The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1850-12-04


the squadron ia the East India and China seas, lately
under hs command Of cS@% M GesIngsr' who re-
transierred to the command OF Commodore Voorhees,
and consists OF the soopofwar Saratoga. Commander
Gendy The sloop. war ri, mouih, Commander Ged-
ney. and be brig Dolphin Lieutenant Commanding Page
having been recently detached from this service the
expiration OF their cruise, on their passage 10 the
United States In the month OF February last the
mander OF this squadron took on hoard OF his hsgship
the soop.of war Ply mouth. at Macao, Mr. Rassiier,
who had been appointed commercial agent oil the United
States and carried him TO Cochin China and other parts
of Eastern Asia, with view TO the extension OF our
commercial relations among those distant and peculiar
nations.
flag has been displayed by national vessel il has re-
ceived the respect due the national character and that
interests and commerce in every sea have been
cure and prosperous under its protection
Under The joint resolution OF Congress approved May
o $780, authorizing the President accept and attach
the navy two vessels offered by Henry Grinnsl esq
OF New York To be sent ohe Arctic search oil the
British commander, Sir JOAN franklin, and his compan
IONS" whose uncertain aud melancholy situation has
listed the symiathies OF the ends OF science and naut
cal adventure throughout the world two bgantnes were
received and, By order Of my predecessor placed
under the command OF Lieutenant j. DE Haven, who,
with sufficient crew OF officers and meO nobly solun
teered for that service The command OF ons Of these
vessels assigned to Passed Mdshipman b z Grimm,
Lieutenant De Haven commanding tie other ~ person.
and having the direction Of the expedition they sailed
from New York in the month OF May aud at The date OF
18th degree OF north latitude and about the Goth degree
Of west longitude gaany conending with the icebefgs
of that REGION and yet not without hope OF success IN
their humane but perilous enterprise.
In the active service aoa Of the officers Of the navy,
il is proper 70 enumerae their abors The coast sur.
veya work which, although committed to The direction
Of the Treasury Department. is, in The most important
part OF It's field operations, essentially performed by them
During The last year, nne partes-eght IN The Atlantic
and one in the Pacific each in charge OF lieutenant IN
the navy accompanied by competent force OF mdship
assisiantshave been actively engaged in this
vey Whether in consideration OF the main objects ex.
pected to be realized the completion oil the work. and
the large agency IN its execution devoved on the navy II
would not be more appropriate and just as well as eco
nomica to assign it wholly 10 this branch OF the service.
isworthy OF the attentive consideration OF the legisla
ture
Having presented hasty review Of the service Of our
suggest some general considerations upon the naval
policy required by the present interests OF the country
deem needful 10 full comprehension Of the subject,
very briefly to review present naval establishment.
The vessels OF the navy OF the United States consist OF
ships-o the line razee IL irgaes u sioops. OIL
wars briggs; schooners; steam frga,es steamers
of the Let class steamers less than LIST class store
ships Fs
Of these there are in commission, razee 0 rgates
IS sloops Of war; briggs schooners lcoast survey
steam frigates steamer OF the LIST class steamers
less than LIST class ships receiving ships
steamer, do; sloop, do
There also the stocks and in progress OF consruc
ton but the work thereon now suspended four ships Of
the-line and two frgaes.
force Of vessels owned 81 individuals but built by con-
tracts with the government, and employed in the
portaon OF the mail and liable in any emergency TO be
namely: Four the first class employed the
line between New York and Liverpool fifth is con.
iractet for, but not yet constructed One steamer OF
the first class between New York and Panama second
this line has been brought into use, but has
not been finished 20 as to undergo inspection and be
ceiyeda The contract on this line, as on that to Liver
pool. provides for hve steamships.
To supply the demands OF the service in the consruc-
ton, equipment and repair Of vessels OF all descriptions,
Hampshire; .. Charlesiown, Massachusetts; 8. Brook
Ign, New York; A. Philadelphia; S, Washington; 6,
Norfolk; 7, Pensacola; 8. Memphis.
Pemanentsone docks have been many years since erect
ed the yards in Chaesiown and Norfolk and third is
nearly completed IN that Brooklyn Floating balance
dock with stone basins and railways expected TO be
completed for at Portsmouth and Pensacola in the
course OF the ensuing year, and floating sectional dock
also with stone basin aud rail way, at Philadephia
o w
dock at New York. will have augmented naval acii-
ties in this respect three fold within the next twelve
months, and viii have provided all the accommodation OF
that kind which may be required on the waters Of the
Atlantic and the Gull OF Mexico for many years to come
The hayward al Washington carries highly mpor-
tant mandatory OF ordnance and ordnance stores OF
chors chain cables steam engn and other fabrics Of
irons and preparations in progress TO erect there
chinery for rolling copper-an establishment long wanted
az web on the score OF economy TO furnish better
quality of rolled copper for saeathng vessels than
be Obtained in market The yard at Memphis is being
Immediately prepared Tor the manufacture OF cordage
other supplies Of hempen materials naval uses and i.
operations may be enlarged with the necessities OF h,
service have regretted TO learn that there has beer
some lose in the expenditure there in consequence OF the
difficulty OF obtaining hm foundation for the build
ings, and u is in contemplation TO have survey OF the
yard by board OF engineers constituted for that purpose
in accordance with the Recommendation OF the Chief
the Bureau OF Yards and Docks TO provide against like
casualties for the future
In conformity with The OF the last session author
izng the construction Of sectional floating dry dock
basin and railway the coast OF the Pacific, have
vited proposals for the construction Of such work. and
the officers OF the proper bureau engaged in cal
cuaons intended 10 test the RESPONSIVENESS OF those Of
fered. So as satisfactory terms shall be agreed
upon. sthe intention OF the department TO expedite h,
work with all practicable despatch.
II 10 estimated that independently OF the public works
fixtures, machinery, &c. at the existing navy yards the
stores hand for the construction, equipment, and
pair OF vessels equal in value IN round numbers tc
ss,5oo,o0o The resources Of the country in timber
copper hemp, and every species OF naval supplies
sites Many intelligent persons incline 10 the opinion
that IN The present slate OF mocha pical science and en-
erprise and with the abundance OF capital in our coun
try, u would be wiser 70 rely upon contracts with p
vate citizens for the building and repairs OF public
vessels than 10 carry the work under the supervision
of public Objects. And il may well be doubted whether
nssystem were now 20 be projected without reference
10 what has been heretofore DONE the number OF our
navy yards might not be considerably abridged With
these establishments, however capable Of use and
with the uncomfortable amounts necessary TO preserve
them, cannot recommend that any OF them be aban.
doned The system OF dependence private contracts
moreover would deprive the government Of any conye.
nience Of location for repairing and building vessels and