The Washington union. [volume] (City of Washington [D.C.]) 1857-1859, 1858-12-07


wheel which have been chartered for service on
this expedition.
During the past year the department has sent out a
surveying party, under the command of Lieut. j. NJ
Brooke 10 survey and lay down with accuracy the OBJ
structons navigation In the usual routes between San
Francisco and China.
The steam fngate Niagara under the command of
Capt Hudson in March last placed at the service of
the Atlantic Telegraph Company TO cooperate with those
furnished by the British government in another effort 10
lay the Atlantic cable Having performed this service
she returned to New York. where she arrived the 18th
of August, and put out of commission 1t was
deemed fitting sequel to her participation in that enter
prise of science that the Niagara should next be engaged
in an enterprise of distinguished philanthropy The
brig ECHO African SLAYER having been captured on
the coast of Cuba and brought into Charleston with her
cargo of SOC slaves the Niagara ordered restore
these Africans to their native country she left New York
Tor that purpose proceeded to Charleston took them on
board, and the day following set sail for Liberia
The Secretary makes honorable mention Of the kind
ness of Sir Houston Stewart the admiral of the port of
Kingston, Jamaica, and other British officers when the
steam gae susquehanna compelled to put into that
port on account oil the yellow fever making its appearance
board.
The five steam sloops- authorized by the act of
March B. 1857, will be completed The one built
at New York by Mr. Westerve under contract with the
government, will be ready for trial at sea during the
present month. That built at the Philadelphia navy
yard has been launched and will be ready for trial In
March Those built at the Charleston Gospor navy
yards will be ready for launching during the present
month, and for by July. The other built at Pen
sacoa will be launched in the spring The seven steam
screw soopsofw war and sidcwhee war steamer au-
thorzed by act of June H. 1885, in state of great
forwardness Five of them will ~ launched during the
| o,,J Ia ,J.-f
other two steamers will be launched early in the
spring and be ready for trial by June The side wheel
steamer is building at the navy yard in California will
be launched in the ensuing spring. and be ready for sea
in August. In the construction of the steamships a
thorzed by the acts of Congress referred to- has been
the aim of the department to combine speed and power
with strength in the highest practicable degree for vessels
of their class. The importance of high speed has not
been too highly appreciated; and in the Dahgrcn gun
has been found the most effective for use on these
steam propelles 1t is believed that there is no gun in
service which supasse it for strength range accu
racy, and power.
The report goes on to state that all our past expert
has evnced the necessity Of increase of the navy
1t is impossible with present naval force to give ade
quate protection to the and property American
citizens pursuing their various avocations by land and
sea in all parts of the world What more especially
need in time of peace is large number of vessels cana
BILE of entering the rivers and harbors all foreign coun
tries well Such is the condition of Mexico
and of the Central and South American States that it is
indspensaby necessary that we should be able to an
proach them frequently, and every accessible point
There other mode of extending cectua protection
to American interests in that any other quarter Of the
globe where the existing governments lack stability or
for other causes cannot be relied the performance
OF international duties The frequent presence of ship
of-war, though not OF the largest class exerts DOW
erlul restraining influence, and will generally save
our citizens from the infection of gross iniusticc
There is also necessity for an augmentation of our
naval force, In view of the unprecedented rapidity
| with which commerce has increased We are
already one of the greatest commercial powers of
| the world Frequentng all seas and visiting all
countries it is vain to suppose that can be protected
by few ships of the larger classes The only mode of
doing it in an effective and economical manner to give
the navy greater efficiency by multiplying the number of
smaller vessels OF light draught and powerful armament
capable OF following commerce into whatever waters it
may frequent ana OF which four five be built and
maintained in commission the cost of single friga
shipof the line Twenty effective vessels of the small
Ter class can be built and kept for what it would
cost to build and keep at four five vessels of the
larger class and they would usually be as powerful in
time of peace for all protective preventive purposes as
any others, while they would be useful and formidable in
Still another for an increase Of the naval
force presents itself in the immense ex tent of on
our Atlantic and Pacific shores which should be guarded
with jealous care by these floating Qualifications The
United States should be present and have prcdomina
ting influence all the American continent and in
order to maintain it. should have the means of causing
their power to be felt at any point wherever and when
ever it might be necessary
The Secretary goes to say that we were under diff
ferent circumstances regards finances of the conn
try he should not hesitate to an Increase of
the navy the general ground that it is required for
Defence and will be necessary to maintain our rights and
the honor and character of the country For the pres
ent, however, he reluctantly contents himself with mr.
gng the construction of at least more war steamers
such authorized by the of Congress of the Inst
session.
The Naval Academy ut Annapolis under the sIperin-
tendence of Captain George Blake, continues to give
marked evidence of its great usefulness One hundred
and eightyninc acting midshipmen now attached to
this institution The report recommends in order that
the naval professors of mathematics may be transferred
to the Naval Observatory where they are much needed
that authority be granted by Congress do for the navy
has been done at West Point for tho army organize
corps of professors of the academy composed of civilians
with such compensation will command the highest
abilities for this most important service.
The sloop-of-war Preblc, under Commander Craven
has made cruise during the past as practice
ship with view to the instruction of the acting mid
shipmen at sea in navigation and seamanshp. Ninety
pupils on board, who exhibited commendabe