The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-02-18
'FnE CONDITION OF THE NAVY.

'tnE CONDITION OF THE NAVY.
WASHINGTON, Feb, II, 1861.
ne facts stated in ny despatch in tie Herald Of the
Nth s that nearly thirty vessels Of the United
Sttes are dsmancs and unfit for service has created
intense feeling n Congressional circles The subject
now consideration before tie House Select Com
Yntce the Presidents Message, and the conduct Of
Secretary Toucey relation thereto about to be re-
ported upon IN view of this fac: the following analysis
o the actual condition of the vessels named, derived
from authoritative source, becomes important II de-
velopcs the fact that many OF these vessels arc
worthless thas was supposed.
fur1rsk NAVY YARD.
The steam screw frgate Franklin, fifty guns, twor.y
.hree feet ught when fully equipped was reconstructed
at Kittery, 1ith all the mciern improvements, in 1866
She ia st the Stocks could not be ready fer in
ess thaEol year. She has neither her machinery nor
boilers board and Congress does not dsrsod to
make tire necessary appropriations TO complete her Ac
cording the Judgment Of the best naval architects
she is the finest mcielled vessel in sho world
This + the ship that Omar Pasha, Rear Ad,aira o.
tho Tugksh navy snd.raite travelled all the way from
wa ston to Ktery ID 1885, to examine Vpor sae invita-
tioe o. the Maine Ne- Hampshire Senator'S The
strueing engineer attaced to the adnats site, well
TIE admiral himself pronounced hcr the beet modelled
and most beautiful specimen Of naval architecture they
eys saw. Such should not pormitte to remain
o.ic stocks and perish, especially wien she is needed
or The protecs aad the lonor of the
ds- The Of putt.ag the machnery, boilers stores
armament in this csscl and putting her thoroughly
IL commission wouid amount about $4o) 900. This
sam iargc, bt when ii is remembered that the
crack steamer Niagara, which carries only welve guns and
rive hundred sd twenty 1--we nea and WHICH buried the
= tantc caie deep that punuct IL find IT. and
conveyed tho surahese Commissioners hoFc, draws the
came amount OF vter that the Frsnkn wiz, with Gfty
guns and SIX auacred and twenty Ien There s
probably vessel Il. The American tia woula bc
better suited doatpg battery house for
the collection Of The than tAe Franklin,
for the trsaAs 2ortation Of troops and ssores
while she could not enter the ,iarber OF
Charleston or ..ew Orleans, account OF
the dicniiy in crossing the bars she could eGter
nah Mobile and Pensacola harbors, and easily the
forts at those places also the TortugI and
Pickcns and 1aylor. she combines larger batter by
eight guns than the whole Of the proposed
steamers, each of rhich will carry guns, ten
dred and fifty cEd three undrea :hos
dollars. vessel combining many valuable li,ali Ses
ought not to be allowed remain the per h
for want Of the necessary funds to nt her 10 act
service
The Alabama, saYen,y.four guns, ,weuty.as, feet
draus constructed in 1sIo stocks, partis de-
cayed aud could not be completed FOR short OF naty
days at less cost than two hundred and twent
thousand dollars and then she would be almost entirely
Inefficient when compared with the modern built els
The Santee frgate IL sailing vessel OF the old msel,
bul In 1s21, but modernzed by the construction of
bow in 1895, and could be fitted for thirty
days at cost OF len thousand dollars She Is built e.
carry nfty guns. She d:aws twenty ono feet water.
Tho sloop-ofwsr Dale built ia 1889, at Phiiide
phia She returned from her last trip about eighteen
months since, and condemned after being examined
At tte ri no a.
Ice broke through her plankng about two weeks ago,
end she SANK at the whar Ehorts now being made
10 raise her.
cIlRrEsro~g NAVY YARD.
Screw frgae Minnesota forty guns built at Washing
1885, draws twenty three feet OF water has Just
been thoroughly repaired expense OF hundred and
forty two thousand dollars and be fitted for
dayE
Side-whee steamer Mississippi, eleven guns built la
1si al Philadelphia, draws sixteen feet four inches is
under repairs and be completed in less than two
months, at cost Of about 900 ooo She has been at
Charestown ten months. This is the last time she can
be repaired Several OF her tbers were broken during
her last voyage, and many Of tlom are in a dccsyed
state
sioop ofwar yincenncs, twenty guns, Ia hardly worth
repairing, ,u she make another voyage by expend
Ing 900 upon her and could be made ready in about
forty days She was built in 1896 at Brooklyn, and /
draws sixteen feet Of water whom equipped
The Vermont s seventy -four line ofbattle shin OF
ancient model, twenty five and half feet draft, built IN
hares,own in Is1s. she Is perfectly sound and could be
lifted for In slx weeks cost Of twenty Ave thou
and dollars On eccount Of her great draft ancient
model shc be &C little value except as receiving
hip
The line of battle saip Ohio was built IN 1890 draws
wen,y five and half feet water, timbcrs rotten and
nnt for sea service. She used as u receiving ship
The soopofwar Preblc, built 10 1889 at Kittcry car.
ies sixteen guns sixteen feet draught tmbers In good
ondittion, and can be Cited for in thirty days.
ost Of tweny five thousand dollars. Her model Is old
ut she viii make good transport ship.
The brig Bainbridgc, six guns and thirteen feet
rnughti built at Charlcsown IL 1912 Is now IN deck
pairing at cost Of thirteen thousand dollars and cen
e ready for sen 10 twelve days, if faccessary
BRooKILyY YARD.
Tho frigatc Potomac, atty guns, twenty ono feet six
Chez draught, built at Washington In 1891 can render
IT very little more service.
The frgate Brandywne Gfty guns twenty ono feet six
chcs drsught built at Washington in 1926, cannot be
pended upon Tor active service
The soop-of.war savannah, tweAty -four guns, nine.
en- feet draugh, built at Brooklyn in 1912 pronounced
arly worthless
Screw frgae Roanoke forty guns twenty three feet
iugh, built At Goror in 1856, good model fast under
ils steam being auxiliary, be Glcd for sea in
w days. 0
Screw frigato Wabash Is 10 all respects TO model and
cod like the Roanoke she has just becn repaired and
be ntted for sea 10 ten days she carries forty gne,