Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1858-12-21
Report Of the secretary Of ths Raw

The Secretary says that since bis last annual
report the naval forces have been REQUIRED ia
resisting unlawful expeditions against. Nicara-
qua, resisting The exercise OF the right OF search
by British cruisers 20 the neighboIbood of
Cuba, and enforcing demands for redress for
insul 8 to our fag ans for justice TO our citi-
Zens b. the government Of Paraguay. Afser
explaining This subject, the scretsry saws it
becomes necessary TO charter a number Of veg
sels. As these vessels would become useful.
he recommends their purchase. The sun re-
quired for six of these steamers would be
$4,000, Of which $94 500 must be paid for
The use Of them for q period Of six months.
and a pFoportionats sum for a longer time, #
no purchase be made. The SIN required for
he three sise-Wheel steamer would be
S2S6,000, Of which, if they be not purchased,
be sum Of $50 600 will be required for the
same period. The recent addition Of a consi.
dersbls numbe Of steam vessels to the navy
viii necessarily require an Increased demand
Tor the services Of officers at sea. while the
J greater activity Ehich now prevails 10 il. and
is likely hereafter to prevail, will still further
increase thar demand. To meet the immedi.
ste wants Of the service, an addition Of TWEEN
y TO the present number Of surgeons, and as
many additional assistant surgeO9s, will suffice.
He also recommends the appointment Of fifteen
OF twenty additional purssTs, and an increase
Of the marine e9rps-Of private5-fo two
thousand, with the usual bnmber OF officers.
The five steam sloops of-War authorized BY
ths act Of 1858, viii soon be completed. The
seven steam screw sloops-of war, under the
act Of 1858, are IN a state Of great forward
aess. PiYs OF them are TO be launched during
The present month, and Be ready for sea in MAY
nexi, and the other two screw steamers viii
be launched early in the spring, and be ready
Cor trial by June. The Size wheel steamer be-
ing built in California will be launched in the
spriug, and ready for sea in August.
Az last experience evidences a necessity FOR
an increase Of the navy. Twenty effective yes
sells Of smaller class eau be built and kept at
sea for what it would cost to build and keep at
sea four OF Eve vessels Of a larger class. Let
Congress Increase the number of heavy armed
vessels Of light drsught, until we can f.ecuent-
y display our flag at sYsry point where Ameri-
can interests shall need its projection, and the
work will be already done The addition Of at
least ten more vessels Of that description Is not
only a necessary measure. but will be found TO
be as Efficient as any that can be devised, re-
curing 90 small an expenditure of the public
money.
For the support Of the navy and marine corps,
aad all other objects under the control of tie
Navv Department, for the fiscal year ending
he Both Of June, 1883, the estimates we-e SI3,-
500 2I2; appropriations, Si4 240, 247 expen-
ditures, sl5,s70,6s4 there having been some
curtailmeHt Of expense BY reason of a falling
Of in the revenue. For the fiscal year ending
June 30, 1859, the estimates were Si4,6I6, 298 /;
appropriations, S14508 .354 these having been
largely retrenchsd, in consequences OF a dini-
mutton Of the revenue, and again increased By
appropristingS1 200 900 for eight light dranght
steamers, which were not embraced 10 the
For the fiscal year ending June 30,
1860. the estimates were S13 SOC. $40, including
600 for comnleting the eight Light draught
authorized at the last session Of Con-
gress. and not including the usual compeusa
tion Of $685., $50 for steamship and mail ser
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