The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1850-01-15
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.

ifornia, and the difficulty of enlisting
men there at $40 and SI2 per month,
while the merchant service is paying
from SS5 to $3.50.
Our squadrons in the Mediterranean
Pacific, China seas, on the Brazil coast,
&c, have all been received with kind
ness, and treated with courtesy.
1T. Davis has been charged with the
duty of experimenting the preparation
Of a Nautical Almanac, and Prof. Page
has been entrusted with the duty of ma
king practical experiments for testing
the capacity and usefulness Of the elec-
tro-magnetic power as a mechanical a.
gent for the purposes of navigation and
locomotion.
The Secretary gives full account of
the steam mail service. The Liverpool
line will probably be completed within
the time stipulated. This system, how>
ever, of increasing the Navy by ocean
steamers is deprecated as too costly.
For "a naval establishment, that which
we are most in need of is an indepen>
dent naval steam force, of such extent
and of such magnitude as the wisdom
and liberality of Congress may think
sufficient, and the necessities of the
country require"
The number OF insane persons now in
the Navy hospitals is but IL.
The resolution authorizing the pur>
chase Of American instead Of foreign
rotted hemp, will have To be amended
in order to avoid monopoly, and insure
the growers Of the article the supply Of
the navy. 1t is believed the West can
furnish a sufficient supply superior to
the foreign growth.
The experiments in gunnery at the
Washington Navy yard have been very
successful, aud the observations and eX-
perimenis at the Observatory continued
with great skill.
Reference is made to the examination
of the Pacific coast by a Joint commits
sion of oflicers-to The floating dry docks
at Philadelphia, Pensacola and Kittery
and to the retur Is of prize agents.
A revision and republication Of the
various laws passed for the government
of the navy aud Of the general orders Of
the Navy Department urgently demand
attention.
Attention is asked TO onr interests in
the Pacific ocean. and to the increasing
obligations the Government is under to
protect and cherish it, Within a short
period we have added an extent of sea
coast to our possessions Of more than
900 miles, embracing many good, and
one of the best harbors in the world
possessing immense mineral wealth, at
tracting to its shores the inhabitants OF
all nations, and inviting it to the cons
merce and trade of every climate
| The four first class sea-going steam>
ships are in n course Of completion the
Saranac will shortly be ready for sea
the San Jacinto will be ready in the
f spring, and the other two during the en-.
suing summer. The Secretary recon-
mends the building of others.
The Secretary says the number of of.
fcers of the Navy in the higher grades
are greater than are required. either for
the vessels now in commission, for the
number of men authorized by Congress
to be employed, or for any increase oi
force ahoat which may reasonably be
Expected. The numbers in the respec-
tive grades are disproportioned to each
other. Its present organization retards
promotion. Age, iniirmity, and want Of
employment have disqualified many for
the performance Of active professional
dutes.- These evils are felt and ac>
knowledged by all who have a Just re-
gard for the prosperity and honor of the
service.
lie therefore recommends a reduction
of the numbers in the various grade ol
officers TO that point which will secure q
sufficient number in each for such a ma
val force as Congress may determine is
necessary and proper, and that Provis.
ion be made for retired list for such of.
6cers as are disqualified for active SER
vice, on such terms and with such pay
as may be thought liberal and Just
Should Congress deem it proper to adopt
such system, it is believed plan eau
be prepared which will meet the appro,
baton of large proportion of the Off
GERS themselves. and which will greatly
reduce the expenditure of our naval es'
Establishment.
Attention is invited to the naval schoo
at Annapolis. During the last year i
has been under the superintendent o
Commander Upshur, who has devoted
himself with zeal To the discharge of his
duties. Experience had disclosed many
defects in its organization and suggest t
ed many improvements which might ht
readily effected without materially in
creasing the expenditure for the insttu
: ton
The estimates for the naval service (o
the ensuing year amount TO 80, ,203, 1856
ID, from which 81 2,90S,97S are for spe
cial objects.
The Total amount drawn from The
Treasury during the fiscal year ending
the Both of June lS49, Sl3, l67 .066 ST
from which deduct repaymenls 2,269
623 30, and the sum Of SIG, sos .342 81
is shown as the expense of the navy anc
marine corps, and including all objects
placed under the control Of the Nav
Department for that year.
The unexpected balance in the Treas
ury of the appropriations for The nava
service and marine corps on the Both o
June, lS40, was 81 .039, Gas l3, all o
which will be required to meet the out
standing dues from the appropriations
made for that year.
The value Of stores aud materials ~
!. l.. IL l. &