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

peCultnr}y o1nDte0 - cOoGt Qofonc0L slf
Ths impression sought 70 - crested that thsss vessels
could not venture outside the harbon where they were
constructed as all events that they could proceed
the Monsdnock which, after navigating the Atlantic and
Pacific reached San Francisco In safety The kiantono-
mob, enoher monitor Of the same type - the honad-
mock crossed the Atlantic passed up the Baltic 70 Cron
sadt and has visited many Of the principal ports OF Eu-
rope These vessels have, In these two voyages dis.
prsjudices which had been created, and proved the
ability Of the turreted vessels TO perform long voyages
when required
Great credit Is due TO Commodore John Rodgers and
the officers and crew who were charged with the
labor responsibility and risk Of indicating the navi-
y val yssseis To Lieutenant Commsnder Francis
N. Bunce who volunteered to navigate the Monadnock
to San Francisco and performed that duty. which many
possibility honor and prasS and promotion due for
perseverng and successful daring Service suoh Is his
cannot Otherwise than DO appreciated and rewarded ~
Rear Admiral Goldsborough, in despatch dated tho
7th Of November, 1863, says:-"1he pilot who went
experience, told me that be in his life saw yes.
sol behave better than the Niantonomoh and for his
part as far q safety was ne would % Wiling
the Russian navy who took passage In the Mantonomoh
from Hamburg 70 Cherbourg, also told that he was
midst Of heavy blow and encountered just after
leaving the Elbe, and that he was In my place he
would prefer being board Of her 70 The Colorado In
Decd no spoke in the highest terms With regard TO her
merits on the OCCASION"
THE NAVY YARDS.
During the past year the operations Of the several
navy yards have With view 70 economy been reduced
to the lowest limit consistent with the public In
tersst On several vessels work has boon altogether
suspended and on others only 90 much has boon done
was necessary TO enable the contractors for the
steam machinery to place portions Of Their engines 10
the hula Six vessels Of the class intended for high
speed been launched and Also three others In which
the steam power has been somewhat reduced In order TO
increase tho armament Steam machinery for twelve
vessels Of tho class referred TO Ii In advanced
condition. and tho department 10 under contracts made
during the war; 10 provide the vessels In which these
engines are TO DO placed has however, been ,S con
being pressing necessity for this class OF vessels since
hoses have ceased, TO mako temporary ARRANGEMENTS
for storing the machinery and postpone the construction
we have in our navy yards too few ship houses. As
matter Of economy ships should be built under cover
Protection from tho weather not only facilitates tho
work during construction but II retained for any period
the stocks adds greatly TO the durability Of the ship
after completion.
Fourteen ships are now In the course Of construction
the several yards of which nine ship houses
and five exposed to the weather Over these last
temporary covers being erected
These vessels and others hastily built during the war;
are constructed great extent Of unseasoned timber
and for that IS best that they should remain
the stocks longer period than would be otherwise
quired The vessels which are In tho course Of con-
strucon can BIO launched whenever IT may be necessary
to for Others for which the steam machinery
is being manufactured Four of the vessels which
tho stocks ir0n-clads, larger and much
formidable than the Mantonomoh and those of her class
prepared and ready for erection whenever 1t may be
considered advisable to launch them.
strcted or are aost Il has been deemed expedient 10
have class of smaller vessels which, in many cases,
the purposes OF the government with greater
economy than the larger vessels particularly In time Of
The want OF a sufficient number OF building shops,
ship houses and cry docks has been serious embarass
There should be an increase OF all these for tho ef
ciency OF the depends in great degree having
an adequate number OF each
There are In tho single navy yard Of Portsmouth Eng
land eleven dry docksm0re than threc times the
Der that have at all our yards, for there h only
single permanent dry dock At any ono yard and but
three in oil OF them With these limited means, and
under these disadvantages the department has been
period Of great and exacting trial Had we war With
maritime power, whore naval oombats would BIO fire.
quent and cruising active tho necessity for more docks
The supplies or timber at the different yards have
boon exhausted during the rebellion, and II will
b true economy 70 provide an abundance %
and smbarrassments recently experienced may
be avoided. Our former policy many years since, was
countries have wisely furnished themselves with this
material Commodore Steedrnan, In o recent communi.
cation from Cs.hagsns IN Spain wresM % an 10.
In this yard which came from Florida while 1t was yet
colony OF Spain"
matcly, to great extcn supersede wood but such
the resources OF timber In this country that wooden
vessels will. for some time 70 come constitute large
For the construction ofron and armored vessels It
can only be repeated that although country the
VsnsaSes in hat regard We arc almost wholly unprs
pared In future maritime the contests between the
great naval powers for supremacy on tho OCEAN will be
determined chiefly BY iron clad or armorod ships Our
turcted vessels monitors viii be powerful and effect
i've for haror and coast Defence but conflict with any
s VI" %
Armorsd vssssls for cruising, must necessarily
be Of large size. which cannot with the requisite
strength, DO secured In wooden structures II attempted,
the immense Of timber rapidly decay and
tho cost resulting from deterioration will such no
sconomicsl ana prudent na.on VII consen. 20 sustain
sails, for no vessel can long keep the sea
under steam alone Such vessels rs here suggested
though private enterprise do much In aid OF the
navy the pecuartes Of iron vessels for naval purposes
are such that private parties cannot undertake the work
establishment well as the vessels for there be
other customer than tho government for such work
In this view Of the subject II Is plainly the interest OF
the government TO erect Ia own shops and machinery,
aud TO possess lts establishment for tbs
Of It's iron and armored naval vosses Several years Of
preparation will DO required to provds the necessary
appliances for such establishment and q special
and convenient location, with ample area, should
dry dock is Indispensable and for navy there
should be suitable shops and accommodations tor the
The navy yards at Norfolk and Pensacola which were
almost totally destroyed during the war; require large
expenditures to place them In condition TO be efficient
They have been occupied naval stations since tho
government recovered possersion, and some repairs
have beon 81 oach but the dispidated walls aud
remnants Of the former establishments remain in
dton which renders them scarcely It for occupany
use This Ia more particularly the at Pensacola
where only outbuildngs and stables escaped de-
structon. These concerted into temporary
quarters FOR the officers duty that station From
the limited appropriations which have been made
progress has been effected towards restoration Nor
folk The destruction at this yard 8, thorough
and complete ss 81 Pensacola
Tho yard at Norfolk H. In q national point OF view,
ons OF the most important well one Of the best
located In the Uned States II Is the only Southorn
yard on the Atlantic coast Is accessible In all seasons
has OF the best harbors IN tho country, and 10 In
evsry respect favorably situated with many natural
for q naval establishment. There is al
this yard - permanent dry dock. which,
der all the Disadvantages that have existed, has
been immense service the government In the repair
and rcntmcnt OF vessels without the delay and additional
expense that would have been incurred In sending lhem
farther north since tho termination OF the rosa
OF tho machinery which belonged there has boon
cred, and portions Of It put In operation But In order
that this yard may be placed proper working condi-
ton Ill comparable with IL former state OF efficiency
and adeuuas the future VantA the service much