The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1850-12-21

REPORT From THE BUREAU CoNsrRUC ZION, EQUIP
MINT, ETC.
Ma DkPa Noyemb.r IL


MINT, ETC.
NAVY DkrARrnssr November l, 1850
Sin have the honor TO transmit In conformity
with your Instructions estimates for the fiscal year
ending on the S0th June 1861 embracing that portion
this bureau, accompanied by statements exhibiting
the rstes and distribution Of ell the vessels Of the navy
Of the United states in commission the rss day Of
November 1860 the number and rates Of those in
binary those on the stocks. (the building of which
has beef for several years suspended and those IN
oereopg repairs Also reports OF The estimated value
of articles received aud expended with the and
amount Of labor upon objects connected with THE bu
resu at the several navy yards duriog the same pc
rod The estimated value OF articles hand st each
yard st the commencement and close OF the same is
shown In the table ccntsinipg tn. amount of receipts
end eAPendtures-ss schedule OF which 10 annexed for
The estimates for construction, equipment, arma-
pept repair Of ships coal for Steamers hemp. ac are
reduced to the lowest amount at which force equal to
that now In commission can be matained
Since the last annual report the steamers susque-
hanna. San Jscinto, and Toubatan have been
launched and receiving their engines and ma
chnsry preparatory Tor service Great delay has been
experienced in their ut the several foun
dries To obvtate like delays In future, the bureau
would respectfully recommend n IN sttsr Of scono-
my of money aud time that the public yards be sup
piled with he necessry apparatus TOR the constrac
ton Of steam engines for naval purposes At the
Wnir s yard they are prepared tor Inc nsnaise
ready built afford evidence OF that may be done under
the direction of aud by the aole mechanics employed
The steamer earanae, on her recent trip to ana
from Cuba proved to be vessel combining speed with
vessel OF An injury sustained In part OF her
engine rrame, which has been repaired. she 10 nov
rtssner Missis.ippi heretofore In che Quiz Of MeI-
leo, and 10 the Mediterranean, has eioited the
highest encomiums from naval men and, after pc
Rod OF nine years active service she stands
passed as var steamer.
The number CT ships and rates suitable for the
lief OF vessels and TO supply the places OF those re-
turned IRON foreign service durng the psst year have
been repaired and squipped At the several naval sta
items, and proceeded to their destination.
In he lnsf nal was IN Z teI
a steamer should be built to supply the place OF the
propeller Princeton The engines and machinery
taken out of that vessel efficient and vausbe but
unlsss employed In . vessel OF similar description,
viii be entirely useless The bureau would again call
ttcntion TO the subject, aud add that ss there
irsmes and other suitable building materials on haud
the expente Of construction alone will he incurred
II would alec respectfully recommend that The friyate
ntsd ttstss built la tbs year 1lgI, the Consttu.
ton aud ConttellstioD, built In the same year, be
longer fitted for tea feryics Their great ags rem
ders extensive repsirs frequently necessary more
over their dimeb,ions ard armament are far In
ferid to modern frigstes Of their class This ou.
resu would hsrefoe suggest that these dsinguished
chips f at have borne nag gs.ntly tor more than
bali sentury, be returned TO the ports from whence
they launched ~ Iresrved In commission az re-
c.iyirg ships aud % brilliant achievements
The bureau would slso respectfully recommend that
the frigste fsbtns, tbe stocks ht Ns1 orr, ana
ssn'ee at Portsmouth, New hsmpsnire, be CON
pleted and launched supply the pisces OF the Con-
sttution and the United States. The Sabine and
ssntse have been on the stocks. Ia an unani.hsd
than those n H. proposed 20 relieve from service
and may u T. believed he launched aud equipped at
cost not TAR n at all sxcsediug the tmoant required
10 rrvau aud equip old nj gates The economy OF the
measDreis evident, a. the new chips will run nun
Der of years without rspeirs.
A. the naval porsfs of Europe are introducing sue
cessfu ~ steam propesrs o. board many 81 their
ships 90. war thus giving them decided advantage
fboee dependent upon VIVID alone for thsf move.
merts the bureau soud Offer ,r the Confederation of
the department the propriety O httug or bIh OF
the rigatts prupo.ed with suitable machinery t.
drive thsr by st.hm. This msa-ure would add much
to their efficiency ships 81 war. proportion Of
steamers sdd,d 90 the navy, ne anxiiari~s, would
greatly increase ts efficiency especially IN the protec
fr a rivers snd laye b. their means the heaviest
shre would b. snsbisd q overcnmr all the obstacles
20 their movements BoS presented BY adverse Siud'
aud ffdee The bureau would also recommend the 10.
PRODUCTION 81 asTse number II heavy shell guns on
beard vessels able 10 bear them Although " " not
expected that thu nted states should vu With Euro
psan ua,isa iu point II nun hers nevertheless The
fmni force have in commission. By the iotroduc
ton of all the improvements % modern tcience,
should h. squsl 20 auy ttssr vessels anoat.
Plans have been formed Tor rszesing the Franklin.
"a small TiD her class hsvirF become obseste bg the
nroduc Of auIefinr order 81 vessels OF the
tame rate Tt W Iropossd. fbould this rcconneuta-
ton BE- adopted TO her with batteries Of heavy
guns thus rendering her q futmdsbie vessel Of war
20 raSte aud arm her also With battery Of she'll
Euns Instead OF her preseEt armament oils FOUNDERS
The hemp egents a. Louisville AMI - Louis have
been notified 60 make preparations for the purchase
OF American water roted hemp The agencies are fur.
pihre Nth machinery necessary 20 tst its strength
The rrrort, on the subject of canvsss prepared 20
resist mildev are unfsvorable 90 " adoption.
am. cir, respectfully. Jour obedient tsrvtnt,
CHARLES W. SKINNER
To lion. vs. A. GrspsN,
Secretary Of the Navy.