The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1856-01-06

Bureau OF Ofdaan,e and photography, from neent
sells Al That Increased attention Is now benx paid NJ
The officers 10 practical guunery aud TIE instruction o. the
in this branch Interesting intosnaloa u also fur
nished that aud Idnanse equipments are gener-
ally hieen and satisfactory ltisins d.sIn - an early
day, assign Commander Dahgren TO the command OF
vessel devoted exclusively 10 unnery practice With view
the proper training OF both oiyers aud men IN duty
which, al last constitutes The real effectiveness OF man
of-war. III
The Naval Academy is Ia successful Operation under the
dilisenl SUPERVISION OF Captain Godsborough, Thre are
attached TO H. Tor instruction. one hundred aud sixty
four midshipmen aud acting mdshipmeu. The board OF
for the last year ia their report express Them
selves merely satisfied With rally amazed AZ the
remarkable proficiency exhibited by the undergraduates
well the graduating class aud as much impressed
with the variety mnueness and exactness OF the teaching
and the modes OF examination.
For details, refer YOU the report Of the Bureau OF
Ordnance and photography Every effort Is being made
to establish this institution proper basis aus aware
the apprehension that in the desire to secure
pshed education, the more practical duties OF The naval
fears this point may he dismissed, as there is settled
determination make seananshp and the learning
sary TO the and practical duties OF the naval
officer paramount and Indispensable The Practice Ship
Lieut. Joseph H. Green commanding, crised during the
months, along our northeastern coast She had
board The I'd aud 4th classes OF acting midshpmei
The report of Lieut. Green speaks ayoaby Of their prof.
cheney In both scaInanship and gunnery.
Gratifying evidences Of the high estimation in which the
abors Of the Naval Observatory are held al home and
abroad continue be received Several sheets Of the
Wind and Current Charts and enlarged edition of the
Sailing Directions which accompany them, have been pub
shed during the year The usefulness ofs+as work ex
pands with its enlargement Other maritime nations APP
preciang the value OF this plan Of investigation have
united in system OF observations for its further
prosecution. IL il earnestly suggested BY Lieut. Maury that
this system OF meteorological research If extended to the
land would afford for the agricultural interests Of Inc
country and for science TOO results quite important
those which commerce and navigation have already re-
ceived from It.
Lieut. Gilss is still aborously engagedin the discharge
of the special duties assigned 10 him. or the results OF
the astronomical expedition transmitted to Congress in
July, 1854 two volumes have been published. These
brace full OF the geography climate earthquakes
AGRICULTURAL mineral and commercial resoarces natural
history, &c OF Chile together with the narrative OF Lieut.
Mcaes journey the Andes and Pampas OF the Ar
gen,ne Confederation. Volume is in press and will
be ready for distribution during the winter II contains
the special observations and discussion of solar par
allax the object for which Congress immediately d
rected the expedition The nagnetica and meteorological
observations to form volume g. have been reduced and
tabuated and the printing will be proceeued with imme
daley Considerable progress has also been made in the
preparation Of volumes aud but, they viii contain
nearly forty thousand observations, Of whKh more than
twenty thousand OF the stars beore observed
it is scarcely probable that the last volume viii be pub
lished in less than eighteen months.
The Nautical Almanac under the supervision OF Com
mander Davis, Is attracting much attention in our own
country and abroad aud, although the estimates
somemhat larger than formerly that lis merits
such the honorable consideration of Congress
After much reflection and attentive observation OF the
practical working OF the present SYSTEM am aroraby
ing distinct corps in the navy whose duty shalt be
fined photography ordnance civil engineering and Other
scientific duties. do not think there need be any ndd
ton TO the number OF officers. There constantly from
fifty hundred officers doing photographic duy
the Coast Survey the Observatory Ordnance and
other scientific duties essential 10 the proficiency of the
navy. Officers TINT complete knos ledge OF
these branches without, long and continuous devotion 10
them. Aud yet under the present. system, there is uatu
rally feeling OF discomfort and dissatisfaction the part
Of those no encoun,eg the hardsip dangers and
of
pursuing their scientific duties amid the comforts OF home
and family. Let this corps bear the relation to the
other officers If the navy that the sa does the line IN
the army and being composed of certain humber OF cap
tans, commanders leutenans masters, and passed mid
shpmen their promotions in the corps be regulated
Interfere with tie regular promotion OF officers
none exclusively devoted set-going daties. Many OH
of excellent Judgment aud euarped experience
Of opinion that those no long asgBed TO these dues
ashore become disqua fed for duty aoai aud that
duty allows neither The time the opportouin
proficiency in the other branches. bill coud be
drawn to reach the OF jeci desired.
Attention is respectfully invited to the report OF General
Henderson, the commandment OF the corps His
long and useful with the corps, aud his ardent
devotion IL, enitle Suggestions emanatug from such
attentive Consideration. renew my rrconnen-
dulions heretofore made In regard this branch Of the
service ID would certainly contribute largely its ef-
hcieney If plan could be adopt for introducing
hereafter officers who have experienced OF the advau-
tg-s Of military education either at West Point or An
uapolis.
The addition the number Of national vessels suggests
the necessity OF hat increasing the marines and
their usefulness in checking characterization and prvsery
ing discipline unquesonaby gives great force TO the opin
ion OF the commandment that the guard each seapong
vessel should be enlarged. The estimates for this corps
large because Of the absolute necessity for erecting
barracks for its decent and comfortable accommodation
the several stations
The Emperor Of France having awarded a gold medal
to both Surgeon Thomas Williamson and Passed Assistant
Surgeon james f. HARRISON of the United States navy for
their professional the officers and OF tho
French steamer-o tChim5ren Norfolk, during the
OF 1884 the governments OF Prussia and Holland
having similarly oomplimened Lieut. Maury for his
trbutons science and navigation, ecomms nd the
cessary legislation enable those officers TO accept OF the
proffered testimonials.
Portsmouth, Virginia, much retarded by the
fs visitation OF the esnce which has clothed Two cs
Ia the habments Of mourning. Commodore Mcktever
and the officers marines and many OF the civsns Mt The
yard, and the naval medical officers the hospital
mained with inlexibe rmnes their post during the
raging Of the rghiiu maady disehargng their duty to
their country, and administering relief TO the afflicted
The nnmurmurng fidelity OF the marines stationed the
yard whose ranks sadly hinned by the destroyer
Is entitled special notice, and has for them the
grateful admiration and sympathy OF all who apprec-
the value OF discipline among soldiers.
OF the whole quantity Of hemp purchased during the
past year for the navy ihreeeu,hs have been Aercan
The prospect Of furnishing the navy altogether with
American hemp is very encouraging and also that The
Russian and Manila hemps viii be superseded by the prod
ucts Of this country. The hemp agent Louisville
Kentucky under November a. 1885, writes that he
has fair prospect of good supply tor this The
Of the reception OF the American article made
favorable possible and the price paid is that which the
hest Russian commands
The estimates for the support Of the navy and marine
corps for the year ending June Both, 1857 and for all
objects coming under the control Of this depart ncn are
In the aggregate lbeinR very nearly three millions less