The southern press. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1850-1852, 1851-12-05

tAry sducxssoa al West Point and under the
efficient commx.d Of the present superintendent.
Commando \ riding. IL Is hoped that those adj
santages will be fully realized.
The exp~dicecy OF appointing zen midship-
men, 10 be- made at large" u again urged.
The naval observatory and Autographed
Office have been Ia active operation during the
year. A sesond volume OF astronomical OBJ
sefvations has been Published. The wind and
current charts panned by Lieut. Maury, the
superintendent Of the observatory are being
extended 10 the Pacific and Indian oceans.
This work has materially shortened the passage
along the highways by which our commerce
passes into and through the southern hems
phere. bringing the ports Of those distant parts
Of the wholesome ten days, aud some sever
al weeks nearer to us than before. A letter
from the superintendent, OF the observatory
states the important fact that vessels sailing
from the Atlantis TO the Pacific ports OF the
United States with the instructions afforded by
these charts, make the voyage in forty days less.
upon the average, than those sailing without
them; and thit there is reason 10 hope the
time may be still further reduced.
The report Of ST. ellis. the nautical altman
&C of 1t Davis, and the experiments of Pro-
fessors Page AID Espy, are referred TO, as well
as the success and condition of our numerous
mail steamers
The sum required for the support of the navy
and marine corps for the year ending June 80
1853, is estimated at $8,540,693 %, of which
1854, 22O 80 is for special objects. The sum
estimated for the navy and marine corps last
year was $5,O00,62l, and for special objects
S2,2l09 $50. There is an excess, therefore, in
the present estimates of S473,240 80. which is
occasioned by the addition of pay for increased
service to the Pacific Mail Steamship Company,
directed by the act of the last session of Con
gress, the completion of the dry dock in Ca.i-
fornia, and some additions under the head OF
improvements in navy yards, buildings and ma
chinery.
The total expenditures of the department, dn-
ring the year, have been S9044 597 IL, of
which $3I58Sl7 81 was for special objects.
The esIab ishment of bakery in New York
for the use of the navy is recommended, as is
also the repeal of the law prohibiting commute
ton in money for stopped rstions.
The recommendation Of the chief of the bu
reau of medicine and surgery, for the investment
in productive stocks Of the navy hospital fund
and for retiring from the list of effective sur.
geons all the officers of that corps who are per-
manently untitled for duty, and supplying their
places by new appointments, a provision required
in every grade of the servi g, are commended to
early action, and an appropriation asked to re.
build barracks at the various stations for the Ma
rine corps.
The secretary closes his report, by recon-
mending the establishment Of an additional
bureau, to be termed the bureau of orders and
discipline, to which shall be assigned the com
mnucation of orders and instructions touching
naval service and discipline, and the receipt and
preservation or distribution of returns and re-
ports pertaining to the sane, in analogy to the
duties required of the adjutant generals office
In the Department of War.