Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-05-26
WASHINGTON NEWS AND GOSSIP

IHE PROPOSED GUNB0ATS--Ihe bill to all-
thOriIe the construction of ten gunboats( steam)
for the Navy Of the United States, now before
Congress, in pursuance of u Recommendation
OF the Secretary of Navy, is a move in the right
direction. Up to this time this Government
have been laundering along in the matter of
increasing the number of vessels in the Navy,
the enormous cost of which, and of Keeping
such as have usually been built in commission,
at all times interfering to prevent honorable
members from voting appropriations for the
service commensurate with the rapid increase
of iegitim ate demands on the services of Amer
lean vessels o. war. Under the old system sail
ing and steam fiigates, &c, have been built
costing each as much as eleven such vessels ms
are NOW proposed 10 be constructed would cost
ard requiring the services each of but a crew
of fifty, instead Of one Thousand Inen-the com
PIGMENT for first class frigate ct seventy tour
For service in time of peace-for conveying,
settling disputes on board Americas merchant
men, showing the flag, assisting vessels in dis
treSs, and indeed every other naval service in
time peace of conceivable-as well as FOR de-
stroying an enemy S commerce in time of war, a.
single such gunboat, commanded by Junior
lieutenant, Ofhcered by pair of passed mid
shipmen, manned with q crew of fifty and
mounted with two guns will actually perform
ten times the amount Of service that a first
class frigate can possibly perform. -..
If the services of an American vessel Of war
be required in the Gulf for instance, while
such a gunbOat can enter every harbor Cd its
coast of its islands, frigate cannot enter half
dozen Of the one hundred, though costing
ten times as much to build and equiv her, and
twenty times as much to keep her in commits
sion
Experience with the East Indies squadron
speaks volumes in this particular connection.
We send there huge ships of war that can enter
but about two Last India ports-Hong Kong
and Macao. AS CT late especially, the services
of our vessels of war on that station arc con-
stantly required here; there, and every where
The consequence Is. that it becomes necessary
for the agents of this Government to hire small
steamers, in which junior lieutenants with fifty
men each, do the duty, for no other vessels
can get into harbors having but eight feet OF 50
OF water on their bars. If such vessels are
lost. the pecuniary damage is comparatively
trifing. True: in ease Of war, when hostile
fleets are engaged, mammoth ships are required
and can be built in weeks now, instead of the
years Of time their construction would have
required a quarter of a century ago.
Tire truth IS, the delay in esorting TO this so
necessary sub.ta ntial reform is in great part
the result of the des ire Of the older officers each
to command larger ship and more men than
others Of his rank. 1t is proper and has been
customary for the Department to consult the
veterans Of the service for advice with refer
ence to the details of its business; and its vet
Grams being human, rarely Sail to advise it so
that it so that its recommendations and plans
will add as much as possible to the dignity Of
their class. Secretary Toucey really deserves
the thanks Of the country for the force Of char
acter and soundness OF judgment he has dis
played in breaking the thraldom Of Red-tape-
ism involved in his recommendation of the
measure of economy and ten-fOld service ID
yolved in the bill On which we comment above
The WATER QUESTION
WASHINGTON, May 81, 1-59.
To ths Editor Of the Star:
communication in your paper Of Saturday
last, which you endorse as the production of Ian
old and respected citizen,n whose suggestions
deserve great weight requires brief reply
The object Of the writer Of that communica-
ton IS 10 induce the voters at the next election
not to sanction the proposition to invest the cor
Porate authorities with power to increase the
funded debt for the pgI pose of distributing water
through the city from the Government water
works. The objections urged are:
I. That the vote is premature, because the gov
eminent has not yet given authority to use the
water al all.
That the Corporation, If now authorized
will at once issue scrip TO the full amount, bear
ing Interest, probably three years before obtain
ing consent from the Government to tap lis
Va nd 6nll
year would be required TO pay this interest OH
stock mot designated water stock"
3. That TO obtain this additional amount OF
revenue the rate Of taxation will have to DE in
creased above the rate which is now paid and
that this increase must he derived from pToDsrtg
alone until the water shall have been intro
duced
To the first objection reply that il Is not pre
mature to take the sense OF the people on hi.
question. In tine original act directing the ,ur.
Veys and estimates for this noble work Congress
expressed It's object TO he to afford TO the cities
abundant supply Of good aud wholesome water, =
and all its subsequent acts in reference 10 this
subject have manifested the same purpose 1t is
irrational, therefore, to iBfer tina, the neonIs
To be deprived Of the water for several y.aIs
IL shall have been brought To- the civ which
will be in December next 1t is possible for Con
gress TO give consent foE the tapping Of its mains
st The pIfseut session, and not probable that ~ .
granting Of this privilege will be- deferred he
yond the next ensuing session. In either event
now - the proper time for the people To ndic a.,
their will as To the course TO he pursued by the
corporate authoTities whose duty ii W Ill become
II the means lie placed at their comma nd, to de
wise measures for accomplishing the work in
manner the most advantageous 10 the city. These
MEASURES cannot DC hastily adopted. They will
require much care and deliberation, ard III they
err 10 be deyoly'G upon the city government, the
faci cannot b. too Early made known haones
uOh cannot be voted upon at any other than an
annual election and II il he rot voted upon now
one "h"le YEAR at least will have been lost
10 tie S,.0ad objection ,rpIv vi,bont q,
80 - SLy G'@it spect, THAI il is not only unten-
@oie, OAK really absurd. The mere at Of ant4or.
al once cyeH's an Interest geaTjp,. dit IL o,i",
''' W go ne rCi'T .'~"y his consent mon ~
c".''i-iO 49, distinctly Sc fHth IN the ordi,.,..
Una NJ P0ThcH Cf tie said d. b; siaII he i,cn,,
i0J any o.ksT PRyp0ss than TO defray sncb 80
Pe-seS d may te deemed necessary for The Cor.