The Cass County Republican. [volume] (Dowagiac, Mich.) 18??-1880, 1863-12-31
Special Dispatch to the Chicago Tribune.
Report Of the Secretary Of the Navy.
- Washington, Dec. Q. 1863.

VESSELS PLACED UNDER coSsrRucTIoN SINCE DKCEx-
IA "a BKR. 1862 - - "A
Double end iron steamers, 1,osO tons each, q
Vessels g guns, LILO tonuage, single turret,
iron CLAD. $40 tons eaeh, - 20
rst iron-eiads, s $50 tons sseh h, 1''''' ~
Vessels 16 guns. AZ, SO tonnaee, clipper u
screw sloops, 200 tons zach. " "
Vessels $50 guns, 1850 tonpage-screw
sloops at great speed, 8 200 tons each,
at great speed, 8, GOO tons each, -
vessels ls guns, $500 tonnsge. ~ nr
lxnrBlr OF THE NAVE wHsS rHr v.ssrLs suspsu
CONSTRUCTION ARE couptkfkD
1ron-clad steamers, scoast surrey &C
Vessels l6e guns, 9, 2l8 tonnage, iron-clad =
steamers inland service, 20
Vessels l5a guns, &c, ia tonnage, side-wheel
steamers, .zrrrrfav, : rreI Il POS
Vessel. l,57s guns. Isl. sOa tonnage; sailing .
vessels, ~ 112
Vessels, ,sss guns, 70, ass tonnage. .,..., -
There have been added to the navy,
during the past year, BY pureh ase,
some thirty tugs and fifty steames, for
blockading and supply purposes, and
over twentysethsrx vessels for, tenders
and store shipss sfs isO ssds I'D bssoow ear
At least twenty Of the steamers were
captured in endeayoring TO violate the
blockade. ~'-' . ''-'-1 -
The Secretary then discusses, at
some length. the Improvements in
naval vessels. After speaking of dtbe
wonderful; revolution that has taken
place in naval, architecture, since the
war broke out, he proceeds as follows !:
The Monitor class of, armed ships
with revolving turrets, and four guns
of heavy calibre, has proved itself well
adapted for harboro defense, and coast
survey in some emergencies. These
vessels from their great powers of en-
durance, have .shown themselves Elf
cient and seryic cable in offensive opera
tons. This form and description Of
vessels which originated in the inven-
tive genius Of Capt. John Ericsson.
will perform not only all that should be
expected of them to make our harbors
secure, but when Of enlarged capacity,
may supersede ships of higher. preten-
sions, to maintain our rightfnl maritime
position md predominancy on the
ocean. seiE JAZZ = -l9lI a. sHIce ,DnA
Vessels of greater size than any tur-
ret vessels yetscompleted may be es.
sential. Not only mnst they carry guns
of heavier caliber than have here
tofore been used at sea, but in order to
make long cruises and to cope success
fully with any force, these vessels must
have all possible strength, endurance
and speed. Their structure must there
fore afford space enough for full sail.
ing power, and for the most powerful
steam machinery, and the large supplies
of fuel needful to keep it at work, Be-
ing unlike the other great marine
nations without distant colonies where
coal dePots can be established on the
shore of almost every sea, we must
conform to the necessities of our con-
dition and build ships with capacity
enough to take on board fuel sufficient
for song cruises. The space for other
supplies for munitions Of war, for the
accommodation of officers and crew,
should also be ample, and in addition
to this each of these vessels must, in
order to accomplish its work, present
in its construction arm0r, armament and
propulsion all the power that the re,
sources OF modern inYcntion5 and me-
chanicaf science and art can furnish
for attack, resistance and pursuit. 2's
A vessel of this description must, of
course, cost large price: but then wise
craftsmanship will not fail to preceive
that possession of even very few such
unconquerable ships must, while vastly
the force and renowna of
our navy, affsrd as al. the same time
inestimable guarantees of peace with
foreign nations. Nor, counting the coast
of such foatiug structures can we forget
that large as that. cost may be, it yet
sinks into insigni6cance in contrast with
expenditures, and sacrifices of single
year, or even amounts of foreign war.
In order that we may have at our com
rf,anda navywhicb shall fulfill these
unexampledsand exacting conditions Of
efficiencys . commensurate public estab-
lishment for its construction and pre-
psration is indispensable, for, navy
carried OH u Idt ~ cV0ic3 Suu III cSCty
respect of new plan, amply furnished
with ALI the proper facilities and aids
for it's operations where n,achienry for
steamers can, be manufactured, iron
vessels constructed, made AMI tested,
and repairs of every description exc
euted, is an absolute necessity. In view
of these facts. Ihsd the she honor on
successive occasions te urge this mat
ter upon the attention OF the last Con
gress, and the, omission Of that body of
such establishments is q misfortune
which the country. is now made to
feel J3HHq 9d3 buHoIa bas7gs 4itas5sGi
= Vessels frequently need repairs, and
as our public yards are entirely. made
quate for the manufacturs and repair of
steam machinery, great delay and loss
of military opportunities have, occur
red, attended with vast loss of money.
Iagain, therefore, most earnestly
invoke the attention. of Congress to the
manifest and iinauspicious fact that
our Government has made no sufficient
provisions in it's public establishments
for the existing requirements of naval
warfare. Our country is better pre-
pared for this change than almost any
other maritime nation, for We have but