The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1866-12-05

Tho largo unexpended balance In the Treasury at the
under more than one hundred herent heads Many
Of these continuous, have been made for years,
their expenditure will DO protracted through years to
come. and though assisting 70 make mp large balance,
cannot be dispensed with There are large amounts,
Aewever under the heads OF construction" 'tstesm
sagnssrna," 'ordnance,n provisions and clothing"
and 'fuelU which can with propristy revert 70 The
Treasury. No appropriations undor these heads were
made for the current year. and for the ensuing
ore asked In the course Of time the appropria ons
would b exhausted but II Ia not believed 10 no In accord
with sound public policy time OF peace continue
sash large amounts a tho dsposal OF the depart
Liberal appropriations for the naval service were made
Curing the existence OF the war but the funds Of the
department. were always carefully and cally
pended This fact Is attested by helnum claims OF
oo1ractors for reef before Congress; and the
sah V that the department Is able TO complete all the
vsss engines contracted for before the Close OF the
va and designate appropriations TO the amount Of about
90 600 900 that be relnqushed TO the Treasury
nay be otherwise disposed Of by Congress-
has heretofore boon deemed essential to correct ad
0isistSaon that there should b annual estimates for
81 ssr examination BY Congress ana this department.
be- no desire 70 evadc this annual scrutiny.
rHg BURxAcs
mo reports Of the several chiefs Of bureaus and Of the
soSene commandant OF the Marine corps appended,
end referred for fun Information OF the
81 tAsir several depsrmsnA brief abstract only can
Tne bureau Of Navigation has under i,s Immediate
npsrvision the Naval academy, Naval Observatory,
~ naval aprrenticcs and survey Of operations In each
Of ess departments Is given In the report OF the Chief
- the Bureau. The subject Of the local deviation Of
ssmpassss arising from the use Of large quantities OF
non In the construction Of vesaels-ofwar occupying
eAs stcntion Of ths bureau, and the results OF
1Dportant observations will soon be made public To
COLLECT data for this purpose an officer especially
ssnt 70 San Francisco 10 the ironclad Monadnock. A
photographic Once has boon established In this city
sdsr authority Of an act Of Congress passed Al its ss
sonspn II Will be the central depot from which charts
ealing directions and nautical books In general will 10
ma hn,d fort hcA Mas II Ar.d
tsedby Congress will soon be commenced; other inn
vsosmsnts have bcen completed rhs superintendent
Ssd % the insirumenss Of thai institution great transit
eEncb which restores the observatory 70 the of
Arst GLASS institution and will larycy extend Its sphere
Of usefulnesa The result thus far Of the naval ap-
Drsnce system has not In the opinion OF the CHIEF OF
ths Bureau, disappointed the expectations Of its most
TN Chisf Of the Bureau or Ordnance reports the sale
during the past year Of unseccabe and surplus
powder 70 tho amount Of s337 sS4 Other ordnance
bsrA which the Close OF the has left hand and
Dot resdsd for The present prospective wants Of the
squairons WIN be disposed Of He that the
satisfactory results have been attained with guns cast
s,shg solid hollow and nothing has irsnpTsd abroad
In TIN efforts 10 produce steel steel and wroagh, ron
gun ,eer than ours 10 induce fear that cast iron ord
nan0 will be surpassed In any essential OF endurance
stthS o. smooth bore or rifea In gun carriages do.
sidct has been made the substitution
II inn for the cumbersome wood 80 long IN use
end carriage has recently been designed upon which
nsn inch gun bs safely handled IN any weather In
vhica an action may be fought a, sea
reports that hundred and thry.oue tons OF hemp
II .aiae Of e296 49, have been used the govern
nent ropewalk at Chariestown. A Board has been
xanid examine and test the comparative strength OF
wire and hemp rope with view to Va general In.
PRODUCTION INTO the navy shoud ,he report be fayorab
II 10 believed that, by the OF wire instead Of hemp
rope, a vessel Of the Wabash Glars viii be relieved
81 over four tons weight aloft ard that there will be
large saving In the original cost well increased
durability tho rigging Of vessel The coal contracts
fer current year are for 20 900 tons delivered Al rhs
New York at 81 2s per But little coal hsa
lbroad during the year Especial attention u
vitcd the suggestions relative 20 the enlistment Of
sesmsn both for the naval and merchant ssrvicee.
The report OF the Chief OF tho bureau Of Construction
snd Repair Ia chiefly occupied with the prospective
wants Of bis department. 10 place the governments
oockyards such condition a. the experiences Of tho
past ew years shown 10 be necessary Tor ehcect
ssrvae, win require The erection Of anuu,6sr % ncw
pnidngs The views OF the chief OF the bureau are de-
hhed With some minuteneas, and should command Az.
hntm During the war II became necessary 70 buiid
many vessels Of uuseasoned timber but snch vessels
se oy laying IN for future iarae supply, parc-
nnny os osk and yellow pine timber special appropr.
ioi lev year, for ths purpose are reconmendod
Durn VOC year TIE force in the yards has been
PRINCIPALLY engaged In placing In efficient condition the
vesses which had been almost constantly employed
durnf the war; and but little progress has been made
spon he huils Of the new vesrslx
Ibechei OF The bureau OF steam Engineering REPORTS
toa' NJ new vork has been undertaken during the yesr
ton commenced before the clos. q, DC war ana 4
Snmbsr % engine. are csmp,stsd. for which the
vssss have ses been eomRssosd MS yiu be ASss