The New York herald., 1850-12-04
ofths subject very briefly to review our present naval


STEAMERS OF the nrst GLASS; steamers Of less than
nrst GLASS; store ships OF these there in oom-
2schooners, coast survey steam frgatss; steamer
Of first class steamers Of less than first class ships
Of the line Is receiving ships; steamer do. do sloop
There also the stocks and in progress of con-
structon. but the work thereon suspended, four
chips Of the line, and two figates To the foregoing
may be added contingent naval force Of vessels
by individuals but built by contract with the govern
ment and employed In the transportation Of the mail
and liable in any emergency to be taken cost and
converted into vessels Of namely Four steamers
of the fret class employed on the line between New
York and Liverpool. fifth is contracted for, but
not yet constructed One steamer OF the fst ella a
between New York and Panama A second steamer on
this line has been brought into but has
finished so as to undergo inspection and be received
The contract on this line that to Liverpool pro-
| To supply the demands of the service in the con-
struction equipment and repair of vessels of all descrp
NeR HamSsSire CSsreston Ms,aobu,.tts Rpoo
lyn, New York; L. Philadelphia s. Washington; O. Nor
folk; !. Penn acols; 8. Memphis.
Permanent stone docks have been many years since
erected st the yards In Charleston and Norfolk and
third is nearly pleted in thar at Brooklyn Float
ing balance docks with stone basins and rail are
expected to be completed for at outh and
Psnsacola, In the course Of the ensuing year and
floating sectional dock also with q stone basin and
railway, at Pbiladel pha, within the period Ii
these three docks shall realize the expectations OF the
government, they with the dry dock at New York,
will have augmented our naval facilities in this
spect thresfold within the next twelve month"; and
will have provided all the accommodation OF that
antic and the QUIZ Of Hs1iso for vesr, to
The Navy Yard at Washington carries a highly im
portapt mapufactory Of ordnance and ordnance stores
Of anchors, chain cables, steam engines, and other
fabrics of iroD and preparations are in progress
erect there machinery for rolling copper, establish
ment long wanted, well the score OF onomy
to furnish better quality Of rolled copper for sheath
Ing vessels than be obtained In market The yard
at Memphis Is being Immediately prepared for the
manufacture of cordage and other supplies OF hempsn
materials tor naval uses and its operations may ba
enlarged with the necessities of the service have
Cd h.eI
expenditure there In consequence Of the difficulty OF
obtaining a firm foundation for the bull sinss; and it
beard Of engineers constituted for that purpose in
accordance with the recommendation Of the chief Of
the bur of and docks to provide against like
casualties Tor the future.
In conformity With the act Of the last session autho
riziDg the construction Of a sectional floating dry
dock, basins and railway on the coast OF the Pacific,
have invited proposals. for the construction OF such
work; and the officers Of the proper bureau
engaged in cslcuaio intended to test the
shall be agreed upon II Is the intention OF the depart
nent to expedite the work with all practicable de-
spatch.
1t Is estimated that, ndspendeptly of the public
works, fixtures, machinery, sc at the existing navy
yards the stores hand Tor the construction equio
ment, and repair OF yessels equal in value, In
round numbers, to S6600000. The resources OF the
country In timber iron copper hemp and every spe-
ces Of naval supplies will enable these be
ding to necessities Many intelligent persons
incline to the opinion that in the present state of
mechanical science and enterprise, and with the
abundance OF capital In our country IL would be wiser
to rely upon contracts with private citizens for the
building and repairs Of our public vessels than to
carry on the work undr the supervision OF public Of
fcers And II may we'll be doubted whether IL sys-
tenn 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
establishments however, capable sf use aud With
the inconicersbs amount necessary TO preserve them
I cannot recommend that any Of them be abandoned.
The system Of dependence on private contracts more
would deprive the govern o. nience
ofiocation for r.pairin and of and
All n
where private MS well AZ public patronage might BE- ex
pscted IL indspen able that hips Of VAR
fhall be constructed the most improved plans 10
devised only by practic IL knowledge OF naval ~arre
s well naval architecture and shall be thoroughly
built OF the best materials that would be hazardou
to resort to new method Of supplying ths an. whsr
the chief uriy for their effectiveness would b. the
proht to be realized by the contractor. In time OF
war when every expedis might be necessary to add
90 the navy. private chip yards would doubtless
vesels bat would be most pjodieous to dspeud on
them onlv resource In preparation fer war
Such being the condition of the vessels OF the
navy, and our fseliiie. aud preparation. for
pr,sents iiself, what naval force DO we require
The answer TO this question must, OF course
vary with the varying circumstances Of the country
Having been orgeniTsd on its present. basis by TIE
Act OF Congress Of 1893 and considerably enlarged IN
conseQuenee OF the state OF hotiities with fsaee os
the two three years succeeding the naval tore. ~As
reduced in l6al and the numbtr OF vessels OH ers
limited by law the supernumery officers being ats
charged, and the vessels solo The rripoltan war'
which pson succeeded required speedy additions to
the ferce thus reserved and With extended aud tn-
oreasnR commerce. with the obvious necessity tor its
projection and the protrsotad dispute with Great
Britain to the rights OF our ig on the ocesa ana
the briis ut achievements by which those sh. ~-re
yindicnted BY the navy in the var which end-d thts
dfpue 81 so gains In the public estimation that at
ttt close the instead of reduction Of this arm
OF the national defence ~as the case with the army,
the ann aal sum OF $1,000 90, for eight years sp
propr at, Tor the gradual Increase OF the navy Al.
in isaO The policy Of gradual Increase ooutuuei
10 be fsvore object With Congress and the country
In ls25, 20 and ~. the question ot proper n.vs'
\ r,nce ettablisbmert much discussed and consi-
dsrd a but was left undecided by the Legissture sed
appropriations for increase as well q. main enanee
l snd repair, have been continued TO BE- male, 9TH
eoue irreguArty t. intervals and amounts, untii
the pre,sat tms. but without sny definition by Con
gfee Of the number ana descriptions Of vessels deemed
uecertsry for the national marine
Tn. numbers In the various grades of the p-rronnsl
Of tbe navy has, until recent period been l~fs t'h
more usde6ned than the numbrr of ahips -in7@ .s
REDUCTION 81 the number Of vessels aud men a'r th-
~ tsiabshment a friendly relations With Ftr-ce by
treaty In 1901 statute for more thar fcriy years
mitsd The sue total Of psrfons 20 b emPoJrd Ia me
nAvy OF 10 ts several ranks and on eer Tho uumpeI
Of coums'ioned officers In any grade W 70 ani IN,
tluding cgptaincy. depended on the Pre.iitut end
| Senate, ana The number of warrant ofissfs th'
Prtidsnt or head ot the department alone w pro
visioi al clsuse In the annual sppsop afson bl =
proved August 4b 1884, the number o. oiho rs ia tn'
respective gadss Of the navy was directed MT 20 I'd
increased tsyond the number In service on he LET o
January. lsi2; and any further spp1intnent ~ nit
sbirr,n was ftrbiddsn until tkey should be reduced
20 the number in service the lst ~ Janua's lsil
In this retrospective proviso ot an app ptOptston OH
I the uumber of officers was hxed by standard NJ
b. the eye Of the legislature but a. be ssarch
"a IN the roster Of the service for the two preeed
ing years and By this after being thus aaeertansd u
continues 20 b. regulated The personDsl of the Dsvl
thus established, cOmpriees :-6S caPtains y
coumauders 32T lisutsnants c8 turgeons 81
! psssed assistant surgeons a. assistant surgeons
% purseff; "a chaplain ~ professors Of me-
thsms'ics II matters Ia the lire Of ptomrtion
ana 464 pasfed and other midsh pms NJ 20 Witch is q
b. added, besides other warrant officers according
the annual appropriation for ysy ana .uhsftence
TtOu patty oflisers teauen, ordinary seaman lants
men and boys The capacity OF the country toeulsrE
this force whenever des able may b. readily perceived
hy stating that ve have nov in the mercantile marine
3OCO 90 of tons Of shipping, an amouut gres'sr hu
that other nation OF he world and according
the ordinary estimate Of Elk men 60 one h1ntre
tons there IN merchant servise ls0 900 sea
In this array ofhardy mariners 20 recruit from sne u
cur va,t resources for buoins. equippiog sud agmn
ships OF possess the elements Of nagal ppre
unsufpsss a In the history 81 nations.
| TIE rrobl.m 20 he solved BY the statePmtn e. hn1
far these elements to be brought into use WHISTLE
the present establishment with ts sccustomet regu
t.ttr MI ie .danted