The Alleghanian. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1859-1865, 1862-05-22
EBENSBURG,

and although detailed statistics are usually
uninviting and not acceptable, [ feel that
am in the presence and speak for peo-
pie jealous and watchful of their rights,
and to whom [ owe it to present any facts
having national bearing upon their lea
ding interests. Yes, In the name Of an
interest of five millions and a half of tom
mage, engaged in the trade of the world,
and which has converted this metropolis
into a city of palaces adorned with more
than Asiatic luxury and splendor, | feel
that the true condition of our naval forces
should be known. Upon inquiry, l find
upon the Naval List of the United States
on the first of July, 1856, there we're, in
cluding vessels OF all classes: sailing yes
sels-ten ships Of the line, thirteen frig-
ates, nineteen sloops Of war, three brigs,
one schooner, SIX store and receiving
ships steam yessels-seyen steam frig-
atcs. eleven steamers Of smaller class, and
three steam tenders.
These seventy-three vessels, with their
full complement of guns, and all they
were intended and pierced to carry, will
mount 2,235 guns, in size from 81 poun-
ders to 10 inch shells. Although these
ships appear upon the Navy List, [ learn
it would be next to impracticable to fit
them all for sea, in case of war, many Of
them requiring as much time and as much
money to put them in order as to build
new vessels. The ships that-may be fair
ly considered as forming the navy, and
that could be fitted in reasonable time,
and at a reasonable cost, will be about FIVE
ships Of the line, nine frigates, eighteen
sloops of war, two brigs, seven steam
frigates, and eleven war steamers OF other
classes-in all, ffty-two vessels, suitable
for war purposes, mounting 1892 guns ;
the steam vessels having steam power OF
1880 horses. The number Of officers and
men required to fully man all the ships
on the Navy List would be | ,5S7 officers,
20, men, and 2,455 marines-in all,
u $50 men. The number OF officers of
all grades now in the navy, including Off
GERS OF the marine corps, is LIP. The
number of seamen in the navy is limited
by law to 1900, and Of marines TO 200
The number Of vessels now at sea is four
frigates, fifteen ships Of war, two briggs,
one schooner, one steam frigate, eight war
steamers of smaller size, three steam ten
ders, and six store and receiving ships
in all forty ships. The remaining vessels
Of the entire number are in port, either
unfit for repairs, In ordinary, or reftting
to take the place Of others whose term Of
service at sea is about to expire. The
number of vessels thus kept at sea is the
full proportion that can be manned by the
1900 men allowed by law, and some are,
ut times, short of the proper complement.
There are eight navy yards in the United
States, as follows-l<ittery, Charlestown,
Mass Brooklyn, New York Philadel-
phia, Penn. u ashington, d. c.; Cos
port, Va; Pensacola, Fla. Mare Island,
Cal also, naval station at Sackett's
Harbor, n Y. The aggregate cost Of
keeping up the personnel Of these estab-
lishments, for the current and fiscal year,
is estimated, for the naval and civil bran
ches, at $804,3I8. The average annual
expenditure for the Improvement and re-
pairs Of navy yards for ten years preceding
the first of January, 1886, amounted to
ST70 1903 II of which sum $i08, ,993 80
was for "repairs of all kinds" The ex-
penditures for improvements and repairs
Of the navy yards are dependent upon the
appropriations made by Congress, and
vary each year. The contingent expen-
ses appertaining to navy yards, embra sing
the purchase and repair Of fire engines,
machinery and tools of every description,
repair of fire engines, and attending the
same, purchase and maintenance Of horses
and oxen, Goals and other fuel, cleaning
up Yards, pay Of watchinen, and inciden-
tai labor at navy yard, not applicable 70
any other appropriation, are estimated, for
the current fiscal year, in the aggregate;
at $443,04S. The total number OF OIL
GERS in the marine corps is 63, and of men
200, maHng total of ,263. The an
uual cost Of supporting them. (including
pay) is S486, ,526 62. The number of
marines required for the ships usually
kept in service is 1,l94. The annual cost
of maintaining a ship Of the line, fully
equipped, is $780,, 200; of a frigate, $780,
600; of a sloop of war, 500, 900; OF a
steam frigate S2S5,000.
Total appropriation for the naval
service for the fiscal year 1859
SO at the second session Of
the Thirty-Third Congress. Si5,ol2,09
Deduct special appropriations for
sundry purposes, 6,3ol ,984
Total for support of navy, Ss,7l0,l07
The tonnage Of a ship of the line is
2.658 tons Of a frigate, 1910 tons of
sloop of war, $50 tons of IA schooner, %
tons steam frigate, (say Niagara 1862
tons the other steamers vary from $50 to
= ,450 tons The total tonnage Of the
whole number Of ships in the navy is