The republic., 1850-12-04

of the military and civil branches OF the naval ser
vice, and the relative rank OF officers OF the army
aud navy when acting together, on which the opln-
ion of the President was requested by resolution
of the House of Representatives the last session,
and their report will be laid before you as soon as
received
The joint board of officers of the army and navy,
who have been engaged in the examination OF our
Pacific coast with reference TO harbors, foruhca-
tions, lighthouses navy yards, and docks, Is ex-
pected TO finish its work In the present month, and
return to the seat of Government. The selection
of site for navy yard and dock on that coast has
been deferred until the reception of the report of
the board and personal conference with the oth-
GERS comprising IT.
BY virtue of the authority conferred on the head
of this Departmental in the act of Congress, approved
September 2S, 1880 to purchase American water
rotted hemp in open market, for the use OF the
Wy, provided the price shall not exceed that of the
foreign article for the last five years." the hemp
agents at Louisville and ST. Louis have been in
structed TO make inquiries and receive proposals
to the price of the article; but sufficient nforma
ton has yet been received TO Justify purchases OF the
quantity required.
subjoin the reports of the respective heads of
bureaus of this Department, and OF the command
ant OF the marine corps presenting estimates for
the fiscal year ending the 30th of June, 1852 to-
gether with an aggregate statement of the appro-
priations required for all objects under the super
vision of this Department. the sum total of which
From this should be deducted the esti-
mates for extraordinary objects, as
follows, viz Transportation OF the
mail, improvement Of navy yards,
nautical almanac &c. c............... . 2l0, $50
To show the amount proposed for the
support of the naval service, includ-
ing the marine corps, for the year 5 900 ,62l
The above aggregate, it will be perceived, is less
by more than one million OF dollars than were the
estinnatas co. .h4 p-ase.,t poor To -, however,
must be added the amount which may be required
for the floating dry dock, basin, and railway on
ihp of thp M yUh iTnaf 70 will
be supplied the contract shall be made,
and the price of the whole work agreed upon
Il take the liberty TO suggest that the appropra
tons for the annual support of the navy should be
separated from those for fixed and permanent OBJ
jects shore, and more especially from those for
extraordinary objects under the supervision of the
Department, which, however important as subjects
of public interest, are not necessarily connected
with it. ii, in analogy to the bills for the erection
OF Notifications, and for the support Of the military
academy, related to the army, distinct bills were
prepared for navy yards and docks, and the naval
academy, and for the mail steam service, and other
objects of the class above mentioned, it would con-
tribute to better understanding of the matters in
volved, perhaps to greater economy under each of
these various heads. and would relieve the navy
from the charge of extravagant expenditures
The total amount drawn from the Treasury dur
ing the fiscal year ending June 80, 1850, shown
by the statement oi appropriations for the naval
service, prepared by the Second Comptroller of the
Treasury, ) ,69l sos 6l
From which deduct repayments. I,799,9l3 81
And there is left the sum of. ..... 1891 ,S9I "a
as the expenditures on all objects under the con-
troll of this Department. Of this amount there was
expended for special objects the of 1868 l69
IL, leaving, the true expenditures for the sup
port of the navy and marine corps, the sum of
S 5,523, 1872 SO.
The unex pended balance in the Treasury of the
appropriations for the naval service, marine corps
and special objects, under the control of this De-
partment the 3Oth OF June, 1850, was SO $780,
253 81, all of which will be required to meet out
standing obligations due from the appropriations
made for that year.
commend to the attention of Congress the re-
forms introduced in the supply of provisions by the
efficient chief of that bureau and his suggestions as
TO others which only be effected by legislation
Likewise TO the statement made by the Chief of
the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery that the num-
Der of effective medical officers in the service is in
sufficient for its wants, and his recommendation
that those untitled for duty shall be retired and
their places supplied by new appointments ! also
concur in his recommendation that the sum of
$1,000, part of the Navy Hospital Fund, be in
vested in stocks, protection against loss and TO
ensure a regular income.
The augmentation of the marine corps, as pro-
posed in the report of its chief, deserves likewise
the early attention of Congress. By revision Of
the complement tables of shps-of war il is believed
that the number of landsmen might be reduced,
and that of the rank and file of the marines in
creased, to provide for the deficiency now ex-
isting In this corps, without detriment the ser
vice, additional expense to the Government.
am, with the highest respect, your obedent
servant, WILLIAM A. GRAHAM,
Secretary Of the Navy.
To the PRESIDENT.