Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1844-12-07

| and The compliments oil men allowed 70 'i;c so,.
raj classes carefully revised and reGucce 70 e
est point consistent with The safety OF me fcsSc'
| and the honor Of the flag. It IS hardy possible
n view of the changes of crews on foreign sta
,;ons 10 maintain any specific number with exact
nrccisioD The Department has endeavored 10
! conform 10 the law and il is beleved lha' the
| measures adopted have been successful
! Ideem it my duty TO suggest that The reduction
made by that proviso, will, in NY opinion, be IN
| furious TO The public interest. II precludes ine
employmcn, of ships OF the largest class, ana il
il should become the settled policy OF Inc 0o'eih-
| ment The officers who will be required TO com
manj them. in the event oiwar, will not have that
degree of familiarity with The order aud manage
| ment OF ships OF the line, which is essential 10
| success. There are also considerations OF great
weight against adopting as maximum the num-
! her of men intended 10 be actually employed
| In sending relicts 10 squadrons abroad, ii will
! frequently happen that the relief vessel sailS be-
fore the one 10 be relieved returns home While one
is on the way 10 her station and the other on her
return, there is apparently double crew IN
I service, bu, not so for any valuable purpose
| With such a restriction no public exisency or I'M
foreseen national necessity would authorize an
addition to the number until The law could be
repealed. The Coast Survey, the Ordinary, and
| the Receiving ships, all require men, and lhey
! form a part of those allowed 10 the Navy.
have, therefore, caused estimates 10 be pre-
! pared for nine thous;n men for the next year.
! and i, is bccyel that this number will moi leave
available, for the ships Of war in their appFoprl-
ate duty on foreign service more Than seven liiou-
sand five hundred men.
An increase of the number of Pursers and Sur
ucons is respectfully recommended. The num-
Der of the former is not sufficient to relieve The
commanding officers from the necessity OF per-
forming the duties of Purser. For this they ale
not compensated, the duties are moi professional,
and they are sometimes involved in apparent de-
falcations for want of knowledge Of accounts and
OF The required forms of vouchers. Inc dunes
o. discussing officer places The Commander IN
such a relation 10 the crew as 20 Affect injurious
" The discipline OF the ship. II provision shall
be made for the increase OF the number oi dis
bursting officers OF the Navy as is earnestly re-
commended it may be effected with more econo-
nv. and Nth srca, advantage By authorizing The
appointment Of Assistant PurseIs al a small sa-
larry. Twelve such officers might be employed
with great advantage in the small vessels IN
commission They would acquire an accurate
knowledge Of their duties, and constitute Class
from which promotions 10 the more important
and responsible office of PurScr might be advan-
iaseouslv made In the British naval sorvic"
the employment OF clerks in charge, in the small
er vessels doing the duty Of Pnrser, has bccn ap-
proved, after long experience
The numtar of Surgeons and Assistants *
found TO OF below the wants oil the service. The
Oregon had 10 proceedio sea recently, with e.
tizen Surgeon and the voluntary but reluctant re-
sigua,ion of several passed Assistant Surgeons OF
great merit, shows that The duties required OF those
in service are greater than they ought 10 be sub
jected to-
The measures adopted TO keep regular pro
perty account and 10 enforce accountability in the
o,l liz SnOplipS and in The
public stores have been very successful.
The inventories exhjbi. very large amount Of
public property under the control OF his Depart
ment and The returns required and The examina-
,ions to which they are subjected, will insure, in
u great degree, against any abuse OF waste IN This
respect
There appeared 10 be considerable quantity
Of articles of "arious kinds which were no longer
fit for use After careful selection OF those,
which could be made available with repair, the
residue have been directed 10 be sold and the pro-
which they were purchased detailed statement
of these sales will he communicated as soon As
they are closed
Under the act OF 18th June, 1914, and the joint
resolution of The 18th February, 1913, Hemp
agent has been appointed for the Stale of Missou-
RI The agents for Kentucky and Missouri have
leen instructed 10 afford every facility ana lnor-
nation on the subject, and arrangements have
been adopted for purchases Of hemp, with view
of carrying out The policy, indicated BY Congress,
OF buying no more foreign hemp, il domestic can
BE- procured OF suitable quality, and at as low 4
price Some deliveries have been made, and the
reports as 10 their quality are highly satisfactory.
The same rule has been adopted procuring sup
plies of Sail Duck.
To enable the Hemp-growers to have iheirpro-
ducts submitted 10 the necessary tests and inspec-
ton with greater convenience i IS proposed TO
estaDlsa iope-Waik at the MemphiS DepoI on
The Mississippi river
In execution of The act Of the 18th JuEe last,
10 establish navy yard at, OF adjacent 10, the
CITY of Memphis, board Of officers was or
gained and ordered 10 repair 10 that city, ac-
companied BY Mr. Sanger, the Engineer Of the
Bureau of Yards and Docks Captain Rousseau,
Comm Adams. and 1t. Johnston were ordered
ON this dulv they made the selection, and re-
ported the results Of their examinations, with 4
draft and diagram, and with the evidences oflitle
as far as made. The selection is approved and
believed to be highly advantageous. But The dit
fic1l,ieS or rather DELAYS, unavoidably encounter
ed in obtaining perfect tile 10 the sile nave
SUSPENDED the organization OF the establishment
and the commencement. Of active operations
Estimates Of additional appropriations for this
work arc presented.
Ii is proposed TO finish the construction Of the
| Ifl3dle -. i.dWItUCt, VI SloOls alEdHN duI
Germantown, and Of the steamer al Pittsburgh.
| The estimates from the Bureau of Construction
, contemplate the completion of these vessels and
! their equipment. The reasons on which this
recommendation is founded are stated BY the
, Chief of that Bureau in his special report
Under the general head Of appropriation Or SIN
crease, Repair &C., as now presented, Coal and
Hemp, which have heretofore been subject oil
specific appropriation, are included
| I, = rr,oosoj Jnr no n,poipp ~
procure any additional supplies of live oak tim
Der beyond those already contracted for A sche-
dule of all outstanding contracts for supplies OF
materials for construction. was prepared by my
$ direction soon alter the adjournment OF Con
gress. and they have been satisfactorily adjusted
} and closed or limited as TO bring them TO a
: speedy contamination. The estimates from this
7 Bureau provide Tor the repairs OF the necessary
vessels TO keep up the contemplated force under
| any circumstances Of accident, disaster or re-
call and for the wear aud tear OF vessels in COM
mission or in ordinary.
It is also submitted for the consideration OF
Congress, that an appropriation he made 10 re-
build the fvigate Guerrero for completing the
iron war-scamer which Robert l.. Stevens Esq,
r has contracted to build according to the provi-
sions of the act Of April II. 1912, and to build
brig 10 replace the Enterprise.
The estimates from the Bureau Of Docks and
larNS are uldut WIN nc" VI prosecuting WIN
efficiency the dock-yari at Memphis, with lis
appcndages, the works at Pensacola, and 10 carry
oui the plan of improvement al the other dock
wards which was adopted in the year lS3S.-
Amongst The buildings estimated fora Pensaco-
la is house, or shelter for Goals for steamers,
!, which is deemed of very grea, consequence TO
the future operations OF our Naval forces. Whc-
Their appropriations shall be made now, or at a
future time, 10 complete the plan of the Atlantic
Dock Yards, is a question respectfully submitted
for the consideration OF Congress.
There are reasons Of great weight in favor of
progressing with all these works with some de-
gree OF activity. Labor is at a moderate price,
aud employment eagerly sought after. 1t is desi-
rable 10 retain in the public service experienced
mechanics and laborers accustomed 10 the rou-