The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1864-12-06
REPORT OF TIE SECRETARY OF
THE NAVY,
Navy Yard for Iron Vessels
and Machinery.
CLAIMS OF PHILADELPHIA.
League Island Again Endorsed.

The Introduction OF steam us a motive power
for naval vessels Is causing revolution In mari.
time warfare which the ab'cst minds have long
predicted would De the result of this agency, but
which is not yet 10 its fullest CNtlnt appreciated
1t changes the whole character Of blockade, and
I'm future wars will be found that q few fast
priyuicers by steam will huass or auuituatc thr
commerce Of the most powerful bcligcrcnt
nations.
Our country has been compelled by this civil
War 90 take the initiative ia organizing vast
steam navy with which TO establish and enforce
the blockade Of our whole coast from the Clcsa-
pcako Bay to the Rio Gpudc; and also to sup
press the dcproda ions OF semi piraticll priya-
togrs, built by skilled English mechanics i'm Rug.
lish sbip-yards aud manned by Enclishmon,
which, under the Rebel Il g, have roycd the ocean,
destroying our merchln, shipping aud have
found refuge and supplies in English aud neutral
ports
When hOstiliNcs commenced, our Government
had provided no suitable navy yard with ma
chine shops and touudros to manufacture the
necessary machinery for our rapidly increasing
and expanding navy; but the Department was
compelled to rely on the few private establish
meuts, which IL could divert from other Cugage-
nCnts, for the immense work that was calling out
| the resources Of the nation.
Great embarTass mcnt was experienced in con-
sequence Of this neglect of the Government at the
/ very commencement of the war, and although the
naval service and the country are suffering CON
stantly from this neglect, measures for the esta-
] hllshmcnt OF "a suitable navy yard for the con-
struCtion and repair Of iron vessels, thcir arma-
/ ture and steam machinery, are still DELAYED
] As early as March, 1862, and on several Occa-
sions since, have had the honor to present my
. views 70 Congress on this subject. The earnest
ness and frequency with which II has been
| brought forward must find an apology in its great
| importance.
THE NEW NAVY YARD AT PHILADELPHIA
Il has never been the purpose of the Depart.
. ncnt in any Of It's suggestions or recommended
. tions, to increase the number Of our navy yards,
/ nor to alter their local distribution. The yard
| which we now have no Philadelphia is alto gCther
| inadequate to our present or future wants. Ii
. was proposed, therefore, 20 substitute a new one
on the Delaware, in the vicinity Of Philadelphia.
[ League island, within the limits of that city, IL
adopted rs q site, must gradually absorb the
works at the present yard, which would then be
. discontinued.
NAVAL STATIONS.
All of our present navy yards, it will be re-
| mCmbered, were established for the construction
/ and repair of wooden sailing vessels Steam and
. armortd vessels have superseded these, and the
/ inability OF our present establishments for the
work imposed by this war has been the source Of
ineXpressibe anxiety, and often of great disap-
pOnment and public injury. TO relieve the
navy yards from work which they have but
| limited means to execute, and to secure necessary
| repairs the Department has been compelled to
establish stations for machinery, and means of
refment, at Mound City, Memphis, New Orleans
| Ship Island Pensacola Key West Port ROYAL
| Beaufort, Norfolk and Baltimore.
But these and all the priya'e Gstab ishments of
the country besides other calls upon them, have
been insufficient TO keep the present navy in
necessary order so that, II to the duty of Oocka-
ding there were added ocean conflicts with naval
power by which our ships would be often disa.
Dled, the sad spectacle would be presented of our
naval vessels laid up in time of war for want of O
proper establishment with the shops and means
10 repair them.
EEw VESSELS.
Our country, whose strength and power among
nations must ever be identified with and main.
tanned by It's navy, and which possesses in such
| abundance the means OF creating and sustaining
one, has not, in oil the navy yards combined, the
/ appliances possessed by single establishments in
FL gland and France.
Were there outside of our navy yards establish
| mems to perform promptly the requisite work in
time of war, should not at this time again press
| the subject OF navy yard for iron work for the
construction Of vessels upon the consideration of
our authorities. But although the Department
has generally been ably and zealously seconded
in its efforts by private contractors, yet the fact
that there is no customer but the Government
for much OF this heavy class of iron work, for
bids us to expect that individual enterprise will
be prepared to execute it without full remunera.
tion for all the outlay for shops, tools, and maCh-
merry which may be required in preparation.
Besides this, unlimited time is taken by them
for the completion of the work.
II may be proper to mention, as an instance of
the delay TO which the Government is subjected,
that in October, 1862, contracts were made with
a manufacturer Of reputation and ability for
making and setting up the turrets Of the TOHa-
tranda and Midntonomah, which were to have
been completed in February. 1868, but they will
probably noJ be finished until February, 1865,
two years after the expiration OF the time speci-
hnI in lR fln aVafaa asaUaWF 90
hostilities this Department had equipped, and at
it, immediate disposal, three vessels of war.
I hose which were laid up, and those which were
recalled from abroad had 70 undergo extensive
repairs, for which no provision had been made.
The Government has not even at this time al
establishment where a shaft can be made for our
steamers, or plate for our irOn-Cads. The 'front.'
age or wharfage az all our navy yards, 50 import
ant for repairs, in less than Is required ut each
Of them.
THB FUTURE,
Our next contest may be with o naval power
which will attempt 20 direct upon our shores
course of operations similar TO those which we
have applied TO the southern coast for suppress
ing the Rebellion. One yard, at least, where iron
vessels, iron armor, and iron shafting eau be
manufactured, is now impcrauvely necessary.
Among the considerations that should control the
selection Of a site for such q yard and establish
ment, which shall become the depot for the mate
rails collected in years Of peace, with which TO
build and repair our naval vessels, and where will
| be aggregated machinery and tools such as az
present are not TO be found in this country, and
which, when once procured, could not, il de-
stTOyed, be easily or readily replaced, will be les
absolute safety from attack by sea or land SO
far as is possible we should avail ourselves of
natural advantages in Obtaining the Indispensable
security for such an establishment, without de-
pending entirely on Notifications and artificial
means, which would be more costly than the navy
yard itself.
The additional military defenses of Portsmouth.
England rendered necessary by the proximity of
that great naval station to the ocean, and its con.
sequent assailability by modern ordnance, are
now teing constructed at an expense Of
$50 0OOOOO