The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1862-12-12
TIE REPORT OF PEg YAHKEE SECRETARY
OF THE NAVY

We presented few days ago brief synopAls o.
ihs report of Lincoln's Secretary of ths Navy
which alluded TO the operations o. that particular
branch Of the service since the w@ commencsd.-
Teis morning we give some extracts from that por
acr Of the report in ~hich the Secretsry's viewf
us given with reference to the establishment Of q
Ivy yard for the construction Of iron clad vessels
Gtwar. In March last, and again In June, the At
ssnion Of Congress was invited to the importance
q! taking prompt preliminary measures for estab-
Gsaing navy yard, including foundries shops, and
soeks adapted to the growing wants Of the ser
nas and the country. It was not that al addi'
aGasi navy yard was needed, bu. that one Of diff
assn, character va, required from any now In ex'
Fence. he than refers to the action Of Congress
70 he snbjaet which authorised the appointment
ia Board OF officers to examine into and investi.
lase he advantages of certain localities a. . site
is tie establishment of such q yard as was pro-
Iassd League Island, near Philadelphia, received
h Recommendation of q msioriIy of the committee
Gs, ualess otherwise directed by Congress, the Sc
rs;s'y proposes to accept it as the point for the
establishment Of the new nAvy.yard for the con-
Erneiion CT ron-clads. Among reasons given for
hi determination are. its security from external
ssuiss, and its proximity to iron and coal. The
SecfstNy says further:
Tie the has arrived when. in order to maintain
oaslvss and our true position a. q nation, we
aa' lave formidable navy, not only Of light
1ss vessels TO guard our extensive and shallow
eo0i, ont one that with vessels always ready for
se tervice and Of sufficient size to give them
'peso, cen seek and mest an enemy on the
sssa In o-der TO obtain the enormous steam
H"e essential TO crest speed, We uust have YES.
w OF the greatest magnitude.
isssels Of wood viii always be built; but the
u nasts that have operated TO getard the iutroduc-
on Of iron vessels are disappearing. The wsrk-
y u iron has been much smplihsd Its sppliea-
.Da facilitated new tools and machinery for work.
. .sh are constantly being invented and improved;
ns Saasns skilled in its manufacture are becoming
wrought.
rae progress Of events renders 1t certain that
yya"l Hereafter enter largely into the structure
vessels for marine service, although It will never
ss-AaeY supercede wood. Our country pr oduces
49, 49, ua'etis II abundance, and we have NO oocar
sS u seek 1t from abroad. While our forests are
tsppeafng, iGexhaustiole resources In iron are
cIs developed That 1t IL for the interest of the
! ms uament TO be prepared TO meet some change
' una erial Sad structure Of our naval vessels |
ss no' De repested. II must provide the COS
a. y1ds and establishments for each, aAd have
properly iocased, il which TO build its ships |
- ana Ut iesst one Of them should bespEciAtiy
70 IRON No private establishment can un-
e,,,sA hach heavy work ~ the Government re- |
hS -. of hs arnor and steam purposes. Possess |
~ ,s.oSsnsages that no other nation enjoys we |
~. mays sssl ourselves ot them. Our iron and coal |
i'oad In tbs same region, and we have fresh. |
h.. nsefsin which iron vessels c&n be docked and
sadsd 'n0 IRON "nicn al enemies can % ex' |
~. Ie eon.tructiou Of the iron and iron-clad YES
VS.. "leh To Department has now In progress, |
ep.!,st saot 6ss been made TO have them promptly |
mi nIIyb'e0o 1t believed that nearly every rolling
nd - Ss-n engaged that Ii able to do the work
tns .atse vessels are several months behind the
p,,sa nnin which they were TO have been COM
ssSe,. Tue Department II convinced that ths con- |
rss, s' asve done their beat and yet it u with
~ suameuiiy that these comparatively small ves-
ro.s.asLe - Tue moderate sized iron required can be |
hs G,uicF icF tnem NJ soon e. wanted, 70 much aces |
ssppv ~ exceed the capabilities Of the mills 70
paSI: ...e Lnsse facts demonstrate the nessmity Of
. b. ,orn. wneTe vessels OF great nAgnituds are |
bxM Mss"ucted ~ Had ths Government bssn pre-.
shsh hsa .. .a.s heavy work, much Of the delay
ksn sS"ss embarrassed naval operations might have
IN ,".aa. Private establishments would have |
Y, NM ~ and enabled 10 furnish laf er guam.
Ii |. aa M ths scope of theM own manuf seizure.
6lA &. = Important that the 0ovsFnmsnt sboulA |
Dsa, ~ .wa 'hipa Of iron = Of wood II the ap-
tdus !. s,s. N sishsR eass r pestes. ths aetuai
~ ia so n gssesss. i b u t6s hss impogsanee
kW -. Issssnd. whsthss 81 ifoa a. WOOD, ahoald |
- i,.si Desi quality. anA - tseef4s isoa, this I
aaAvsS - sa and msds eartnan Gniy ~ ~ boint /
~. Sae S1e - warked q 0osssnznsas aeoabtls6.
'Aes Qaea3jlias Eequlbs1 wi1 abWa0D