Cleveland morning leader. [volume] (Cleveland [Ohio]) 1854-1865, 1864-12-09


to ascertain their relative merits. Nearly
every variety Of boiler and of expansive
gear, OfTGte of expansion, and of saturated
and superheated steam, has been made the
subject Of accurate experiment, and it Is
believed that the files Of the Department
contain the lstest and most reliable infor-
nation on onthesesubjects 4 chiefengineer OF
tho navy hss been sent to Europe TO col |
lect information on these topics in addi-
lion to the published accounts and official
reports.
Nearly al the kinds OF Goals Of the sea-
board states have been the subject of care
fui experiment, with 3 view % ascertain
their comps alive value fCT naval Purpos-
es. A bJaTd Of engineers has also expert
meGte1 wi h petroleum ss e substitute fer
coal in naval steamers,
As opinion appears 10 have settled upcn
the horizontal and vertical tubular boilers
as tho only CnCa proper fJf naval service,
tine Department has had one Of each kind
manufactured, according 20 designs fur
nished by board Of nine engineers, en-
ploycd in the principal private slssm-sn-
ginc manufacturing establishments Of the
country, and by the Bureau of Steam En--
gineering, loT the purpose Of accurate eX-
pcTimeots TO determine their respective
merits. These experime. Is will be Of the
most elaborate nature, and will it Is pre-
| sumed, enable choice 20 be made. They
are now in progress.
a commission Of nine, on practical en-
gineeriug has been appointed by tho de-
/ partment, cor sisling OF three froin the
/ Academy Of Science, three from the Frank
/ lin Institute, and three on the part Of the
/ Depsrtment-al eminent ia physical
science-to devise the proper apparatus.
/ snd make the necessary experiments
| herewith, to ascertain by pracllcsl results
| the economy Of uciHg steam with different
| degrees Of expansion. These exJ Jeriments,
which are now II progress, VIII be as elab-
crate and as complete as it is p. gsible TO
make them. And under the practical cen
! di.i0ns Of steam engineering, it is believed
( they viii unlispUtably set at rest the
amount Of gain to be obtained from usiHg
steam with different measures of xpan
I sion, and also determine tue relative 49,
I IL "a inherent kiEOs u T&lT5 gear, Steam
! pressure, 5sc,, besides settling many Incl
cidenta! questions Of great Importance"
NAVY YARD FoR IRON VESSELS.
MIR. Welles sgain urges the impostsnct
Of providing a Navy Yard in fresh water
for our iron vessels, for they cannot be
laid up in Ealt water. he contends thai
the situation Of this yard shoald bs in tbs
vicinity of large city, where skilled arti
zans can be obtained without difficulty, and
the facilities of markets and tenementi
arc abundant, and strongly feconmend.
the selection Of League Island.
Secretary Wellcs recommends the pro.
motion Of Rear Admiral Farragut to tht
position of Vice-AdmiraI, an ofioe, the
creation Of which he recommends to Cen
sress.
NAVAL ENLIsTMENTS S--APPRENTICEs.
The want Of seamen is still afelt N thC
navy; large numbers Cf sailors have been
induced by high bounties TO enter the army
Although the law now authorizes the trans
fer of these men TO the navy, very con
siderable portion OF them sill remain il
the army, where landsinen would be o
equal service. In order TO correct the evil
which anse from the scarcity Of men, It is
recommended that each Congressional dis
trict be authorized TO place two or more
naval apprentices on the sehoOlship Saline
and that the annual selection of one-hal
the midshipmen be made from these ap
prentices. The'efecliof such q measure, II
the judgment Of the Secretary, would b
beneficial TO the sailor the schools and tht
service.
THE NAVAL AcADEMY-CADET ENGINEERS
The Naval Academy will return to Anap
oils early next spring.
Preliminary measures have been take1
10 carry into effect the law authorizing TIT
education Gt the Naval Academy of cade
engineers, TO be selected from youths NO
over eighteen yeSrs Of aga, who shall havt
been engaged at least two years in the fab
ricatien Of steam machinery. A circula,
has been Issued and printed in the paper
OF the great manufacturing cities, inviting
applications in conformity to the law; b
fore this plln shall -Ls pa. IA UpJTatlOn, !
I Is submitted; in view OF the radical chan
ges which have been wrought by steam q
II motive power for naval vessels, whethe
steam engineering should not be made t
constitute hereafter anecesssry part Of ID
education Of all midshipmen, so that i
our future navy every line officer viii be
steam engineer, and qualified 10 have com
plete command and direction of his shiI
The Secre,ary says that no line office
now in our navy is yet capable Of takin
charge of an engine.
PRIZE LAWS
The question of the prize law is consid
cred AT l5ngLh in the report. The sevent
section OF tho act of Congress of July 2, i
] | 81 a
erty, not only reversed the law of prize q
it stood prior 10 the rebellion, but also re
versed for the future The public policy {
the country upon this subject; and, il Nj
Welles's opinion, was not carefully weigh
ed by Congress.
STRENGTH OF THE NAVY. - -
: The present strength of the navy, al
ready given in brief is reported in detail
as follows:
No of No of No.
vessels. Description. Snns. tons.
ll3a-Screg steamers especially con-
ct ucted Tor naval purposes.-1 428 I6p, %
o.. Paddc-wheel steamers es-
peciaiy constructed fJr naval
nls85 cad ;s:-,is: :a5 ss5 55.;5 55.s5
/ 1t)...Screw steamers pHrch1Eod cap
tured, &C, fitted for naval
lu poses Utf tu,55
! 174..pad lr-wheel cleaners pur.
chased, captured, &c, fitted
( for naval purp0ses-...-.......... 99l 7s,76
| u2~SaEiug vessels Of all ciesses... $50 G., "A
4,6lO 5lO, ,3g
COMPARATIVE sTATEMENT-IS63 AND 1864
The following table Is given in thi
report:
No. Of No. OF No. Q
vessels. Description. guns. tons.
G7l.Totel navy, december, 1854 4,GlO 5Io, 50
5SS Total navy. December, 1858 4,443 467,96
a.,