New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-21
NAVAL AFFAIRS.
Report from the Bureau of Construction,
Equipment and Repairs.
Bureau of Construction, Equipment, &c4
NAVY DEPARTMENT, November |, 1850

Report from the Bureau of Construction,
Equipment and Repairs.
Bureau of Construction, Equipment &c,
NAVY DEPARTMENT, November !, 1850
SIR have the honor to transmit IN conformity
with your Instructions, estimates for the fiscal
year ending the 30th June, 1852, embracing
that portion of the naval service coming under the
cognizance of this bureau, accompanied by state
ments exhibiting the rates and distribution OF all
the vessels Of the Navy of the United States in
commission on the first day OF November, 1880;
the number and rates of those in ordinary; those
on the stocks the building of which has been for
several years suspended j and those undergoing
repairs Also reports of the estimated value of
articles received and expended, with the cost and
amount of labor upon objects connected with this
bureau at the several Navy Yards during the same
period. The estimated value of articles on hand
at each yard at the commencement and close OF
the same ID shown in the table containing the
amount of receipts and expendtures-a schedule
of which is annexed for reference.
The estimates for construction, equipment, arm
ament, repair of ships coal for Steamers hemp
&c, are reduced to the lowest amount at which
force equal to that now in commission can be
maintained,
Since the annual report the steamers "Susque
hanna" "Jacinto" and Powhattan have been
launched, and are now receiving their engines ana
machinery, preparatory for service Great delay
has been experienced in their manufacture at the
several foundres. To obviate like delays III tu-
ture. the bureau would respectfully recommend
ms q matter of economy of money and time, that
the public yards be supplied with the necessary
apparatus for the construction OF steam engines
for naval purposes. AT the w ashngton yard they
are prepared for the manufacture OF the largest
size Those of smaller class already built al
ford evidence Of what may be done under the dl-
rection OF and by the able mechanics employed at
that establishments
The steamer Saranac, on her recent TRIP To
and from Cuba proved TO be vessel combining
speed with all the qualities necessary to constr
tute an efficient vessel OF war. An injury was
sustained in part of her engine frame, which has
been repaired. She is now ready for active ser
vice. The performance of the steamer MsSls'
sppi heretofore in the gull OF Mexico aud now III
the Mediterranean, has elected the highest enconi'
n,ns from naval men; and, after q period OF nine
wears active service, she stands unsurpassed as
war steamer
The number of ships and rates suitable tor the
relief of vessels and to supply the places OF those
returned from foreign service during the past year,
have been repaired aud equipped at the several
naval stations aud proceeded to their several des'
tinatous
In the last annual report it was recommended
that steamer should be built to supply the place
of the propeller Princeton. Inc engines ana ma,
chinerv taken out of that vessel are efficient and
valuable but unless employed In vessel OF SIM
liar descriptions will be entirely useless The bu-
reau would again call attention to the subject, and
add that as there are frames and other suitable
building materials on hand, the expense OF con-
struction alone will be incurred. 1t would also
respectfully recommend that the frigate United
States, built in the year 1877, the Constitution
and Constellation, built in the same year, be no
longer fitted for sen service. Their great age rem
ders expensive repairs frequently necessary
moreover their Dimensions and armament are far
inferior to modern frigates of their class, The
bureau would therefore suggest that these distn
guished ships, that have borne our flag gallantly
for more than halt q century, by returned to the
ports from whence they were launched be pre-
served in commission as receiving ships and me-
mentos of brilliant achievements. The bureau
would also respectfully recommend that the frigate
Sabine, on the stocks at NewYork, and Santee,
at Portsmouth, N H. be completed and launched
to supply the places of the Constitution and Uni
ted States The Sabine and Santee have been
on the stocks, in an unfinished state, for many
years. They are of larger dimensions than those
it is proposed to relieve from seS service, and
may, it is believed, be launched and equipped at
cost not far, If at ALL exceeding the amount re-
Quired to repair aud equip old frigates The econ
iomy OF the measure is evident, as the new ships
will run a number of years without repairs.
AS the naval powers OF Europe are Introducing
successfully steam propellers board msny of
their ships of war, thus giving them decided ad
vantage over those dependent upon wind alone for
their movements, the bureau would offer for the
consideration Of the Department the proprlety Of
fitting one or both Of the new trigstes proposed
with suitable machinery 20 drive them by steam.
This measure would add much to their ethclency
as ships of war proportion OF steamers added
to the Navy, as auxar es, would greatly increase
its efficiency especially in the protection OF rivers
and bays, as by their means the heaviest ships
would be enabled TO overcome all the obstacles 20
their movements now presented by adverse WINDS
and tides The bureau would also recommend
the introduction of a large number of heavy shell
guns on board vessels able TO bear them. Although
il is not expected that the United States should
vie with European navies in point OF numbers,
nevertheless the small force We have in commits
sion, by the introduction Of all the improvements
Of modern science, should be equal to any other
vessels atloat
Plans have been formed for razeeing the Frank
lin Ia small "a her class having become obsolete,
BY the introduction Of very superior order OF yes
sells of the same rate 1t is proposed, should this
recommendato be adopted, to arm her with bat
teries of heavy guns thus rendering her tormid-
Die vessel of war, The secondclass frigate Ma
eedonan, it is proposed to razee, and arm her
also with a battery of shell guns instead of her
preaent armament of \ DounderH