Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1863-12-16


| debt, S24 ,729 ,S46 81 for the War Depar
| ment, ,S599, ,29S 600 SO for the Navy Depart
ment, 500 3,2ll los q for payment of funde
and temporary debt, S18l ,0S6, ,635 OF /; maxim
the aggregate 95.796 $50 65; and Ieavir
the balance of S5,329,044 81. But the pay
ment of funded and temporary debt havin
oeen made from moneys borrowed during tn
year, must be regarded as merely nomins
| payments, and the moneys borrowed to max
them as merely nominal receipts. Their a
mount, SIol ,OS6 ,6o5 07, should therefore b.
ueuucted both from the receipts and disburse
ments. This being done, there remains a
actual receipts, S720, ,O39 .039 10, and the act
ual disbursements, $714, 4,7O9, 1895 So, Ieavin.
the balance as already stated.
me actual receipts and disbursements TO
the nrst quarter, and the estimated receipts
and disbursements for the remaining thre,
quarters OF the current fiscal year, 1864, will
be shown in detail by the report OF the Secre
tary OF the Treasury, to which invite YOU
attention. 1t is sufficient to say here that il
IS not believed that actual results will exhibit
state of the finances less favorable TO the
country than the estimates of that officer here.
tofore submitted, while it is confidently ex-
pected that at the close of the year both dis
bursements and debt will be found pretty con-
sIderabiy less than has been anticipated
The report of the Secretary of Var is a doc
ument OF great interest. 1t consists of First,
Inc military operations of the year detailed
in the report of the General-in- Chief Sccond,
The organization of colored persons into the
war service. Third, The exchange OF prison
ers, fully set forth in the letter of Gen. Hitch
cock. Fourth, The operations under the "A ct
tor Enrolling and Calling Out the National
Forces" detailed in the report of the Provost
Marshal General. Fifth, The organization of
the Invalid Corps; and Sirth, The operations
of the several Departments of the Quartermas-
ter General, CommisSary General, Paymaster
General, Chief of Engineers, Chief of Ord
nance, and Surgeon General. 1t has appear
ed impossible to make a valuablessummary of
this report, except such as would be too ex-
tended for this place; and hence 1 content
myself by asking your careful attention to the
report itself.
The duties devolving on the naval branch of
the service during the year, and throughout
the whole OF this unhappy contest, have been
discharged with lity and eminent success.
The extensive blockade has been constantly
increasing in efficacy the navy has been ex-
panded. Yet on SO long line it has so far
been impossible to entirely suppress Illicit
trade. From returns received at the Navy
Department, it appears that more than 900
vessels have been captured since the block ade
was instituted, and that the value of prizes al
ready sent in for adjudication amounts to over
81 200, 900. "a
The naval force of the United States con-
sIsts, at this time, OF 5SS vessels, completed
and In the course OF completion, and of these
10 are iron-clad or armored steamers. The
events of the war give an increased interest
and Importance to the navy which will proba-
bly, extend beyond the war itself. The ar
mored vessels in our Navy, completed and in
service, or which are under contract and ap--
completion, are believed to exceed
in number those of any other power. But
la he's he Ii..I fnr ba, 4
fence and coast service, others of greater
strength and capacity VIII be necessary for
cruising purposes and to maintain our right
ful position on the ocean.
The change that has taken place in naval
vessels and naval warfare since the introduc-
tion of steam as motive power for ships of
war, demands either corresponding change
in some of our existing Navy Yards, or the
of new ones for the construc-
ton and necessary repair of modern naval
vessels. No inconsiderabe embarrassment
delay and public injury have been expert
enced from want of such governmental es-
The necessity OF such a Navy
ard so furnished ,at some suitable place upon
The Atlantic sea- board, has, upon repeated
occasions, been brought 10 the attention of
Congress by the Navy Department, and is
again presented in the report of the Secreta- |
", which accompanies this communication.
think it my duty to invite your special |
attention to this subject, and also to that of
establishing yard and depot for naval purpo- |
'es, upon one of the western rivers. A naval |
orce has been created on those interior waters |
md under many disadvantages, within little |
nore than two years, exceeding in numbers |
he whole naval force of the country at the |
of the present administra-
ion. Satisfactory and important as have |
,een the performances of the heroic men OF /
he navy at this interesting period, they are |
carcely more wonderful than the success of |
'ur mechanics and artizans in the production |
# war vessels, which has created new form |
# naval power. Our country has advantages |
uperjor to any other nation in our resources |
# iron and timber, with inexhaustible quanti-
les of fuel in the immediate vicinity OF both,
nd available and in close proximity to navi-
able waters. Without the advantage Of pub
ic works, the resources of the nation have
een governed, developed, and its power dis
layed in the construction of navy of such
Magnitude, which has, at the very period of
IS creation, rendered signal service to the
Jnon.
The increase of the number of seamen in
be public service, from 1880 men in the
pring of 1861, to about "a 900 at the present
lme, has been accomplished without special
sgislation, or extraordinary bounties 10 pro-
lote that increase. Ii has been found, how
yer, that the operation of the draft, with the
Ugh bounties paid for army recruits, is begin
ing to affect ipjuriously the naval service.
nd will, if not corrected, be likely to impair
IS efficiency by detaching seamen from their
roper calling, and inducing them to enter the
rmy. 1 therefore respectfully suggest that
congress might aid both the army and naval
srvices by definite provision on the subject,
hich would at the same time be equitable to
he communities more especially interested.
L commend to your consideration the sug-
estion of the Secretary of the Navy in regard
, the policy of fostering and training seaman,
nd also the education OF officers and engin-
ers for naval service. The Naval Academy
rendering signal service in preparing mid
hipmen for the highly responsible duties