American union. [volume] (Morgantown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1855-1859, 1856-01-26
TIE ANNUAL REPORTS.

THE ANNUAL REPORTS.
They are quite voluminous. (says the
Baltimore Clipper)but we condense be.
low their most Important points:
Navy Department..
Tho report of the Secretary of the
Navy, j. G. Dnbbin. is long documen,
presenting the duties performed by the
squaJrons, mud his viows ofthe present
condition fthe service, &c.
The Home Squadron commanded by
Commodore PauIding, consists of the
irigate Potomac, the Shops Cyaue and
Saratoga, and the steamer Fulton. The
Columbia was last at ST. Thomas. No
intelligence has been had Of tho long
missing sloop Albany, which has been
given up as lost.
The Brazil Squadron consists Of the
frigate Savannah, Commodore Salter;
the sloop Germantown, and the brig
Bainbridge. The Secretary remarks
that these vessels have been cruising be-
tween Rio Janeiro aud Montevideo {;
hut as there has been no special neccs-
sty for squadron there during the past
twenty yeats, they have done nothing
but cruise.
The African Squadron Commodore
Crabhe. consists of the slnops-nf-war
jamestown, Dale. St. Louis. aud the
brig Dolphin. The sln"p Marion re-
Gently attached 10 the African Squadron
has been condemned as unseawurthy.-
The slave trade south of tho Equator
has been broken up.
The Mediterranean squadron Com.
breeze, consists of the frigale Congress
the steamer Sarauac, the slonp Constel-
latIon, aud the sto'e-ship Supply
Nothing has been done in the Mcditer-
! ranean.
The East India Squadron, Com. Alb.
bot, Consists of the sloop Macedonian.
he steamer P"wha,tan, the slnop Van
dana. with the store-ship j. p. Kenne.
ny. The civil war in China has afford.
ed some employment for our vessels in
the East The Secretary recommends
sending one or two steamers of lipbt
daft to navigate the Chiuese rive,s.4
The steamer San Jacinto sailed from
New York in October tn relieve the
Maded"nian. whose time abroad has ex.
! pred. The survey If Behring's Straits
and tho North Pacific, under command
OF Commodore Rogers, has been Carl.
Ell on with satisfactory results. The
account of this expedition is the most
Interesting part of tho Message.
The Pacific squadron, Com. Mervine
is composed Of the F,iga'e lndrpen-
dence, the sloops 81. Mary, John Adams
and Decatur, aud the steamer Massa-
chuset's, the sIoop Warren and the ship
! Frrdonia.
With regard tn The Naval Boards, he
remarks that he has carried their report
lutu execution. 20l officers were found
! Incapable of performing promptly aud
efficiently all their duty; of these II
were reserved on leave of absence paw
81 on THROUGH pay, aud 40 were strick-
Ell from the rolls. The vacancies have
bee" filled by regular promotion in the
| order of'ank or seniority. The report
recites the history Of this reform, urg +.
es its necessity, defends the proceedings
ofihe board, whichhe pronouuces impair.
tial, though their may be a few nstan-
ces of hardship, which may be reconsid.
cred, aud suggests that u years pay be
allowed TO those who are cut off from
their usual resources.
An increase Of the Navy is strongly
recommended. 1t is too feeble to con.
tend with other respectable nations or
even to command The waters Of our own
coast. He thinks it is not now better
prepared for an emergency than it was
In 1912.
The aggregate tonnage of the u. S.
in 1912, was 1,249.097 tons. For The
year ending June 30, 1855, it was 5.2l2,.
200 1895, and our sea coast is now
greatly increased in extent, and the
damage which might be affected by a
respectable enemy in six months would
greatly exceed the cos, Of Navy suffi.
Gent 10 protect our commerce efficient
~. Th" question of an increase of the
Navy the Secretary regards as one of
peace rather than Of war.
The Apprentice system is enlarged
upon d commended as furnishing a re-
liable body "f seamen, and he recon.
mends that the Department, be allowed
10 employ 10000 seameu Instead IF T..
500-rhe present allowance
The results of the Arctic Expeditions
under Kane aud Haitsrenc are com
mended to the patronage of Govern
ment.
The estimated expenses of the De.
panmpnt for tho ensuing year are SI3.
52l 800 81, which is less. by nearly So.
OOO, 900, than the estimates of the last
fiscal year.