Richmond daily times. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1853, 1850-12-06
REPORT OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE NAVV

, |
REPORT OF THE
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
The report OF Mr. Graham, Secretary Of the Navy
occupies nearly five and half columns of the Nation
al INTEL gencer.
The hrSt column is devoted to detail fthe move
ments oil our various squadrons during the year. Gu
nag mas been respected and honored wherever dish Law
ed ana our commerce protected and made Sc cure
The vessels OF the Navy OF the United States con
sst OF shps OF the line; razee IL trigates u sloops
ot-war4 briggs; schooers steam irigates; steamers
OF the LIST class; steamers less than LIST class; steam
ships,
VI these there are in commission, razee: rigates
- Scoops ol-war; briggs schooUers, (coast survey
steam rgates; steamer OF the first Glass; steamers
less IMAM the LIST Glass; ships ot-the line as receiving
| SHIPS; steamer do sloop do.
lhere are also OF the stocks and in progress ofcon-
structon, but the work thereon now suspended four
snps OF the line and two rigates. Five mail steame rs
| nowln use, and two others which are being bull
can also be converted into steamers when neces-
sary.
The United States have eight Navy Yards.
| The permanent stone dock at Brooklyn is nearly
completed, and the floating balance dock at Portsmouth,
ana ensacoa, and the floating sentinel dock Phia-
oeipha are expected to be completed during the ensuing
year, and will augment our naval facilities three fold
| within the next twelve months.
| The navy yard at Washington carries on a highly
important mandatory OF ordnance and ordinance store
OF anchors chain cables engines and other fabr cs
oil IRON, and preparations are in progress erect there
|
wanted, as well on the score of economy as to furnish
better quality OF rolled copper for sheathng vessels
can than be obtained in market
foposas have been invited for sectional or floating
dry dock basin and railway on the Pacific and the
WORK Is to be expedited with all practicable despatch
IL IS esmeied that, independent oihe public works.
lixtures machinery, &c, at the existing navy Yards
the stores hand for the construction continent and
repair OF vesse Is are equal in value in round numbers
TO 100000. The of the country in timber
ron copper hemp, and every species of naval supplies
a ha aspd rdinn,
cesses. ~
The Secretary notices suggestions which have been
made, that government rely upon contracts with pri-
Vae citizens Tor the construction and repair Of our yes
sells OF war; but for various reasons which he ASSIGNS
he prefers that such work shall be done as AT nresent
under the superntendance otgovernment officers He
treats at considerable length what naval force do we
require! and recommends reduction to go captains
80 commanders, 300 leutenants, with corresponding
oalcahons In the inferior grades. 1t is left to Con-
SeSS 10 decide, whether the President or board of
officers shall designate the persons to be DISCHARGED -
ills recommended, "o provide that from time to time
as oilcers may decline in capacity, for useful service
elther from approximation from other cause tnev
aud liberal. ''''
In order 10 remedy defect in the disparity between
te ages OF subalern officers and their grades proceed
uS rom the lXed numbers IN each rank, and the fail
ure to provide Tor any promotion except case DIVA
caney, two methods have been suggested by officers
OF great merit and intelligence:
LIST. 10 reduce the number of mdsbipmen so az To
furnish only SO many may be required to supply the
higher grades, as vacancies may occur.
I'd 10 educate a number equally as great as that
now established and to fix age in every grade upon
the attainment of which, if no vacancy exists for pro-
notion they may be retired from the navy to find en-
ployment IN the merchant service, and supply a re-
serve corps, III case war, of the most efficient char
acer.
The Secretary earnestly recommends, "tbat the
service itself be elevated by recognizing by law the Of
nee oil commodore, and by the of at least two
officers OF the rank of Rear Admiral" one Of The lat
ter when not active duty, to be EMPLOYED at the
department ITSELF Sin such supervision and direction of
he personnel OF the navy as might be assigned by the
mead OF the department, in analogy to the connection
OF the Genera-in Chief and the Adjuant General with
the department of War"
lie recommends that an efficient naval force be sta
honed IN the Pacific under the command of an officer
oihgh grade, and assigns his reasons. 1t is proposed
10 attach steam popeers to ling vessels OF war
10 De used as occasion may require; but he does not
recommend large addition to this species OF naval
force under present circumstances.
Ont four steamers authorized TO be- bu bv the
act OF lo47 the Saranac only has beeen completed and
she IS attached to the Home Squadron.
IL IS contemplated to require several squadrons oc-
caslonally assembled together to manouyre in fleets
The Naval Academy in Annapolis is in successful ops
eraton-and 1t is recommended that the President be
authorized to make few appointments at LARGE of
mldshpmen, cas- means of promoting Youths Of en-
raordnary PROMISE and of placing the sons of officers
OF the navy and army who have little choice of resi-
aente' on footing OF equality with other young
OF the country in eligbleness for the naval service
In consequence OF the abolition OF the punishment
OF whipping in the navy, without adopting apy substi-
tue, aho mus leaving seamen to the seveest penalties
lor offences heretofore punished by whipping the Sec
rotary advises that "a committee OF Congress shall take
the testimony on oath OF respectable and experienced
seamen as we'll as officers, in reference to proper code
OF dsclplne Tor the SERVICE and especially in regard to
the discretionary punshmens to be imposed by Officers
In command ofsinge ships.
The report gives an account ofsevera lines of mail
steamers with which Government has contracts paw
ments, &C. and recommends that line for the trans
portaton OF the mails from San Francisco to Macao
shanghai or some other point in Eastern ASIA cit her
ny steamers OF SAIL vessels, be also established"
Inc report refers to the operations at the National
CosefVatory the astronomical expedition under Lieut.
Ulis the preparations tor the publication of an Ameri-
can Mau t Almanac, by Lieut. Davis; the expert
mens OF Professor Page in the application of electro
magnetism as a motive power; the meteorological
experiments OF Prot. Espy; experiments in gunnery
&c. s''
A board onaval officers is engaged on the question
drank between officers of the military and civil branch
es OF the naval service.
The expenditures Of the department during the pas,
year are S9l $751; 81 1868 1863 of which were for spe-
cal object. The estimates for the year ending June go
1897 are Tor the naval service, including the Marine
corps, S3,soo62l; for transportation of the mall i'm
provement OF navy yards, SC, $2.2l 09S0-being less
by more than million of dollars than were the g.
Inmates Tor the present year.
The Secretary suggests that the appropriations for
the annual support of the navy separated from those
Tor land permanent objects on shore &c.
The unexpended balance OF the appropriations for
all objects connected with the department. on the Both
June last, was S3 all of which will be required
Tor outstanding Obligations.
The Secretary comnends to the attention ofCongress,
the reforms introduced nhe supply ofprovsions by the
ecen CHIEF OF that bureau and his suggestions as to
others to be effected by egislaton-and concurs in his
recommendation that 5000 600 OF the NAVY HOSPITAL
Fund be invested in stocks
The report closes by calling the early attention of
Congress to the augmentation OF the Marine corps. as
suggested by the chief
MURDER IN ALABAMA-We learn from the Montpo-
merry Journal that Milton j. Tarver residing near Au-
burn, Macon county, was murdered in his own house