Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1850-01-04


the Senate shall have confirmed the nomination of
his successor The number of officers to be compre
hended in the list of those who may, with advantage
to the public service, be retired, will probably not
exceed Twenty-Five; the sum of whose pay will be
less than fifteen thousand dollars annually.
The plan of the commanding General providing an
ASYLUM for veteran soldiers is warmly urged in
case of its adoption that dsbursing officers be
authorized to receive voluntary contributions for that
object
The Military Academy at West Point is highly
commended and the Indian outrages in New Mexi-
CO. Texas and Florida, referred to at length.
The establishment of military posts in Oregon-the
protection afforded overland emigrants to California
and the erection of Notifications the Pacific, are
next referred to- and the report closes with refer
ence to the operations of the late military authority
in California now superseded by civil authority.
Annual Report of the Secretary of the Navy.
The annual report OF Mr.. PRESTON, Secretary of
the Navy occupies five columns of the ntehgencer,
and gives in detail the movements and whereabouts
of national vessels during the year, all OF which
have generally, been heretofore noted in our col
umns He refers to the many assertions IN CalifOr-
nia and the difficulty of ensting men there at SO
and S12 per month"; while the merchant service is
pyaing from $85 to $50.
Our squadrons in the Mediterranean, Pacific, Chi
SEAS on the Brazil coast &c., have all been recei
we'd with kindness and treated with courtesy.
Lieut. DAVIS has been charged with the duty OF
experimenting the preparation of Nautical Alma
nae, and Prof PAGE has been entrusted with the du
ty of making practical experiments for testing the
capacity and usefulness of the electromagnetic pow
mechanical agent for the purposes of naviga-
ton 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,
however, of increasing the Navy by ocean steamers
is deprecated as too costly. For "a naval establish
ment that which we most in need of is an indie
pendent naval steam force of such extent and OF such
magnitude as the wisdom and iberality of Congress
may think sufficient and the necessities Of the coun
try require"
The number of insane persons now in the navy
hospitals is but r.
The resolution authorizing the purchase of Ameri-
can instead of foreign, water rOtted hemp, will have
to be amended, in order to avoid monopoly, and IN
sure the growers of the article the supply of the ma
Wy. 1t is believed the West furnish sufficient
supply, superior to the foreign growth.
The experiments in gunnery at the Washington
Navy Yard have been very successful and the obser-
vations and experiments at the Observatory contin
ued with great skill.
Reference is made to the examination of the Pa
cifc coast by joint commission of offcers-to the
floating dry docks at Philadelphia, Pensacola and
Kittery-and to the returns of prize agents.
A revision and republication of the various laws
passed for the government of the Navy and of the
general orders of the Navy Department. urgently de-
mand attention.
Attention is asked to our interest in the Pacific
ocean, and to the increasing obligations the Govern
LnouG Is unu0r 10 prOCeCG anu CH6TlSn H. w
short period have added extent of coast to
possessions of more than nine hundred miles, en-
bracng many good and of the best harbors in the
world possessing immense mineral wealth. attracting
to its shores the Inhabitants of all nations, and nYl-
ting to it the commerce and trade of every climate
The four first class sea-going steamships are in a
course of completion; the Saranic will shortly be
ready for sea the San Jacnto will be ready in the
Spring, and the other two during the ensuing sum-
mer. The Secretary recommends the building OF
others.
The Secretary says the number of officers of the
Navy in the higher grades greater than are re-
CURED either for the vessels in commission for
the number of authorized by Congress to be ems
reasonably be expected The numbers in the respec-
tive grades are dlspropOrtOned to each other. Its
present organization retards promotion. Age, mfr
NIFTY and want of employment have disqualified ma
ny for the performance of active professional duties
These evils felt and acknowledged by all who
have just regard for the prosperity and honor Of
! the service.
He therefore recommends reduction of the mum
bers in the various grades of officers to that point
which will secure sufficient number in each fol
such naval force as Congress may determine is ne
cessary and proper, and that provision be made for
retired list for such officers disqualified for
tive service, such terms and with such pay may
be thought liberal and just. Should Congress deem
it proper to adopt such system, it is believed plaI
can be prepared which will meet the appreciation o.
a large proportion of the officers themselves, anc
which will greatly reduce the expenditure of our ma
val establishment
Attention is invited to the naval school at Annapo
lis. During the last year it has been under the SUI
perintendence of Commander UpsHUR who has devo
ted himself with zeal to the discharge of his duties
Experience had disclosed many defects in its organi
cation, and suggested many Improvements, which
might be readily effected without materially increas
ing the expenditure for the institution.
The estimates for the naval service for the ensuing
year amount to 80 2O3, 1856 Is, from which deduc
50, 998, 978 for special objects.
The total amount drawn from the Treasury during
the fiscal year ending the 3Oth of june 1849 S13,
1896 SO from which deduct repayments Sc, 269,
623 80, and the sum of S10898,342 81 is shown a
the expense of the navy and marine corps, and nclu
ding all objects placed under the control of the Nav
} Department for that year.
The unexpended balance in the Treasury of tn
appropriations for the naval service and marine corp
on the Both of June, 1849 was So 039 798 49, all 0
which will be required to meet the outstanding
obligations due from appropriations made for tina
year.
The value of stores and materials on hand at nav
yards for naval purposes exclusive of ships building
in ordinary, undergoing repairs and in commission
navy yards and other public lands required for pur
} poses of the navy with their improvements is So
$685. 21 q.
The report closes by asking for an appropriate
to pay balance of $4,000 to officers and priyate
entitled to three months extra pay for services du
ring the Mexican war.
f Annual Report of the Secretary of the Interior.
9 The annual report of Mr.. EWING. Secretary of tn
Interior, occupies four and half columns of the II
telgencer It recommends the creation of the of1c
of Solicitor of the Department of the Interior to dc
termne all legal questions and suggests. in view
the decay of the public buildings at Washington tia
0 specimens of the stone of which they are built
carefully Analysed and that series of experiment
! be tried with view of finding some chemical agen
nj tho Of