The Cadiz sentinel. [volume] (Cadiz, Ohio) 1864-1911, 1865-12-20
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Abstract of Secretary Wells Re
....E port. -.

/; The Secretary Of the Navy states in his
Report that the steamers bought from the
merchant service for war purposes have, to
a great extent, returned to their former pur--
suits. He reviews the services of the north
and south Atlantic squadrons in the taking
Of Wilmington and Charleston, and of the
west gulf squadron, which received the sur
render of Mobile on the 18th of April and
the formal surrender of the insurgent navy
on the 10th of ofMaytIS64. Immediately az
ter the fall of Fort Fisher and Wilmington,
measures were taken for the reduction of the
navy, which have been Continued until, at
the present time, there are actually in COM
mission at home and abroad but one hun
dred apd,seveHteen vessels of all descrip-
tions: and this number will probably be.fur-
ther reduced as soon as the domestic trou-
bles are fully overcome. The foreign squa-
dron is re-estahlished, and is considered suf-
fcient for the encouragement and protec-
ton of our commerce. Three hundred and
twenty-five officers proved traitors to the
government when the war begun. The If
places have been filed efficiently with vol;
unteer officers from the merchant service
and it is recommended that appointments
! from their number be added to the navy ser
vice. On the 4th of March, 1851, AIS. YES
| sells had been purchased alta cost of $lS,-
1861. Ofthese $40 have been sold for
$5.62l, ,S00E+ ~. f'sf s ~
The Secretary suggests thorough survey
of the islands on the Pacifcepast. The his
tory of the Sea King, alias the Shenandoah,
is givon. 1t reflects no credit upon the neu-
trality of England. The enlargement Of
the Boston and New York navy yards is
urged. and the completion of the yard at
Mare Island on theP Pacific; also the rebuild
ing of the yards at Norfolk and Pensacola.
League Island is recommended as site for
building the yard for iron calds, As to- the
healthiness OF iron -clads, the statistics show
that they are equal, if not superior to ordin'
ary vessels 10 I'M -.'a'.F t'
The number of midshipmen at the nava
academy at Annapolis, Nd, is 49, Oh
chose who present themselves for examina.
tion one-ffth fail to pass. In the physical
or mental examination after admission near;
ly 50 per cent faiito pass the first year, and
| finally, only, about rs per cent of those who
enter the academy succeed. The Secretary
4 race mmcuds the appointment of half o.
\ tie ,midshipmen from enlisted apprentices
and the remainder from Congressional dis
4 tricts. He also recommends thatan eligible
I site tor o naval academy, embracing an area
Of not less than, one thousand acres, be Sc
.Eleoted; that the laws Of December ri, 1851
and July Is, 1862, for the regulation of tht
tpay Of workmen in the public service, be re
\ pealed and that two separate asylums fo
soldiers and sailors be built. The nuulbg
I OF vessels captured and sent to the court
for adjudication from May /, 1861. to tn,
close Of the rebellion, was rl.l5l, gross pro
ceeds of properly captured since the block
ade, prior to November |, 1854, $2I 1929
4 SAB; expenses, 81, GIG, ,223; estimate for tn,
department for the year ending June 80
| 1867, 1923, 9s2,45n !, Secretary Weles state
that the expenses for the navy department
since the epmmencement,of the. war, hay,
been but 1910. per cent, of the expendi
: lures of the government during the sam
, time. The marine corps i, reported in
condition oreditabIe to the officers am
men. tzrh .9-s = te y r