Daily Democrat and news. [volume] (Davenport, Iowa) 1859-1864, 1862-12-11

country by the rebel troops.
Our soldiers on the western frontier
ia Arkansas and south western Missouri
are likewise beginning to get sight Of the
enemy At last. The rebel cause in Ar
ksnsas il becoming critical. Cut of
from help from the east side OF the Mis-
si.sippi, the army now there has got to
fight it out, and the probability is, that
il will come ont second best, II we may
take the late battle as precedent.
Syuops,s Of tho Report oi the Secretary
~ the Navy.
The annual report Of Mr.. Welles,
Secretary OF the Navy. gives q full &C
count Of the growth and present strength
Of our navy, and Of the work accom-.
81 shed By il during the war. When
Mr.. Welles assumed charge Of the DE
par,me.t 10 Mar III, ls6 there were but
az vessels tn n 10 commission, most Of
which we,c abroad. Now We have a6oa'
or rapidly approaching completion, AT
'. ssel., OF which lO4 are eating vessels,
and 1923 ste amer, there having been ad-
ded DUNG Mr.. Well.sregIme an aggrc-
gate OF 1877 guns aud capacity OF
24O,O2s tons. The annals OF the world
do not show, Gays the Secretary, so
great an increase in 80 b'ivt period 10
the naval power OF any country. And
OF the manner in which this addition
has beet made, the Secretary conteuds
tha, 40 equa amount Of Tonnage was
ever procured for any aervice, al prices
correspondlngy low, and with 80 little
ei-turbance 10 tho commercial commu
nifty"
OF the 1913 steam vessel, 1873 have
been added TO the navy by construct n.
These new vessels are on the best con-
struction and cshbre. as follows: -
second- class screw sloops of.war, 10
guns p screw gunborts, ll6 guns; 80
s,dewheel gun boats, 900 guns l. ar
mored wooden vessels, G5 guns; 81 ar
mored iron vessels, "a guns. The con
struction OF the iron c,ads was in q
measure an experiment, but the great
naval battle in Hampton Roads, which
the Secretary Describes in detal, demon
strated their importance. Since then
the DEPARTMENT has pushed its contract,
for the construction OF 20 iron.clads IL
tor the Monitor pattern with the utmost
dispatch. The Secretary has no fears
Of the largo armored ships Of the Euro
pcan navles,of which he says "What.
ever success may attend the large and
costly ships Of the Warrior ella 4, which
are being constructed by some Of the
maritime powers Of Europe for cruising
in deep waters they can scarcely cause
alarm here, for We have within the u.
S. few harbors that are accessible TO
them, and for those few the government
can always be prepared whenever a for
eign var is imminent. 1t has been deem
ed advisable, however, that We should
have few large sized armed cruizers,
Of great speed Tor ocean service,as well
NJ u the class of smaller vessels for
coastwise and defensive operations"
| The Secretary wants that the gov
eminent should be able to build its own
iron a. well as the wooden vessels. and
that it should have yards and establish
meu,s tor both, aud keep on hand MI
adequate supply Of materials. For .
yard for the construction OF iron vessel,
the Secretary gives his decided prefer
to League Island near Ph,ladel phia ,ove
New London in his own State, for th'
reason that the former is upon iresl
water, is mere secure from attack, ant
near to the supplies of iron and coal. |
, another yard is required Tor wooden YES
, sells he thinks New London would an
, swer. The Secretary also recommend
the establishment of naval depot il
one OF the rivers in the valley OF tn
Mississippi, where We now have n squad
. ron ca al in numbers TO the whole ma
w OF the United States st,he commence
OF this administration. The want Of ii
establishment 10 that quarter, wher
vessels NAV be constructed, armed an,
a,mored, equipped and repaired, In
. been severely felt, and in the absence o
such an establishment the Departmen
has been compelled to resort to expedi
enls that may have been sometimes dis
advantageous. For AZ iron navy tn
] g,eat rivers Of the west are well adapt
ed, and the inmc nse resources in iio
and coal that are distributed throuGbou
that region indicate what must be tn
the undoubted policy OF the governmen
: At no distant period in relation to sue
: IN establishment.
The expenses OF the Department dul
J. ing the year ending with June last wer
e So, 2O0,53O. This included the pa,
. ment for the construction Of fifiy.tw
steamers; the purchase, alterations an