The national era. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1847-1860, 1850-12-12
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.


water.
SECRETARY OF THE NAVY.
The Srss column is devoted sJrS J&tai, Of tho
movement Of our various squadrons during the
year. Our flag has been respected and honored
wherever displayed, and our commerce protected
! and made scope
The vessels Of the Navy OF the~tnr States
consist of shps-of-the line; razee q frigates ;
81 sloops-ofwar; 1 briggs; 2 schooners steam
frigates; 3 steamers Of the first class steamers
less than first class storeships
OF these there are in commission, ] razee
! frigates; Is sloops-of-war; brigs; schOoners,
tcoast survey J steam frigates; steamer Of the
first class; 3 steamers less than first class 3 ships
of-the line, as receiving Ships / steamer, do. |
soop, do.
There are also on the stocks and in progress Of
construction, but the work thereon now suspended,
four ships. of.the line and two frgates Five mail
steamers now in use, and two others which are
being built, can also be converted into war steam
ers when necessary
The United States have eight Navy Yards.
The permanent stone dock at Brooklyn is nearly
completed and the floating balance docks at Ports
mouth and Pensacola, and the floating sectional
dock at Philadelphia are expected to be completed
| during the ensuing year. and viii augment our
naval facilities three-fod within the next twelve
months.
The navy yard at Washington carries on q
highly important mandatory of ordnance and
ordnance stores of anchors chain cables, steam
engines, and other fabrics of iron, and prepara-
tons are in progress to erect there machinery for
rolling copper an establishment long wanted as
| we'll on the score of economy rs TO furnish bet
ter quality of rolled copper for sheathing vessels
than can be obtained in market
| Proposals have been invited for sectional or
I II ID,
aud the work is to be expedited with all practical
| BILE despatch
1t is estimated that, independently of the public
| works, fixtures machinery, &c, at the existing
navy yards, the stores on hand for the construc-
tion equipment and repair Of the vessels are
equal in value in round numbers to sc 500 900.
The resources of the country, in timber, iron,
copper hemp, and every species of naval supplies,
will enable these to be increased according to our
necessities.
The Secretary notices suggestions which have
been made that Government rely upon contracts
with private citizens for the construction and
repair of our vessels of war but, for various rea
sous which he assigns he prefers that such work
shall be done as at present, under the superntend
cnce Of Government officers He treats at con-
siderable length the question, what naval force
do we requre2 and recommends reduction to
eco captains 80 commanders, 800 lieuenants
with corresponding notifications in the inferior
grades Ii is left TO Congress to decide whether
the President or a board of officers shall designate
the persons to be discharged 1t is recommended
to provide that, from time to time, as officers
may decline in capacity for useful service, either
from approximation or from other cause, they
may be retired from the active list, on terms both
Just and liberalD
In order to remedy defect in "the disparity
between the ages of subaltern officers and their
grades proceeding from the fixed numbers in each
rank, and the failure to provide for any promotion,
b. except in case Of vacancy two methods have
been suggested by officers Of great merit and in
teligence;
l. To reduce the number Of midJhipmen, 80 as
to furnish only 80 many as may be required to
supply the higher grades as vacancies may occur.
2. To educate a number equally as great as that
now established, and to fix age in every grade,
upon the attainment of which, if no vacancy ex-
lists for promotion, they may be retired from the
navy to find employment in the merchant service,
and supply reserve corps, in case Of war, Of the
most efficient character.
The Secretary earnestly recommends, " that the
service itself be elevated by recognising by law
the Office Of Commodore, and by the creation of at
least two officers Of the rank Of Rear Admiral
one of thu latter, when not on active duty, to be
employed at the department itself " in such su-
pervsion and direction Of the personnel of the
navy as might be assigned by the head of the De-
partment, in analogy to the connexion of the
General in chief and the Adjutant General with
the Department of War.
lie recommends that an efficient naval force be
stationed in the Pacific, under the command of an
officer of high grade, and assigns his reasons. 1t
is proposed to attach steam propellers to sail
ing vessels Of war, to be used occasion may
quire but he does not recommend large addi-
ton to this species Of naval force under present
circumstances
| OF the four war steamers authorized to he
I buff by the act Of 1917, the Saranac only has
been completed, and she is attached TO the Home
Squadron.
II is contemplated to require several squadrons
occasionally assembled together to manWuvre in
fleets The Naval Academy in Annapolis is in
successful operstion-and il is recommended that
the President be authorized to make few APP
poiutments at large of midshipmen, as a means
of promoting youths of extraordinary promise,
and of placing the sons of officers OF the navy
and army, who have little choice Of residence on
footing of equality with the other young men
Of the country in eligibleness for the naval
service"
In consequence of the abolition of the punish
ment of whipping in the navy, without adopting
any substitute and thus leaving seamen to the
severest penalties for offences heretofore punished
by whipping the Secretary advises, that CON-
mittee of Congress shall take the testimony on
oath of respectable and experienced scamep, as
well as officers, in reference to proper code of
discipline for the service, and especially in regard
to the discretionary punishments to he imposed
| by officers in command Of single ships"
The repor. gives an account of several lines of
mai. steamers with which Government has con-
tracts, payments &c, and recommends, that
line for the transportation Of the mails from San
Francisco to Macao, Shanghai, or some other
point In Eastern Asia, either by steamers or sail
vessels he also established.
The report refers to the operations at the
National Observatory; the astronomical expedi.
ton under Lieut. ellis; the preparations for the
publication Of an American Nautical Almanac,
by Lieut. Davis; the experiments of Professor
Page in the application Of eleotro-maguetism as
motive power the meteorological experiments Of
Prof Espy experiments in gunhery, &c,
4 a hoard Of naval officers is engaged on the
question Of rank between officers Of the military
and civil branches Of the naval service.
i The expenditures Of the Department during
the past year are 81 sol SOL - 36s l69 Of which
were for special objects The estimates for the