Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1868-12-09
han in preceding years for the same amount of

than in preceding years for the same amount of
work.
property at our navy yards is duty prompted
by economy ana dictated by n proper regard
tor the public interest. Work should not be
wholly suspended on the ships which have
been commenced and are not vet finished, but
they should be completed, and gradually
launched, and brought INTO service as they
NAV be wanted.
TIce-Admira! Porter continues in charge of
the Naval Academy. The high standing of the
institution confines to be maintained and the
officers yearly added 10 the service possess the
advantage OF excellent academic culture with
professions discipline. The number of grad u
ates a the close of the last academic year was
-; the mum Der OF admissions the present year,
10; total numoer OF midshipmen now at the
academy, 2s6.
The act of June II, 1865, limits the number of
persons authorized TO be enlisted in the navy,
including apprentices and boys, to eight tn ou-
sand five hundred and no more. TINS limita-
ton, which is actually below the maximum
which existed prior to the war, has compelled
the Department to reduce the numo Der of naval
apprentices. "A discontInuance of general en-
listments was ordered Immediately On the pas
sage OF the act, and discharges have taken place
10 such an extent as 10 require the Department
10 put one of the school ships out of commits
sion. The necessity for this step is To be re-
GREETED, because policy had been adopted for
me future Of the navy, which, If properly en-
couraged and sustained, would have furnished
both the naval and commercial marine with
body of mariners of IN surpassed excellence.
IN We" OF tue rapidly increasing IDtercOu
between western America and ASA, of the
growing commerce of the Pacific States, and of
the important and various interests which are
srringing mp in connection with our recent
extensive acquisitions, it is important that a
more complete and systematic survey should
be made Of the North Pacific ocean.
The Department has continued previous ar
engagements for the custody and preservation
Of the iron -clad fleet which il has on hand
These vessels can be seryIceable only In time
Of war. and the probabilities are that with a
rFlg 4 ff,a.,,
other causes, greatly deteriorate and not I'M
likely become useless before they will be
needed for service.
1t has been and still is the opinion of the De-
partment that the true policy of the govern
mentis to dispose if posi- BILE, of all the vessels
OF The classes whose sale has been authorized
by Congress. To keep them entails a large an
nual expense upon the government, and in a
few years If unused they will become value
less as vessels-of-war. and will have to be
broken mp and disposed of as old material
The naval pension roll on the list of Novem.
Der, le6c, shows 1870 persons, receiving u total
amount of S3iI ,03l. 10.
There has been during the year an increase
on the pension list of PAS persons, calling for
S27,2t2. Sc.
During the year the naval pension fund has
been Increased Sl,OO0,0U0, making total at the
present time OF Sli,OO0,OOO.
The Secretary again calls attention to the fact
that the present pension laws make no pro-
vision Tor pensions 10 the families of the ad
mlral, vice admiral, rear admirals, commo.
and again urges that suitable provision be-
ma de in each of these cases.
The available resources for the current fiscal
year ARE s3i,572,Ui5.I2.
The estimates for the fiscal year ending June
81, $40, are as follows:
Pay of officers and seamen OF the
navy. ...............S7,3S9,726 g.
Repairs of buildings, docks, and in
cdental expenses in navy yards. 1895 996 90
Pay of civil establishment in navy
wards, hospitals, &c........... 425,s3o IS
Ordnance, repair of magazines, &c. 45OOU0 o.
Coal, hemp, and equip ments. 10000 90
Navigation and navigation sup
plies. ...................... 907.5OO %
Naval Academy. ............ 2l0.5Si ~
Naval Observatory and Nautical
Almanac ................... 4O.5O0 %
Repair and preservation of vessels 3,7gO,5O0 M
Steam machinery, tools, &c....... 1.3n5,0N 90
Provisions and clothing. 1,672, 800 90
Repairs OF naval hospitals and la
oOratorles. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. 56.Wn hc
Contingent expenses. 1874 800 ~
Support OF Marine corps. 1,174,761 -
Otdl S2o.95jilf %
The estimates now submitted are for $500
men, including apprentices, the number es-
tabiished by the act approved on the 18th of
last June.
In the Bureau reports, the commandant of
the Marine Corps reports the force in the best
possible condition OF efficiency and discipline,
and the barracks and public property IN their
charge well cared for and in admirable order.
A reduction Of the force corresponding TO tia:
entire strength of the corps, officers and men,
is now but 2.JOu. The marine barracks in
Washington. built of indifferent material
nearly 20 years ago, are represented as rapidly
crumhling TO decay. and ic such r di.apidated
condition that II will be imposs bic for the
troops much longer TO occupy them. The ne
cessity for the erection Of new barracks, which
has tesn repeatedly urged, is again respectful
" recOrorn ended.
l. The Secretary, in concluding his eighth an.
nual report. says ii hes fallen 10 his lot 10 sus
tain a greater responsibility, and 10 have a
much more eventful and varied, as well
longer experience in this department than any
one OF his predecessors. While he claims no
exemption from error. il is gratifying re iiec-
ton that the duties entrusted to him have been
a ceptably performed. and that the record
which commentaries the services and achieve
ments Of our naval heroes, also bears evidence
through most important period of Onr coun-
tryS history, of 4 not unsuccessful admins
tTaton OF our val affairs In the same con-
nectiOu he pays Inerited tribute TO the SER
vices Of those associated with bin In the re-
spoons lille duties OF his department.