The New era. [volume] ([Portsmouth, Va.]) 1845-1847, 1845-07-08

voice 10 the public feelings on this subject, and
being. as we said before, distinguished Naval
Officer himself, we trust that his voice will be
needed We could wish that those officers who
now hold the Heads of Bureaux to the exclusion
OF those contemplated by the law which created
them, would voluntarily resign, and thus leave
the matter with the Executive, and enable him
to comply with its acquisitions.
WASHINGTON, July |, 1916.
DEAR CUNNING HAM II have not vet taken
the tow from that hemp--you must therefore wait
patiently until that rope is coIed away-which
hope will be done in workmanke style. The
law of Congress which authorizes the purchase
of hemp, requires ALSO that it should he purchased
in the hemp gro,oing regions, and not sent TO
Boston for inspectio n. not only would il be disad
vantageOus to the overnment to compel the far
mer TO send his hemp northward, but the Gov
eminent will be compelled TO pay higher price
for the article at the north than they could pro-
cure it for at ST. Lou is, within the region of its
cultivation In add ton TO this expense the hemp
agents becomes inec ures-and the Government
are paying at least Ia 900 per annum for these
agencies, who are bound by act of Congress to be-
come the purchasers, as well as the inspectors in
the hemp growing regions, of hemp, the article
could with ease be procured at ST. Louis Cor SI6O
per ton for water roit ted hemp-but when trans
mitted TO Boston $500, which would make diff
ference in the amount of price for the supply of
hemp for the Navy per annum of $4,000, this
last amount could be expended in the improvement
of machinery for the manufacture of the article
The following is the act of Congress on the sub
ject Cor Resolution
GO RESOLVED. That the Secretary of the Navy be,
and hereby Isl directed purchase domestic mater
rotted hemp for the nse Of the IT, s. Napy so far as the
same shall be found o f suitable quality, and can
be used, {" benehcially to the service, having re-
gard to cost, strength, and durability the arti
ce," and for that purpose shall cause purchases of
such hemp to be made in The different hemp grotuing re-
gions Of The UniOn.'
&c lind be ii further re;ioUed That this Joint reso-
luton shall be and ain in force for the period
seven years, from the assing thereof
The spirit of this resolution shows it was the
intent of its trainers to take the whole matter out
of the hands of the q" Bureaus" and place it un
der the immediate nirol of the Secretary of the
Navy.
In the Missouri Reporter, of June IL, 1915,
find 1t stated, under the present instructions no
purchases are made in the hemp growing regions
of the Union" also from the same pa per the
instructions of Com. Morris to the Hemp AGENTS
in Louisville and St. Louis are clear violations of
the law" have looked and expected denial
of these assertions, but being unable to find any,
take them for truth. and if true it only goes to
show the constant msddlng and perseverinr in
reference of the Heads of Naval Bureaus with
subjects out Of their official line of du,ies-or in
other words, pure determination to grasp at
power and concentrate within themselves the
whole detail of the Navy Department. Setting
at defiance the acts of Congress and the will of
the people. Yet when we see the Heads of Blu
reaus occupying posi- tons contrary to law, how
can it be expected they will become obedient OBJ
servers of the law-.but more of this hereafter
My object is to show in this paper, and draw at
tenton to the Importance of the hemp interest.
The following extract from Stephen Whit
more, Jr.'s, letter TO Com. Downs, dated Navy
Yard, Charlestown, Nov. 20, 1910, will be suffi
cient to show far as the character and strength
of American Hemp could be taken into cunsidera-
ton. it was superior in all respects to Russia and
the acquisitions of the joint resolution could. be
complied with.
"NAvY YARD, CHARLESTON, Nov. 90, 1910.
"SIR-In compliance with your order of Nov
I'd, have experimental upon the different samples
of American Hemp rec sived from the Navy Com
missoners, and nave compared them with the best
Riga. Rhine and st. Petersburg hemp
" American sample No J., weight required to
break the untarred at three trials 202 lbs $50 lbs
242 lbs, 7Ol weight required to break he tarred
yarns. go lbs, 245 lbs, 2o5 lbs, TO ST. Peters.
burg, clean. Weight required to break the unfair
red yarns, 1911 lbs, 1sS lbs l96 lbs.
" weight required to break the tarred yarns, 192
d
"Subjcct the hemp Of Mr. Myerle to inspection
] have no doubt, judging from the samples nc has
fu rnishcd. thata large portion of it will be found oil
very superior quality stronger than any imported
| hemp, and nearly as clean"
Further proof in relation to the quality Of Anne
rican Hemp deem unnecessary. therefore will
enquire, how is it that the American article has
not been wholly used for Naval purposes or that
the acquisitions of the Joint resolution of Congress
has not been fully carried out? Mr.. Bancroft
in my opinion, is fully acquitted from any parici.
patton ia any attempt TO strange this national ob-
ject. With well organized mind and business
habits he is fully capable to carry out so simple a
resolution as the act of the two Houses of Con
gss above referred to- but could not other portions
Of the Navy Department place obstacles in the
way Of this truly national effort to introduce into
the Navy and the American market, American
Hemp certainly this has been done-and the
unconridicted assertion Of the Missouri Reporter.
June l7th, 1915 fully sustains myself and the
public in the belief, that the Head Of the Bureau,
are opposed to it, merely to throw the contract
into the hands Of some pet contractor for the SUP
ply Of Russia Hemp. an article IvFER1oR to the
american producfion