The republic., 1850-12-04

all practicable dispatch.
1t is estimated that, independently of the public
works, hxtures, machinery, &c. at the existing
navy yards, the stores oh hand for the construc-
ton, equipment, and repair of vessels are equal in
value in round numbers to $1,000 0O0 The re-
sources of the country in timber, iron, copper,
hemp, and every species OF naval supplies. will
able these to be increased according To necessi
ties Many intelligent persons lifeline to the epn-
ion that In the present state OF mechanical science
and enterprise, and with the abundance OF capital
in our country it would be wiser to rely upon l.
tracts with private citizens for the building and re-
pairs of our public vessels than 70 carry the work
under the supervision of public officers. And il
may well be doubted whether, il a system were now
to be projected, without reference to what has been
heretofore done, the number Of navy yards
might not be considerably abridged With these
with the Uncomfortable amounts necessary to pre-.
serve them, cannot recommend that any Of them
be abandoned. The syetem of dependence on pri-
vate contracts, moreover, would deprive the Gov
ernment of any convenience of location for repair
ing and building vessels, and concentrate all such
operations in the commercial cities where private
as well as public patronage might be expected. Ii
| ls, moreover, 30 indispensable that ships OF war
shall be constructed the most improved plans to
be devised only by practical knowledge of naval
warfare as well as of naval architecture, and shall
be thoroughly built Of the beet materials, that it
would be hazardous to resort to new method of
supplying them, where the chief security for their
effectiveness would be the profit to be realized by
the contractor. In time Of war; when every ex-
private ship yards would doubtless be found most
nnportan iarcs for the supply of vessels, but
twould be most injudicious to depend on them as
our only resource in preparation for war
Such being the condition of the vessels of the
Wy, and our facilities and preparations for aug
menting their number, the question naturally pre-.
sents itself what naval force do we require? The
answer to this question must of vary with
the varying circumstances of the country Hav-
ing been organized on its present basis by the act
OF 1898, and considerably enlarged, in consequence
of the state of hostilities with France for the
three years succeeding, the naval force
duced in lSOl and the number Of vessels and Off
GERS limited by law, the supernumerary officers
being discharged and the vessels sold. The Trpoli
tan war, which succeeded, required speedy
additions TO the force thus reserved; and with
extended and increasing commerce, with the obvi-
necessity for its protection and the protractcd
dispute with Great Britain TO the rights of our
flag on the ocean, and the brilliant achievements
by which those rights were indicated by the navy
in the which ended this dispute, il SO gained in
the public estimation that at the close Of the war
instead OF reduction Of this of the national
defence, as was the case with the army, the annual
sum OF 5 100000, for eight years, was appropri
ated for the gradual increase of the navy. Al
though this appropriation reduced to so 900
per year in 1920, the policy of gradual increase
still continued TO be favorite object with Congress
and the country. In 1925, 1926, and 1927, the
question OF proper naval peace establishment
much discussed and considered, but was left unde
cided by the Legislature, and appropriations for
increase, as well as maintenance and repair, nave
continued to be made. with some irregularity to
intervals and amounts, until the present time, but
without any definition by Congress of the number
and descriptions ofyesses deemed necessary for the
national marine.
The numbers in the various grades of the person
mel of the navy has until within period been
left still more underlined than the number of ships
Since the reduction of the number of vessels and
men, after the establishment of friendly relations
with France by treaty In 1901 statute for more
than forty years ever limited the sum total of
sons 10 be employed in the navy, in its several
ranks and officers. The number of commissioned
oifi ers IN any grade up 10 and including a cap
taincy, depended on the President and Senate, and
the number Of warrant officers the President or
Head of the Department alone. By provisional
clause in the annual appropriation bill, approved
August 4th, lS42, the number Of officers in the
spective grades of the navy directed not 10 be
increased beyond the number in service on the let
of January, lSs2; and any further appointment Of
midshipmen forbidden until they should be re-
duced to the number in service the Let Of Janu-
ary, ls4l. ia this retrospective proviso Of ap-
preparation bill the number Of officers was fixed by
standard not then before the eye Of the Legisla-
urc but 10 be searched for in the of the
vice for the two preceding years, and by this af-
ter being thus Ascertancd, II continues 10 be regu
lated.
The personnel Of the navy, thus established,
comprises 6S captains, 81 commanders, 327 lieu.
tenants 6S surgeons, 81 passed assistant surgeons,
33 assistant surgeons % pursers, "a chaplains -
professors of mathemltc IL masters in the line of
I
20 which is TO be added besides other warrant Of
hcers, according TO the annual appropriation for
pay and subsistence, 800 petty officers, seamen,
ordinary scamen, landsmcn, and boys.
The capacity Of the country 10 enlarge this force,
whenever desirable, may be readily perceived by
stating that we have now in the mercantile marine
sOOOOOO Of tons Of shipping, an amount greater
than that OF any other nation Of the world; and
cOrdng 10 the ordinary estimate OF SIX men 10 every
ono hundred tons, there are in our merchant ser
vice $4,000 seamen. In this array of hardy ma
rnors 10 recruit FROM and in resources for
building, cquipping, and srming ships Of war, we
possess The elements of a naval power unsurpassed
IN the history of nations. The problem 10 be solved
by the statesman is, how far these elements to
be brought into use Whether the present estab-
lishmcnt, with its accustomed regulation and di-
roctiOn, is adapted to our present necossities,
| whether IL may be reformed, regulated, and i'm
proved as better 10 answer the great objects Of
It's institution And in considering these ques
| TONS must bear constantly in mind that we
have arrived at new era in our history, arisin q
from our occupation and vast extension Of ter
ritOries the coast Of the Pacific.
IL IL not matter Of surprise that n system which
has grown 10 its present dimensions without any
/ law Of increase, should be found unshapely and
dispropOrtioned. An obvious fault of the present
organization Of the personnel Of the navy, as above
forth. is the disparity between the head and the
subordinate parts. The natural desire Tor promo
/ ton has brought into the higher grades a greater
number Of oficers than 10 required by the present
force Of ships and men, than will be required in
any state Of things likely soon occur.
! The shore stations, cOnprehending navy yards,
/ receiving ships, and naval asylum and including
one OF each fOr the Pacific coast, will require -
/ captains, 2l commander, 80 lcutenants, "a sur
| gcons, 10 passed and assistant surgeons, 10 pur
sers, ~ cuHplans, % passed and oiher midship-
mcn leaving for sea service Sc captains, 20 com
mandcrs, 27l leutcnsnts, al surgeons, 10 passed
aud assistant surgeons, so purscrs, 10 chsplains,
and s04 passed and other midshipmen.
| Assuming the present number Of 500 petty Off
GERS, scamen, ordinary seamen, landsmcn, and
] boys as the force 10 be commanded, and dividing
II into SIX squadrons, each 20 consist Of ship Of
/ the line, | irigate, steamer OF the let ciass.
steamer Of the % Glaze. sloops Of war, IL will give
employment at one time 10 ~ captains 30 com
/ mandcrs loo lieutenants, 80 surgeons, 90 passed
and assistant surgeons, ~ pursers, chaplans, sJ6
passed and other midshipmen; leaving unem.
ploycd either land or scs. % captains, 40 com
nanders, ll5 licutcnants, surgeons, 10 passed
and assistant surgeons, pusers, chaplains, S
passed and other midshipmcn.
| In service subjected 10 hardship. danger, and
deprivation Of the comforts Of domestic Lille, there
should be, At all imes, such number Of officers
as TO allow reasonable respite between active
cruiscs at sea- and to provide against losses from
/ sudden casualty.
! But as duty on shore ia itsef relief from duty
sea- IL s believed that the above list Of supernu
mersry oficers least in the three highest grades.