The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1857-12-11
NEW YORK HERALD FRIDAY, DECEMBER IL. 1857.

be built But the govern men, has ~ own establish
ments provided at Immense cost and thoroughly organ
lied and supplied with the requisite materials, II was
thought be expedient and inicee necessary, 10
poy them the construction II the other. The Depart
ent after having dyertcd for the best model plan and
specifications receivet thirteen proposals organ zeda
beard composed OF the moa experienced naval officers ma
val constructors and Chief engineers to aud awardngho
contract according the terms o. the advertisement lam
confident that the result both TO the ship built by the
private and those built at the navy yards will
reach as high point Of excellence is at present attain
able. They will he constructed with water tight
partments-an Improvement IN the mode OF construction
which in case OF disaster viii often save INC snip from
going to the bottom ana ought generally 10 DC introduced
where many lives are IL stake.
The authorizing the five sleeps Of war having spech
ed the class OF vessels TO be built ola not admit o. me con-
very much wanted in the public service For some
years past the government has had no means OF supplying
its Indispensable wants. except by hiring small steamers
occasion might require At this moment, when much
needed, have vessels which penetras the RI
vers of China We have few that enter most Of the
pents 81 hundreds of millions Of our commerce are not
accessible 70 mos. 81 S1s Public s s, TINS sae o.
tcular attention. especially some OF greatest
interests ard most vulnerable points thus left
exposed Besides this class Of steamers Of light draugh
great speed and heavy guns would be formidable
defence They cost bu. little in construction and require
but little TO keep them IN commission and for most pract
cal purposes in time OF peace are elective as larger
vessels and often more One or more OF them should
be every pon. where maintain squadron. Three
four should be constantly employed on the Atlantic and
Pacific coasts Economy efficiency and utility combine to
recommend them almost Indispensable Teu Of them
would be Of ncaeulable advantage 10 the naval SERVICE
and would cost s., 800 900.
Under the presen, small appropriation for testing ina
provcments several trials have been made but the de-
pamen feels itself crippled by the limited appropriation
The Of ten thousand dollars is not adequate to do JUS
tce to Improvements which promise public utility Men
OF inventive genius devoted to the favore
suit that they most frequently without the means
cessary to test their inventions Were Congress TO appro
pirate tenfold the allotted To this object for
naval purposes single successful result, after hun
dred failures would reimburse the whole cost while the
influence Of the measure in aiding the progress oimprove
in the naval service could hardly be estimated
1t is impossible, without doing injustice, to give
summary Of the reports OF the chiefs OF bu-
reaus OF this Department They have presented
full ard detailed statement of the condition
OF the service IN the respective branches committed
to their particular charge public works prosecuted OF
improvements introduced of evils remedied, and many
suggestions and recommendations which deserve the
sderaon Of Congress. Their reports exhibit detailed
statements Of the expenditures Of the present and esti
mates for the ensuing fiscal year commend them to
particular attention exhibiting full view OF the actual
condition Of the navy and its auxiliary establishments
far as they are under the immediate supervision of the
bureaus.
The estimates for the support of the navy and
corps all other objects under the control of the
Navy Department Tor the fiscal year ending June 80 1852
are
For the support the navy marine corps OF
Making .sl4 GIG 29s %
1855 Sl3 2l2 ~ being 1918 os5 less than the
present estimates This difference Is principally caused
by estmatT $3.50 600 for the armament FOR the 1--WE new
sloops, S3t0.300 than last year for building the
sool and by estimating for provisions and pay for
thousand additional men authorized by the act Of March
3, 1857.
The expenditures for the ending June 80 1857 for
all purposes under the control Of the Department
S2 32 GOO Slof which 81 343 69S IL being for special
Objects the legitimate expenses OF the navy and marine
corps for that period were So ,2sS, 99s g.
review Of the present condition of tho navy and Of
the establishments connected with il, has afforded
great satisfaction. see in them taken in connection with
our commercial marine and our immense resources, the
Of PROMPTLY putting aoat naval force equal to
any cygency likely to arise the history Of the country.
it is not the policy Of our government to maintain
great navy in time Of peace II against its settled policy
TO burden the of the people by overgrown
naval establishment 1t is universally admitted to he in
cxpedent TO endeavor 10 compete with othcr great
merca Powers in the magnitude OF their naval prepare
tons But the true policy Of to take
that its navy within its limited extent should be unsur
passed In it, efficiency and its completeness and that
preparatory arrangements should be such that event
Shall take US altogether by surprise.
have the honor to be, very respectfully, your obc
dent servant, ISAAC T0UCEY,
To the PRESIDENT. Secretary Of the Navy.