The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1861-09-09

men whose ideas and language would be el
.'~ely congenial to his own.
| ~
| STRENGTH or THE Bi6cR AIDING FOS'E--AcrcA
PROGRESS MADE IN REINFORCING Ir-As -.
! Navy Department has been pretty frecl
assailed for inefRciency in the conduct of tn
blockade, 1t recently felt it necessary for it
own vindication to publish statement of tn
present condition of our naval force, with tn,
number Of vessels building, fitting out ant
lately purchased. We publish the list thil
morning, and glance at 1t will show that
the additions made to it under all these heads
have been considerable.
Soon after the Southern ports were closed by
the Presidents proclamation the Secretary Of
the Navy, feeling it necessary to reinforce the
blockade by the purchase Of additional vessels
and probably not having confidence in the &C.
quaintance of naval officers with the character
and build of vessels required, selected as his
agent for the purchase of these vessels, Mr.
George D. Morgan-a brother-in-law Of his
own, who was also cousin of the Governor
of the State of New York and part
ner in the mercantile firm of f. d. Nor
gan 4 Co. As the Governor had as much
on his hands as he could accomplish in
the despatching Of volunteer troops to the
capital, it was thought advisable that
another member of the firm should not be con-
nccted with purchases involving such large
expenditure on account of the Navy Department.
twas, therefore, agreed that Mr.. George d. Nor
gan should retire from the firm, and the ar
rangemcnt was accordingly carried into effect
early in July last.
Mr.. Morgan was of course selected for this
position by the Secretary Of the Navy from the
belief that his superior knowledge of steamships
and merchant vessels pre-eminently qualified him
for it, and also, probably, as we have said from
the conviction that naval officers are not sufii-
GENTLY versed in such matters to be competent
judges of the vessels best adapted for the pur-
poses of the blockade With him were associated
one naval constructor and one naval engineer.
and the Assistant Secretary Of the Navy also
occasionally lent him the aid of his valuable
services. Mr.. Morgans remuneration was fixed
at two and half per cent on the amount of the
purchases and charters. The result of his la
bors is to be found in the list to which we have
already directed attention.
From this statement it appears that there
have been purchased for the government, in the
period of about four and half months, seven
ty-eight steamers and sailing vessels of
all sizes, ranging from So to 2,400 tons
The aggregate cost Of these vessels was
$3,524,572, which, ut 211I per cent commissions
has given Mr.. Morgan the snug little sum of
$87 600 for very little more than four months
work. If we add to this his commission on
charters and on the vessels purchased since this
return was made up (now nearly three weeks),
we shall not overstate his total earnings at
$4,000.
Of course this will appear large sum to the
public, but they must recollect that the trouble
and annoyance attending these purchases have
been very great. Had they been effected
through the agency of such an organi-
cation as that through which the Com
mon Council usually transacts the finan-
cial business Of the public, the commission
and pckings would not have amounted to less
than a million. There is, therefore, clear
economy to the government of $850,000 on the
transaction. This saving becomes of the more
Importance when it is taken into account that
from ten to fifteen millions worth of additional
vessels will be required, and Of which Mr.
Morgan will be the purchaser. Judging by the
hasa hat hox off cd ho
Der of new vessels that have been put on the
stocks in the short period that has elapsed since
the department has been in position to buy
and order freely, there is probability that
by the LIST of January next we shall be in pos
session Of quite formidable navy.