These improvements ar, believed
to be important for the protection of he public prop
erty and ensure the safe and iudcious Treatment of
the SICK. The Navy Hospital Fund is not sufficient
TO bear SO heavy an outlay at once and il respect
fully submitted for the consideration of Congress
whether an appropriation shall be made for hese OBJ
| jects in aid Of the fund
would also respectfully state that there re now
confined in the several Naval Hospitals twelve in
zane persons belonging TO the Naval service Thee
noble edIfces, which have been constructed for he
accommodation and comfort of the sick and disabled
have no suitable apartments for the treatment of the
insane Those suffering under this deploraile mala-
dy cannot receive that judicous treatment W hich has
in modern times, fequenlly led to n recovery of
reason, and the rawlings of the maniac ohH prove
highly Injurious to the sick inmates of the hospital
therefore suggest that if II shall be the pleasure of
Congress 10 provide asylum for the insane of the
District OF Columbia, Provision may be for the
insane of the Navy and Army in the same establish
ment
! invite attention to report from the Bureau of
Ordnance and photography on the subject OF tn,
delays aud difficulties encountered in proc urDp ui-
der contract, as required by existing laws, ordnance
and gunpowdeI The operation of the provso TO
he act of the Sd March, ls4S, which requires that
all supplies for The Navy, when time will permit
shall be procured by contract with the lowest bidder
after advertisement, has not promoted the public in
teres nor secured 20 the public, IN all case, the adj
vantage of full and fair competition. To the he d
of the Department and me officers making pu bases
II Is great safeguard against reproaches mpua-
tons OF improper preferences. But experience has
demonstrated that the public interest is not promoted
In procuring many of the most important and neces-
sary supplies for the Navy in this mode Some OF
these are ordnance, gunpowder aud medicines
The law gives discretion, bat the lowest bidder /.
TO have the contract whatever may be his means hi.
expe 'ienceor skill Ii he declines which he NAV dc
without penalty, IS to be offered The next and SC
on, until, not unirequently, injurious delays occur
and well-founded complaints made that by CON.
bination among bidders, the prices paid are h ghel
than the articles would have cost in open market
deem ii to be my du'y to ask that the provision,
OF Ibis w,.anidudned : - 49, n~nartnen' me.
The building for DsI OF of Charts is completed
and substantial wall constructed around the
square The grading has been partially made
snd 10 complete IL, and to construct house fol
the Superintendent, estimate is submitted an,
an appropriation recommended. The instrument,
purchased have been received and placed in
the Depo. They well selected and NAV b,
advanta2eousy employed in the necessary obserya
tons, with view TO calculate nsutical almanacs -
For these we are now indebted to foreign nations
This work may be done by our own naval officers
without injury 10 the service and at a very small
expense. IL IS confidently believed that in the pro
cess Of time, most perfect set Of charts may be sup
Piled from the Depot TO the Navy, and 10 the com
mercial marine, entirely TO be relied on for accura
cy, at the mere cost of publication.
The operation OF the system of supplyng the Ma.
w with clothing, established by the act of 26th Au.
gust, 1912 has been highly satisfactory. An appro.
priation Of one hundred thousand dollars is required
to meet existing and future liabilities which viii call
for payment before the returns from the pay of the
men viii enable the Department TO continue the SUD-
plies IL IS believed that after this Apr priaton
The addition 10 the per cent on the prime cost will
cover all losses and the receipts meet the dsburse-
ments while the system possesses the great merit OF
furnishing to the seamen the best clothes at moderate
prices.
The Navy Hospital Fund, on the LIST day of No.
vember, 1874, consisted Of two hundred aud thirty
thousand four hundred and thirty-four dollars and
fourteen cents The number Of aged and disabled
seamen who have sought a home at the ASYLUM near
Philadelphia has so increased that il was found ne
cessary TO Their comfort TO provide for withdraw ing
The Governor and Surgeon from the rooms occupied
by them IN the building Two houses, accord ,ne TO
the or ginal plan, have been erected nd are nearly
completed, TO be occupied by these officers. A
small slip oil ground adjoining the site Of the Asylum
has been purchased at reasonable price These
are believed to be very important additions to the
| establishment
If shall be the pleasure Of Congress TO authorize
The investment of the fund in securities Of the United
States It would add considerably to its income. The
money Is now unproductve in the Treasury and |
earnestly recommend that authority be given TO make
the Investment.
The condition Of the Navy Pension Fund, and
the claims on it, are stated IN the report Of the Com
missioner Of Pensions, herewith transmitted.
Great anxiety Is ielt by many Of the Surgeons and
Assistant Surgeons, and Of the Pursers m the Navy
to have allowed hem an assimilaied rank the COZ
responding officers IN the Army enj W it without de-
uiment to the service respectfully recommend the
subject To consideration