The Lansing state Republican. [volume] (Lansing, Mich.) 1855-1874, 1862-05-14

its astonishing growth. and zee he's il sra.sesnds
the other commercial Powers Of the werld-in
tonnage and vessels, the latter nsmerous enough,
if stationed at equal distances around the great
circle OF the earth, not only to display in sight
Of each other the symbol Of our national glory,
but to hail each other and proclaim themselves
Americans" (Cheers.)
Net only in vessels and tonnage 10 the growth
and power of our connercal marine demonstra-
ted but in the skin and courage Of thses ssns Of
the deep, ~hose genius and daring have placed
them al the head OF their profession. and given
them = commanding position which has opened
up the markets Of the world BY traversing every
sea, and unsealing, even TO the dstsst Indian
shores. every port where trade could @ss advas.
tageously pursued. Nov il has occurred 70 ne,
that il would BE- q matter of interest to the pso-
pie of this great metropolis At whose port 10 col
lected q third Of the revenue of the whole Cnion,
to know what protection in chips Of var our
Government has provided. Ii 10 . very great
and Important question, whether the present na-
val system is adequate to protect our vast ard
swelling commerce, and accordingly have taken
come pains to collect data from authentic sources;
and although detailed statistics are usually unin
viting and lot acceptable, feel that an in the
presence and speak for . people jealous and
watchful Of their rights, and 70 whom owe it to
present any facts having national bearing upon
their leading interests. Yes, in the name Of an
interest of five millions and . half Of tonnage.
engaged in the trade Of the world, and which has
converted this metropolis into city Of palaces
adorned With more than Asiatie laxury and splen-
dor, feel that the trus condition Of our naval
forces should be known. Upon inquiry. find
upon the Naval Lis, Of the United States on the
first Of July, 1856, there were, including vessels
Of all classes: calling vessels ten ships Of the
line, thirteen frigates, nineteen sleeps OF war,
three brigs, one schooner, six store asd receiv-
ing ships; steam veesel-seven steam frigates,
eleven steamers of smaller class, and three steam
tenders
These seventy three vessels, With their full
complement Of guns. and oil they were intended
and pierced to carry, will mount 2, 2Ss guns, iu
size from 80 posnders to 10 inch shell guns.
Although these ships appear on the Navy List,
l learn it would be next TO inpracticable 70 #
them all for sea, in case Of war, many Of them
requiring a. much time and as much money to
put them in order as to build new vessels The
ships that may be fairly considered - forming
the navy, and that could be fitted in . reason.
able time, and at Q reasonable cost, will be about
hsO 6h'pe vi VIC Hucs hihC "iSesSSs S"sSSu
sloops of var, two brigs, seven steam frigates,
and eleven war steamers Of other clAsses-in oil,
fifty two vessels, suitable for war purposes.
mounting l,692 guns; the steam vessels having
q steam power Of !, $50 horses. The number
Of officers and men required to fully man al the
ships on the Navy Lis, would be 1857 officers,
&c, 0,547 men, and 2,455 marines-iu oil, 24,589
men, The number Of officers of al grades now
in the navy, including officers of the marine
corps, is l,l42. The number Of seamen in the
navy is limited bv Law to 1900, and Of marines
to 200. The number of vessels now at sea 10
four frgates, fifteen ships Of war, two brigs, one
schooner, one steam frigate, eight war steamers
of smaller size, three steam tenders and six store
and receiving ships-;n ALL forty ships. The re-
naming vessels OF the entire number are in
port, either unfit for repairs, in ordinary, or re-
fitting 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 fall proportion
that can be manned by the 1900 men allowed
b. Law, aud some are, at times, short Of the prop
er complement. There are eight navy yards
in the United States, as folIows:-Kittery,
Charlestown, Mass; Brooklyn, New York
Phadelpbi., Penn; Washington. D. c.; Cos.
port, Va; Pensacola, Fla; Mare Island, Califor.
MIA also, naval station at Sackett's Harbor, n.
Y. The aggregate cost Of keeping up the per.
sonnel of these establishments, for the curren,
and fiscal year, is estimated, for the naval ard
civil branches, at $s04, 1913. The average annu
al expenditure for the improvement and repairs
Of navy yards for ten years preceding the first
of January, 1855, amounted to $77O, ,S03 Al
of which sum $l0s.s93 30 was for ''repairs ol
all kinda" The expenditures for improvement
and repairs Of the ravy yards are dependent up
81 IL n.
vary each year. The contingent expenses ap
pertaining to navy yards, embracing the pur
chase and repair Of fire engines, machinery an(
tools Of every description, repair OF steam en-
gines, and attending the same. purchase ans
maintenance of horses and oxen, Goals and othe
fuels, cleaning up yarda, pay Of watchmes, ant
incidental labor at navy yard, not applicable Il
any other appropriation, are estimated, for tn
current fiscal year. in the aggregate, At S44s,
04S. The total number Of officers in the marin
corps is 63. and of men l, ,2eO, making a total o
,263. The annual cost of supporting them Gin
viuuiHS paw Il e4oo, 900 OF. Tho mumUor u
marines required for the ships Usually kept il
service 10 Iy4. Inc annuaI cost or Daintain
= ship Of the lire, fully equipped, il $so2, 900
Of a frigate, $i93, coo; of . sloop Of war, $50,
900; of a steam frigate, sass, 900.
Total appropriation for the naval service for the .cs
Deduct following special appropriations:
Continuation OF six steam frgStes. g 900 900
Stevens's war steamer ...... 25OO0O
Expedition for the reliefof DR.. Kane 10000
Basin and Railway at San Francisco 3OS 900
Special at the navy yards s-........ 1,763 439
Hospitals and magazines. 234 396
Naval Academy my.............. 500
Dry dock at Pensacola - 10000
Marine Hospital at Calcna and ex-
periments in casting ordinance, 1900
Marine corps --........-......... 500ll3
peduc, ........-.......... e,sol %
Tota. FOR support Of the navy, s., ,,lo lO
The tonnage of . ship Of the lise 10 2,65
| tons; OF frigate, $40 tons; Of Q sloop q
war, $50 tons; of brig 2so tons; of schoor
er. e5 tons; steam frigste, (say Niagara 4.ss
tons; the other steamers vary from $50 to 2.45
tons. The total tonnage Of the whole numbe
of ships in the navy 10 Ill. OFT tons; Of the 5
effective ships, the tonnage is 81, ,s6s tons. Th
wear and tear of ships Of var 10 from one six.