New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1850-12-05

The meteorological observations of Professor
Espey, which are still in progress under the ap.
propria,ion made at the last session Of Congress,
will be detailed in his report to be presented to
Congress.
T6e course of experiments in guunery and the
preparation OF ordnance and ordnance stores oil
all kinds at the Navy Yard in Washington, have
been conducted IN manner highly satisfactory
to the Department, and in consideration OF the
great Importance Of this particular duty to the Ell
iectiyeness OF our naval armament everywhere,
and the labor and responsibility OF the officer
charged with it. l with Difference recommend that
his compensation be made equal to that OF Com
mander at sea
board of naval officers has been convened,
agreeably to your instructions, Tor advice ana ~
formation the question Of rank between oihcers
of the military and civil branches OF the naval ser
vice and the relative rank Of officers Of the army
and navy when acting together, on winch the
opinion of the President requested by a reso'
luton of the House Of Representatives at the last
session. and their report will be laid before you as
BoOn.as received.
The Joint board Of officers of the army and navys
who have been engaged In the examination OF
our Pacific coast with reference to harbors, tortlh
cations, lighthouses navy yards and DOCKS, Is eX-
pected to finish its work in the present month";
and return to the seat of Government Inc Sc
lection OF site for a navy yard and dock on thaI
coast has been deferred until the reception OF the
report of the board, and personal conference
with the officers comprising it.
BY virtue of the authority conferred on the head
of this Department in the act of Congress, ap-
proved September 28, 1850, to purchase American
waterrotted hemp in open market for the use OF
the navy provided the price shall not exceed that
of"the foreign article for the last five years, the
hemp agents at Louisville and st. Louis have
been instructed to make inquiries and receive
proposals to the price Of the article; but no suf-
icient information has yet been received 10 justify
purchases of the quantity required.
| subjon the reports of the respective heads OF
bureaus Of this Department., and OF the command
ant Of the Marine corps, presenting estimates tor
the fiscal year ending the goth OF June, l6o2, TO-
gether with an aggregate statement OF the appro'
priations required for all objects under the super
vision of this Department, the sum total OF
W wIn . .Icnj he ad1cteJ the estimates for e
traordinary objects, follows, viz: Transpor
tation OF The mail, Improvement OF navy yards,
nautical aNantc, <<IV'9oV
To show the amount proposed for The support of
the naysl service, including Tie Marine corps. 1000,
for the year. S590o1l
The above aggregate, it will be perceived, ls
less by more than one million of dollars than were
the estimates for the present year To 1t, how
ever, must be added the amount which may be
required for the floating dry DOCK basin and rail
way on the coast of the Pacific of which an es-
innate will be supplied soon as contract
shall be made, and the price OF the whole work
agreed upon.
| take the liberty to suggest that the appropria-
tons for the annual support OF the Navy should
be separated from those for fixed and permanent
objects on shore, and more especially those Tor
extraordinary objects under the supervision of
the Department, which, however important as
subjects Of public interest, are not necessarily
connected with it. If in analogy to the bills for
the erection of notifications and orthe support of
the Military Academy as related to the Army,
distinct bills prepared for the Navy Yards
and Docks and the Naval Academy, and for the
mail steam service, and other objects of the class
above mentioned, it would contribute to q better
understanding OF the matters involved, perhaps to
greater economy under each Of these various
heads, and would relieve the Navy from the
charge of eXtravagant expenditures.
The total amount drawn from the Treasury
during the fiscal year ending June 30, 1880 as
shown by the statement of appropriations for the
naval service prepared by the Second Controller
of the Treasury wv 6
From which deduct repayments .l999lo o|
And there is left the Of .$789lo9 81
as the expenditures on all objects under the con-
tro of this Department.. OF this amount there
was expended for special objects the sum OF
$9,368, 100 II, leaving as the true expenditures
for the support oil the navy and marine corps the
sum OF S5,523 722 SO.
The expended balance in Treasury OF the up
preparations for the naval service, marine corps,
and special objects under the control OF this De-
partment, on the Goth Of june 1850, was S3,839,-
253 81, all of which will be required to meet out
standing Obligations due from the appropriations
made for that year
l commend to the attention OF Congress the re-
forms introduced in the supply of provisions by
the efficient chief of that bureau and his sugges-
tons as to others which can only be affected by
| legislation. Likewise to the statement made by
the Chief Of the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery
that the number of effective medical officers in the
service is insufficient for its wants and his recon-
mendation that those untitled for duty shall be
tired and their places supplied by new appoint
mcnts. also concur in his recommendation that
the sum of 5000, 600, part of the Navy Hospital
Fund, be invested in stocks as Il protection
against loss and to insure regular income.
The augmentation OF the marine corps, as pro
posed in The report of its chief, deserves likewise
the early attention of Congress. By revision of
the complement tables of ships of.war it is beey-
ed that the number Of landsmen might be reduc.
ed, and that of the rank and file OF the marines
increased, SO to provide for the deficiency now
existing in this corps, without detriment to the
service, additional expense to the Government.
am, with the highest respect, your obedient servant
WILLIAM A. GRAHAM,
To the PRESIDENT. Secretary of the Navy.
Report on Navy Yards and Docks.
Accompanying the Report of the Secretary Of
the Navy is the following report from the Bureau
of Yards and Docks
BUREAU or YARDS AND Docks, Oct 70, 1850.
SIR In cOmnliance with VOur instructions OF