The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1869-12-07
THE NAVY.
Annual Report OF the Secretary.
Largo Expenditures asked for.

Nh' nsAEcuuttufeh hhA6u IOfs
WASHINGTON, Dec. @.
The report OF the Secretary OF the
navy details at length the employ
ment OF vessels In active service as fol-
lows: North Atlantic squadron l2 YES.
sells, ~ guns; South Atlantic squadron
4 vessels, 43 guns; Pacific fleet IA ves-
sels, lG9 guns, Including she frigate
Gurrierie now reflttlng at New York q;
European squadron 6 vessels. 1O6 guns;
Asiatic squadron 10 vessels, 70 guns.
The commander Of the North Allan.
tlc squadron while preserving strict
neutrality between the conIendIng
powers In Cuba Ia to permit no Injustice
10 citizens OF the United States, 10 pre-.
vent interference with our commerce
and ut once to repel and punish any
disrespeot or violation OF our flag, The
other squadrOns all need reinforce
ment, and the action Oi Congress Is
invoked for the means OF adding
largely TO their efficiency. The service
needs, says the Secretary, and the po.
sition OF our country requires, u great
Increase In the effective force OF the
Navy; not so much In the number OF
ships that constitute 1t, but in the
number and character Of those en-
ployed. He recognizes the necessity
Tor close economy in expenditures
under the recent circumstances OF
the country, but the naval expenses
make but a small part OF the
national appropriations, and the true
wealth OF the country will not be in-
creased by negleoting the means Of ma
tional safety and honor. More money
will be lost than saved by refusing ade-
quate justice and protection 10 com>
mercial enterprise.
The Secretary earnestly urges the
propriety OF commencing at once the
building ofsea-golng iron-clads, sulta>
Die to cruise on foreign stations, and
able to protect our commerce and vim
dictate our principles In any emergen.
cy. This will ultimately require
no less than ten, and without at
tempting t0 build them all at once,
we should commence Immediately
on fOur,-0ne for the Asiatic; one
for the Pacific, and two for the
European squadron. He recommends
that the plans for boilers and engines
OF these vessels be submitted by per.
sons outside OF the Navy, the best of
which may be adopted. These, with
some additions 10 our wooden vessels
and the proper employment Of auch
edectlve ships as we now have, and
with our monitors and torpedoes for
harbor defence, will give us Navy
sufficient to command respect abroad
and to afford time In case or stubborn
war To organize and apply the resources
OF our people. The Secretary also
urges that the monitors be provided
with additional armor and late im~
provementS In ordnance for harbor de-
fence; that means be given for the per-
lection Of system OF sub-mHrine tor
pedoes; that the large number of vessels
and large amount OF machinery on
hand unadapted to the naval ser
vice be sold; that inducements should
be held out 20 our merchants and ship
builders to build ocean steamers on
plans approved by the Navy Depart
ment, subject, In case Of necessity, to
be taken by the Government at an ap-
praised value.
The improvement OF the Navy Yards
and building OF more dry docks are
recommended; rs Is the re6tting OF the
Pensacola Yards; great increase In the
capacity oi Mare Island Yard; imme-
diAte commencement OF works ut
League Island, In the Delaware river
at New London: increase In the size Of
Gosport Yard aud the establishment Of
another yard on the Southern Atlantic
Coast; passage OF n stringent law for
the protection OF timber lands, and
the adoption OF measures for the In.
crease OF the Navy, including the train.
ing OF boys and the education OF men
for warrant and petty officers, and the
registration OF all seamen In the United
States.
The estimates for next year are made
on the basis OF twelve thousand men,
an increase OF four thousand, which IL
is hoped will be approved.
The actual expenditures for the year
ending, December LIST, $2O, ,0Sl, ,2S5. The
estimates for the fiscal year. ending
December 20, 1871, are 81, S2O, ,G67.