Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1847-01-01

oil war Ausin, brigs Wnditon ah4 a',@,:n
the schooner San Bernard. Inc s'oop go ~ ~
h,. becn brought, TO Pensacola. and will Re re
huit and form an interesting accession 20 'liI
Navy of The United states. The Two Dig anu
schooner. after survey, were found too n''cn W.
caved n lusti,y their repair and have been o'de.
rdyo b. sold. The proceeds OF sale will Dc pau
into The Treasury OF the United States.
Under orders from their government, ce. e ~
officers Ct the Texan Navy we're IN cha.se -,
vessels in ordinary whcn me uel,,e5 =, me re-
and continued in that employment al '.'e as
onesr Of our agent They could no, be pau 4, %
,di,;cers If The Navy OF the Uniled States; ou, pe
l;ev;nu il 10 be lust and proper, directions nav
| hesn given Ia make them compensation ioi 'a"
mo care nj the properly OF the United STATES, ~
the rate OF pay which was allowed .neln " y,n;on
| as Al The date OF its incorporation mo o.i 1--we
Reyond this. have not considered lhal 'hc ia "'
IF ,he IInired States authorized me- 10 make pay
.,,an, - anv one because Of his having Dcen an
| officer OF The Navy OF leAds. ..:.. S., H.
neyr fiscal year have been prepared by my a.
rec,on. and transmitted TO the Secretary oil Inc
| Treasury, according 10 law.
have The honor 10 present herewith The reports
| from the several buleaux, and estimates in de-
,ai Tor the several branches OF the naval service.
They are based on The employment, pending The
war; OF ten thousand men, as allowed by law, and
number OF vessels in commission 10 give them
employment statement ~ the classes OF ves-
sells, with their rate and nua.ocr, is marked t IN
The papers accompanying The report from Inc
Bureau of Construction. No estimates are pre-
sened for the construction of vessels as pcrma-
| nent additions to the navy deem il, however,
nv duty 10 suggest, that authority tor building al
least four sea steamers, capable vi bearing an az
| mament sufficient for their own defence, would
essentially promote The interests Of The public ser
| rtiii ~.
squadrons in he Pacific The China seas, on The
coast of Alrc., and on the Brazil station, is es-
| tabished by The experience Of other nations VINO
employ them.
| The estimates from he Bureau OF Yards and
| Docks have been prepared in reference TO The ex-
| i,ting and pressing wants OF the public service;
and attention is respectfully asked 10 The remaIk KS
| of the officer al the head OF Thai bureau lhe
| difficulties which have been experienced IN the
work on the dry dock al New York, have reiar-
ded It's progress but its praclcabllity mot doubt.
| ed: and lis great importance 10 the navy induces
| me earnestly 10 recommend the appropriation OF
| the required funds for lis prosecution.
The importance Of Pensacola as naval sta
ton, with the necessary facilities OF repairing
and retitlins ships Of war, has Tor many years
been pressed on the consideration OF Congress-
| But a, no period has the public interest 50 impe-
rously required that Improvements should De
made al that place as al this time. a large ma
val lorce'is employed in the Cult OF Mexico, ey-
posed 10 injury from lempes,s, and engaged in
hostile operations lfany OF our vessels become
materially disabled, they cannot be repaired with
out leaving The station, and coming as lar north
as Norfolk; and il the voyage The most serious
disasters may bea them.
| A dock with sufficient capacity TO receive YES
| sells OF the largest class, is an Indispensable I'M
provemeni al Pensacola, and ! earnestly recon-
mend ihalan appropriation may BE- mace for mat
purpose.
A fever Of most malignant form has prevailed
in the hospital al Pensacola during The past sea
son. herewith transmit copy Of report Of a
Joint board of army and navy surgeons, who were
directed 10 investigate The causes. Their opinion
is, that The place will be restored 10 its former 81
lubr,y by removal Of local causes OF disease.
| Estimates are submitted for This purpose.
By The acl OF Congress Of August 10, 1876,
| the appropriations for the navy yard al Mem
phis for The current year, are 10 be confined in The
| expenditure 10 The construction Of rope-walk
Proper measures have been adopted 10 conform 10
this restriction. The estimates are prepared with
This view. Ii il shall be deemed advisable 10
make this yard a place Of construction, and IN
view OF its great advantages in The building and
outfit Of steamers, may hope that the original
! purpose oil The establishment will net be aban-
doned; il will he ad.isAbe not 10 continue the Ic
slrirlion on h" appropriation for The next year.
The ricc" III grouA, GATED "St. Helena" oP-
post t. i!c navy yad al G"spor, has been
| ',.uah ~ ?l'iGe q; ami ritv given j. II" &C Il
10 ii .; Argus, lis; When lhr State Of Virginia
shall hare col,seaie IL IN slfd pA.oia ar, IN c>t-
mate will be Submitted 10 make me improvements
which were coatein aiaicd when The authority 10
make tic purchase was given.
| The system by which clothing is furnished 10
lne navy has realized Inc expectations Of those
who ,cvis-d 4. The supply is abundant, Of ex-
cern' qpahiy a. a CHEAP COS; and 10 appropI-
alton i :; kea Tor III n-xl yea, o. whcui some
great disaster. vil 'rrr lie Tcqui:cd again.
In supplying our squadrons abroad, depo,s or
stores, in which provisions collected in anIici-
patton OF The wants Of the vessels, are ncispen-
sable. | concur in The recommendation OF the
chief of The Bureau of Provisions and Clothing
that The act OF June II, 1914 requiring The Sec
retary OF The Navy 10 order commissioned or war
rant officers of The navy TO take charge OF The ma
val stores tur foreign squadrons onght TO be mo-
| iifed The compensation allowed would CON-
mand The services OF competent and experienced
persons in civil life. Ii is duty which but lew
officers desire, or are qualified for and ii does
mol appear proper 10 require oi an officer 10 enter
INTO bond To perform duties under orders. From
The experience had OF It's operation, have no
doubt that money would be saved BY allowing The
appointment OF civilians, with he advice and con-
sent of the Senate, and thus enlarge the sphere Of
selection
The act of March 81, ls43, requiring supplies
for the navy TO he procured bv contract, on adver
lisemcnl, with the lowest bidder, has not been con-
slrued 10 affect contracts executed prior 10 its en-
| actment
Contracts for The supply Of cheese and butter
for five years were in course of execution at
the date OF The passage Of this law, and will ex-
pire, one in December, 1876, and one in May
S41. The result Of a careful examination made
al The bureau is lha, economy has been promo
ted, and The quality OF the ration greatly improv-
ed by This mode OF contracting. respectfully
invite attention TO the recommendation on that
subject.
The naval school, during the pas, year, has
been continued under the judicous surernen-
dence Of Commander franklin Buchanan, and
gives renewed promise OF usefulness 10 the ser
wee. AT the las, session OF Congress, il was
made the subject Of n special appropriation;
bu, permission was given 10 apply limited sum
1928 SOY from The existing appropriations 10 Tin
slructions, Improvements and repairs al Fort Sc
vern" This moderate provision has enabled the
department 10 make some necessary additions 10
the accommodations OF The school, and has been
found sufficient Tor It's economical support. II is
hoped that similar provision will be adopted
for the ensuing year. The propriely OF aforins
knowledge which is essential to the skiiu
discharge OF their professional duties has been
long recognized 10y Congress in lis annual
appropriations for instruction on board our ships
OF war. In the prosecution Of like purpose a
naval school, il is believed, will be found 10 add
little to the cost of the present defective system,
while il cannot fail 10 be attended with the most
important benefits 10 The navy.
Connected with the Bureau OF Ordnance and
photography is The Observatory. Besides con-
Quoting an extensive series OF astronomical OBJ
servaIioDs, It's the duty Of that Office 10 construct
charts, prove nautical. instruments before pur-
chase, rate chronomeIers, and supply our armed
cruisers with The nautical books: instruments,
maps and charts necessary 10 their safe conduct
al sea. The arrangement is such as 10 promote
economy and TO give assurance that these indis-
pensable aids may be relied on. The observa-
lions made and published are exclusively the
work OF naval officers, and are highly editable
In the;r cci.pt;fc afta ipp,onts Tharo ran he mn