The New York herald., 1864-12-08

03U01um9 -
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stsan nschssfy, 80 seoastss nsgiscssd q expert
nsnslly dssssniains ne tass ssosssasy Tor sosFsa'
TSs ssnpsutsvs sssisss asA Ssalsn sov usdss con.
strustiea and TRIAL will furnish Information which wiz %
sAyr rxsD ron mcs vnmzs AND xAcznssy.
oThs asssducstoa OF steam = motive powsr for naval
sss -. .s:: .ss ssd g
result Of ths agency bue which Dot yss 70 ~ fullest
Soessss ssS r fasars wars d wii ss found that rew
p .::% =. q ssnsa. the
Our country hes bean compelled BY this civil war 70
take hs initiative In organising vast steam navy with
coast from the onesapsaks Bay 70 the Rio Grsnds and
asoso suppress the dspredations Of semL pratcai pri
vatssrs, built by skilled English mechanics in Engsh
shipyards, and manned By Enslshmsn, which, under
the rebel nag have roved the ocean. destroying our
merchant shPpns ana have found refuge and supplies
When hostlltes commsncsd our government had pro.
ydsd no suitable savy yard with machine shops and nd
our rapidly Increasing and expanding navy but the de-
partmsnt was compelled % rely on the few private estao
for the menss work that was calling out the resources
Grss. embarrassment was experienced in consequence
Of this neglect Of the al the
men. d the war; and although the naval service and the
sures for the sstablsnment Of suitable navy yard for
the construction and repair Of iron vessels their arma
s as1cS @ Occasions c
have had the honor TO present my view to Congress
il has been brought orWsrs muss ana sn spoos, IL is
great importance.
any Of It's suggestions recommendation increase
distribution. The yard which have a, PhiladeI.
pba 10 altogether inadequate present future
wants. u was proposed, therefore, 70 substitute
one on the Delsrsre IN tho Vicinity Of Phi,adsphis
site, must gradually absorb the works a. the present
yhrd, which would shsn be discontinued
were established for the construction and repair Of
wooden sailing vessels Steam and armored vessels have
sSmsu.s for The work BY hi. war has
source OF inexpressbs anxiety, and often OF great
s% ons sSs sy t. relieve ssys so
limited means 20 execute, and to secure neces-
say repairs the department mas been compelled to esab
sh stations for machinery, and means Of rentmont
cola. Key West Port Royal Beaufort. Norfolk and BaIsi
the country, besides other calls upon them have been
insufficient 70 keep the present navy In necessary orde
ocean Conflicts With naval Power 81 which our sSips
would be often disabled the sad spectacle would be pre-
proper establishment with The shops and means
to repair thcnn.
must be Identified with and maintained By it's navy,
and which possesses in such abundance the OF
creating and sustaining one has not IN all the navy yards
combined the appliances possessed by single establish
ment In England and France Were there outside Of
navy yards establishments 10 perform promptly the
time again press the subject navy yard for iron work
for tho c6nstrue.ion Of veses upon the consideration
e S s 4 ~ has
by private consractors yet The fact that there
TONER but the govsrsment for much Of this heavy class
q iron work, f0rbids expect that ndv dual enter
prise viii be prepared 70 execute without full
ration for a the outlay for shops tools and machinery
limited time taken by them for the completion Of the
work II may be proper 70 mention, as an instance OF
October 1854 Contracts were made with msnarsOsursr
Of reputation and ability for making and setting up the
turrets Of the Ionawanda and Aantonomah which were
probably not bs finished until February 1885, two years
after the expiration OF the time specified in the Goa
tract Al the commencement OF hostlities this depart
ment had equipped, and It's Immediate disposal, three
vessels Of war. Those which were laid up, and those
which were recalled from abroad had to undergo exen
repairs for which provision had been madc The
government has not at this time establishment
iron cads. The frontage wharfage ali our navy
yards 50 Important for repairs, Less than required
Our next contest ny be With naval Power which VIII
attempt to direct upon our shores course Of operations
coast for suppressing the rebellion One yard least
where iron vessels iron armor and iron shafng be
the ths. should control the seeeon Il
site for such yard and estaoshment which shall be
come me asI r ina ns M @ -
and where w DO .Esrsga:ed machinery sod tools such
Country, and which, when once procured could not
il destroyed bc easily or readily replaced win be s ab
sSis ws should avail ourselves Of natural advantages IN
obtaining the indispensable security for such an cstab
lishmsnt Without depending entirely on ana
The addtonal military defsnccs Of Portsmouth Eng.
land rendered necessary by the proximity OF that great
naval station the ocean, and It's consequent assaab
~ by modern ordnance are now being constructed at 40
4 navy yard, il we have one for naval iron work.
should be established fresh water for this Is essential
up n salt water during peace. Ready access to coal,
iron timber is also important for these sentia
articles should be always available on the inland waters
without exposure TO enemy by coastwise transpor
tation. Tho vicinity Of large city, where skilled arti
be obtained without difficulty, and the facilities
Of markets and teuements abundant, should be
considered. foundation Of gravel would, for the pur
poses Of machinery be pres able to stone. An exssn
depot and establishment, whore costly machinery aud
material would accumulate during years q peace the
These favorable conditions to be obtained nowhere
else completely as on the delaware river aud the po
stion OF League Island within the limits OF the Guy OF
Philadelphia, presents probably stronger combination
the points that necessary than any other location
s to be regretted that competition for supposed
local benefits should Interfere with rsard and perhaps
entirely defeat the government In its Efforts 60 secure so
imp rtant national establishment. II in such conflict
for sectional favor the country should lose forever the
best situation for such navy yard and e'tabish'
The department has s,udousy avoided the controversy
which has arisen In consequence OF the Efforts
TO secure navy yard at New london, which foreign
10 the question OF eparglpg or substituting
modious establishment Philadelphia. multiplicity
OF small yards similar in character crowded into
section OF the country not the object purpose OF
the department the suggestions and
which II has from time TO tme urged upon Congress-
There already three navy yards east OF the Hudson
and should Congress deem II advisable TO add another 10
that section or elsewhere Is TO be hoped that such
determination will not interfere with prevent tho
governments from having proper establishment for The
construction OF iron vessels iron and iron work u
every description for naval purposes In the mmed
vicinity Of the and coal region OF the
portions OF the Unon Such establishment det
partment has advised on the Delaware would 20.
mere substitution. without dollars expense
the government for land OF the commodous and
extensive grounds and front League Island IN
place OF the present limited and restricted site al Pha-
depha which is wholly inadequate aud insufficient for
the purposes OF yard for wooden ships.
Among the which impe again to istroduce
this subject aud earnestly press II upon the Immediate