Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1865-12-15
Report Of the Secretary of the Navy.

Of citizens and the ignomny OF rebellion IS witnessed
in the hopeless end Of the great rebellion.
--.--
Report OF the Secretary of the Navy,
This report opens with recapitulation of the work
of tile navy during the years The principle actions
were the capture of Wilmington in January and the
fall of the various rleenscs after. In November
the Sonth Atlantic squadron, under Admiral Dahl
gren co-opemted with Gen Sherman in his approach
es to the coast. and occupied Charleston on the 2Gth
OF February, 1865. Mobile and the rebel fleet sur
rendered to Rear Admiral Thatchey and Gen Ora no.
or, the principle dcenses between the citv and the
entrance to the bay. taken by Farragut in August,
1864 were captured on the s and 9th Of APRIL 1860
and the city surrendered on the 11th. On the 2l Of
June Galveston surrendered, aud the entire coast was
once more under the authority of the government.
The gradual reduction Of the navy begun with the
fall Of Fort Fisher May J. orders were issued to re-
duce the squadron in our domestic waters ono ialc
There are now in commission at home aud abroad
II vessels OF all descriptions, OF which 96, mounting
347 guns are abroad.
Since the 4th Of March, 1s6l lls vessels have been
purchased, Of which 3l3 steamers at n cost of
S1s3G66el 49, and of these there have been sold $40
vessels, for which the government has received So
62ls 500 27. There were in the several blockadinr
squadrons in January last exclusive of other duty
All vessels and 2lj5 guns. There are now but 20
vessels remaining on the coast carrying 2l0 guns ex-
elusive Of howitzers.
The Secretary urges the enlargement Of the navy
yards Mt Boston and New York the linc of those
Mt Norfolk and Pensacola and the discontinuauce of
that at Philadelphia, substituting one in its place at
League Island, or some proper place the Delaware
tie thinks there are serious objections to that at Kit
terry on account OF its proximity to the and
consequent danger, but recommends, if it is retanel
! the purchase OF Seavv's Island.
The number of mldshipmen Mt the Naval Academy
is Ij1. lie considers that large portion oi the mon
cy appropriated for this purpose is wasted in conse-
quence OF the defective system Of selecting candidates
many of the boys having neither the mental nor phys
ca characteristics to fit them for the naval service.
] Hin ia tlatl .. A .,..1.
Academy, where the grounds are only % acres in ex.
| tent, and where expenditure OF Ss00000 will be
required Mt present 10 fit up the buildings. West
Point has 1900 acres aud this should have at least as
much lie recommends some place or the shores Of
| Chesapeake Bay
repeal of the act fixing the pay of workmen in
the navy yard, ut the rate of wages paid to similar
claSses of men in private establishments is recon
mended Candidates for the position Of master work
men are to be hereafter examined and appointments
made without regard to locality He thinks that the
| Military and Naval Asylum should not be united, out
that home should be provided for sailors alone The
number Of vessels captured and sent the courts for
adiudicaton from May L. lsGl to the close of the re-
bellion is ll5l, which were nearly all built in neutral
ports, The gross am1unt OF property captured and
remaining Tor distribution is S2o,50l,927 80. The
value of captured vessels is estimated at 24500 900,
and Of those destroyed 81 100000
The naval pension fund amounts to $4,000 900. to
which S1000,0OO more will be added in January un
amour; which will be ample for the payment OF ail
naval pensions.
On the l,t Of Nov, 1865, the navy pension roll was
/ rs follows:
9S1 invads, with annual pensions, amount
ing to S6S5s7 80
1896 widows and orphans, annually recev-
ing 1892 90
2O27 persons, receiving total Of S14s52 90
The compensation of naval otlc ,rs Is insufficient for
their support and tor those expenses which they are
compelled to incur while on service, especially in for
egn countries. The enhanced prices of the uecessu-
ries of life have been painfully severe our naval
officers, and their relief is recommended to the favor
able consideration OF Congress. An Increase in the
pay OF the clerks in the department, is also urged Oh
the same ground,
As soon rs the approached It's termnatiou
measures were adopted for reducing the navy and it,
expenses. BY this course large saving was made
in the appropriations for the year ending June 80
le6j, which amounted TO Sl40,09l 1926, the eXpeud-
lures being only. l67sl,675, leaving an uneXpended
balance OF s23,3O9i50. The total resources Tor the
ending June 30, 1866, including the above sur.
plus and the appropriations, amount to 42,29, ,9l9
This is exclusive Of what has been and ma be de
rived from the sale of vessels and other property
which the close Of the war has enabled the depart
ment to dispose Of. The Whole Of this large amount
will not be needed for disbursement during the wear
and several Of the bureaus will have balances sniff
cleny large 10 cover their expenditures tor the sue
ceeding fiscal year. The estimates for the year end
ing June 80, 1867, amount 10 s23,5s2,45I The to,a
expenses OF the department from the 4th of March
ls6l to the Both Of June, 1861 were S54 47O,060, NJ
average annual expenditure Of S72,5OO,9s0.
increased accommodation IS required III the navy
yards. Additions to their waer-irons, docks, store
1 houses, &c, needed to meet the demand, Of tn
service. In connection with the kitterY yard. tn
purchase of Seavv's Island is recommended AT TIN
Charlestown yard the purchase of an adjoining whar
! = and water privilege is advised. Similar recommen
datons are made in regard TO the Brooklyn and Phi
adelphia yards, while large sums will be required
Mace the yards Mt Norfolk and Pensacola in an eff
cient condition There Al vessels intended for tn
: permanent navy that have not heen launched, bein
y unfinished. The supply Of seasoned ship timber i
the yards is exhausted, and a new supply should b
provided. Also that arrangements he made ut som
d, suitable place for the construction of iron vessels
The fuel account for the navy for the past two yeai
IS Is Sll,452,l56 The propriety Of establishing inar
uactory of wire rope is suggested. The number {
n seamen enlisted in the navy from March 4, 1851,
MAY |, 1906 was llS,04i The suggestions made
n previous reports for the construction Of magazines
# the interior from our large cities, for the es'al
: lishment Of gunnery ship and for well organize
practice ground, are again presented and urged I
IS measures of paramount necessity. 1t is also recon
10 mended to institute course OF experiments with to
pedoes and establish n corp of operators for fuu
d service; and in order to avail ourselves of the resul
obtained abroad in the manufacture OF cannon al
ar small arms, aud their use IN naval warfare that of
N of the navy be detailed to visit Europe from Tin
ST to time, and witness the experiments made at Il
$ foundres and NrNenals.
i- The bureau OF Navigation is engaged in the prep
y ration Of danger Chart Of the Pacific Ocean,
facilitate navigation in that quarter. An increase
er the corps OF regular pfymnsters In the navy Is urpe
ne recommended, In regard to the sanitary oohdltl'
Of the n0vy, it appears that the number OF per'o
s. under treatment during the year ending 3lst OF -
cember ust was 49, Bob, Of whom 1873 dled, ANA 26
CT were on the sick list at the close OF the year II
W total number OF deaths from Oct !, 1884 10 Sept
n 1865, was 1850, being per centage Of about COZ
ns the whole number Of persons In service. During q
he progress of tho war hoo persons were kleI' 10
m, Wounded aud I7G reported missing, making the tot
es number of casualties in the naval service $500 u
re N persons have awaited themselves of the provs
IS of the act Of Congress providing artificial limbs
lol a
,d commended.
ms In conclusion, Mr., Wees pays tribute to the val
o- of the services Of the gentleman asso lated with h
nr In the conduct of the alrs of the department, n
saws the great object Of reducing the cost of ma
IT. thinning the navy is kept constantly in view by
IN, department Still, this work must not be carried
"' far as to impair the efficiency OF this important
val of the public service, aud 1t is recommended TO
1T fosteriAg care OF the government.