New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1865-12-06

| eht Nhnls EigIdnd, besides rer great pnDuc Eify
yards With which ours can bear comparison. pos.
sesse even several private establishments in each OF
wLlch thcre are mechanical appliances han are
possessed BY our whole country Attention Is invited
10 the inte esin9 and instructive report OF Chief En-
Rineef d. ". King upon the dock yards OF England
and France, communicated to Congress at its last
session.
Any future wars in which we nav be involved must
be Of maritime character. and unless we make in due
season adequate preparations requiring no
bic expenditure and time for their completion, the
country vii. not escape modification, and reyerses,
and serious disasters.
The formidable cads are those Of the class
Of The Passaconaway. The turrcts OF these vessels.
which Is inches in thickness and the machinery.
which IL Of power t. drive them IL knots hour is
plain and Of moderate size, and yet they cannot be
constructed and sent to sea in three years SO il is OF
oil work out or that ordinary routine for which our
establishments, public and private are exclusively de-
signed The immediate, indispensable and truly
economical remedy for oil this dis advantage is 10 en-.
large the nayyysrs at Boston and New York, to com.
pete the yard at Mare Island. the Pacific rebuild
those OF Norfolk and Pensacola and sell the present
restricted grounds at Philadelphia after establishing
yard OF sufficient capacity nj League Island some
other proper location Oh Tie Delaw With these ex
tensions and improvements, and proper establishments
at point upon the Western waters. naval psi
tion viii he 50 stIeDg hcned to constitute addi-
tiona SAFEGUARD against expense and perhaps war.
have omitted any recommendation Ia regard to the
yard at kery. because there are serious obi ctions
to il naval saton account OF its proximity TO
the ocean, which rcnders pnblic properly there in
Should il however. be decided TO improve the
station public ship yord the acquisition OF Seavys
Island rec muerGed by the chief of the Bureau Of
Yards and Docks. should be csrled ipto effect. But
the value of the island has been recently greatly en-
HANGED md its acquisition rcndf red difficult IN cOnse'
qucnce Of road which passes through the yard. and
bridge connecting tho island with the yard which
has been In NY opinion without due consideration.
authorized by Congress II the yard itself not TO be
abandoned the road aud bridge should in Justice TO the
public interest be discontinued, and Seav!'s Island
secured.
CONSTRUCTION OF NAVAL VESSELS.
At the beginning OF the Rebellion tie Department
wds without npprop late VESSELS for chase blockade
Steamers Of the Colorado class could enter no barbors
south Of Hampton Roads but Port ROYAL and even
those of the Hartford class coald enter but few oil The
bocknded ports.
An the vessels constructed before the possessed
only moderate steam power. bu had nearly full sailing
qualities Had the Department expended its energies
AZ the in it, efforts 10 construct vessels
of magnitude III purposes, with machinery capable
Il making fifteen knots per hour has been earnestly
urged we could scarcely hsve completed one such yes
sci before the date # the irl Of Wilmington. Tie DE.
paftnen wit 4out attempting impossibilities directed
H. onei gle, tonccomllnh vhat was practicabe.
Aiter procuring supply II vessels for the blockade.
by ulchaso and construction the next pressing want
was An irop-cad or Hrmored ship capable Of operating
IN our waters and going in oil weaiheTs from port 20
port On public appeal to toe mechanical ingenuity
of our counfymrn tits want supplied br the Moni-
tor tufreted vessel which, soon as completed, vim
dcsed its capaDiiy and the model thus projected has
been adopted and extensively copied abroad. This
class Of ssels stands the undoubied and acknow
edged best defense u shores agGinst any naval
armament at present in existence. Different types Of
iurrcted vesses-all Of them Improvements IN some
oects on the ginG modehaye been constructed.
Several Of the ghi.drGught vessels o' this Gloss draw
ing bot eight feet Of aer completed since the ADJOURN
ment Of Congress. have gore from Boston ana other
points 10 Philadelphia aud Hampton Roads; and one
has made voyage to Charleston =. g.. who're she Is
statoncd and performs with entire satisfaction ell tho
duties required OF her.
uec sites OF this wHfde5iCnd 10 run head or stern
r,werc intended for operation. In the rivers, bayons
aud inner waters that perVdle our southern coast
where u important 20 avoid The diheuty' delay
and risk Of turning round in narrow channels or under
me Al,
when these arrar gerenis he'd been made. and the
YES els immediatelv required we're well under way 80
a. not to be nicreted with delayed bS additional
wof. DEPARTMENT commenced the constraction of a
superior cas OF steamers Of sz' and power suihce nv
TO insure high speed. The most forward OF these ves-
s,ls coud not be- 10 until so6. The delays Gnd en-.
hnIrassmenis which have been experienced demonstrates
the imr0r,nca II not absolute necessity OF nrging
our principal yards and the need of suitable establish.
m.ut Tor the construction OF engines and henyy iron.
work. such "a the department for three years has
steadily urged upon The consideration Of Conc rcss.
FACILITIES FOE RIP lIpiN0 NAVAL vfssrIS
! Tie naval Expenditures which have been moderate
for the work performed sre largcr than they wou'd
otbeIwi- have becn Ia Consequence Of the insufficient
means ard limited area of the several nHyy.yards
without further prov sion IN these respects the Govern
mcnt must always Depend In great deeree on prvete
ssahli- bmenis Tor much Of lis work. THIS is not OBJ
jeciionabe. perhaps In te construction OF nc" hnis
and engines The experience OF the Inst iour years las
taught the value ard importance Of efficient and
reliable private embellishments to aid the Govern
ment m a grent emergency. The prompiness and en-
cry exhibited at some Of these establishments have
been wonderful and oi invaluable service. Until sum
moned 10 assist the Government IN the great struggle
that was upon U.s. the ability power ana resources OF
these private establishments we're not Known nor apPfe
cated. They generally responded WIN Del ana vleor
TO the calls OF the department, ana th'iF annuity w 10
al future wars, give re.iGb!c strength 10 tne
country -,
r. nj laxa Tho a.
connection az private establishments. In making its
contracts ~, vessels and supervising then exeeu
ton the Department will be able to project is'lfi
but that be the regards the c0nSt INT aad
often exten i've repairs required ON vessels which have
been IN service. These cannot be made by contract
and opportunities for fraud sid imposition IN making
repair are 30 great that too many yield To them.
Work il often sighted and imperectiy executed; DIS
astrcus delays intervene: sometimes the JOB WIZ ne
skillfuy nursed by more extended ana elaborate re.
pairs than necessary. The chaIgr ior inateihis
Ind l,hor must OF conrse BE- to considerable extent,
Al the discretion Of those who make the repairs ana II
Is surprising perhaps that me! ha,e frequently
been exnrbtant notwthstGr ding all the vigilance and
rtts that we've exercised to protect the Government.
True economy would be promoted were the Govern.
uent have the necessary WORKSHOPS ana machIrcty
10 Iecute its repairs ~ oil cases Almost az oil tno
f. machinery and engines tor the navy nave D.en con-
t;lucipd AT private establishments ana hey must con-
riIue 30 be constructed until me Government sha's
conclude change ITS policy. In tho Manufacture ol
Heavy shafting and machinery for our naih Nesseh'
which are 10 cruise for months, aud often Tor years
lhfOnd IL ls important lhhi We Nh'u" h"'' "'''
subst initial workman ship and the best materials 50
,Lat the Government can safely rely on the strength
and durability Of its naval representatives, however ie
mole from the country, aud the officers ahd crews
sbuuId be enabled feel sense Of security 80 FAR as
human skiI can mpart ~, in the floating hOues which
the Government may provide.
4 failure in the motive power OF steamer wheh on
cruise or far removed from Establishments where the
necessary repairs can be made. Is calamity against
which every precauton Should he taber'
LAYING UP OF TIE IRoN-CLAuS.
I nj. "a