The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-06
T II & NJ A " Y.
Report of Secretary Robeson The
Operations of the Year and
Present Status of Our
Navy.

The following are the most material portions of
the annual report Of General George NJ Robeson,
Secretary Of the Navy which was transmitted to
Congress at noon to-day
The head OF this department has been twice
changed since the sending in of the last annual re-
port and the report for this year therefore in
cude the operations carried on during that time,
former Secretary Of the Navy, under that of my
immediate predecessor, Mr.. Borie and myself
or the period extending from the date OF the last
annual report to the coming in of the present admin
straon, the detailed reports of the several bureaus
naturally incomplete, and am, OF course, with
out authoritative information OF the ideas which at
that time governed the operations OF the department.
1t becomes me, therefore, to speak OF 1t only in
the navy at the commencement OF this administra-
ton, state only results as the surest test Of prnci-
pies and practice.
Naval Force In MnrcI, 1869.
When my immediate predecessor came into ONCE,
on the 9TH day of March last the Navy OF the United
sells of all classes, and in every condition.
These measured one hundred and eighty-three
and were calculated to carry, when in commission,
thirteen hundred and siXty-siX d36d guns, exclu-
sive of howitZers.
or these ships one hundred and ffty-one d5D were
wooden, and ffty-two were iron-clad or monitors.
or the wooden ships thirty-two 1927 were sailing
auxiliary sail power; forty-four 44) were steamers,
without any efficient sail power; and twenty-five
(22l were without sail power of any Kind.
The iron-cads are all steamers, relying wholly on
steam under all circumstances.
Inadequacy of Force.
1t is apparent that these means were utterly in
adequate to the ends to be attained, and that our
small fleet on these Stations consisting Of forty three
48) vessels mounting three hundred and fIfty-siX
1866 guns, with tonnage of forty thousand and
hfty-twO 40,052) tons, was too small in number and
too weak in character force, and condition to per-
form the service required by the ideas of the Gov
ernment and the expectations OF our people. Crus-
ing on the same seas ana with duties not more
various and extended, France has over one hundred
and fifty Q50) ships in commission, OF tonnage OF
250,OOO tons; while England has, crowded into the
same area, no less than hundred and ninety-one
Q91 ships, with tonnage of 32s 600 tons, with her
lying squadron ready to reinforce her power when
ever occasion may require.
The neets of other nations rival, and some surpass
ours III their number, size, and charabter; and in
fact, our position on the seas was maintained only
by the spirited and untrlng energy OF our officers,
and pervading belief in the latent resources OF our
country ard the energies of our people
Whnt has Since been Done.
With such material in this condition, the depart
ment at the commencement OF the administration,
found itself charged with the duty OF maintaining
the naval power OF the Government in every part OF
the world required to protect on every sea, the in
teress OF the dominant and responsible nation OF the
western Contlnent, whose DOunuaries stretch TO the
shores of either ocean, whose people aspire to rival
those Of the whole world in every field OF enterprise
and whose Government Is pledged TO the interests OF
freedom, civilization, ana progress and at the same
time TO he prepared with reserved power and the
means of applying it, available in every emergency
for defense and aggression.
The result has already been large saving Seye-
raj of our most effective cruisers have consumed no
coal for months. 1t can be shown by figures that
this system OF giving and requiring the general use
of full sail power besides its effect to make sailors
OF both officers and men, will, on the vessels in
tended to be kept in commission calculating that
they cruise but tWothirds OF the tmel make in the
item Of coal alone, as consumed under the old sys-
ten, saving Of more than two millions OF dollars
per annum.
Our monitors and iron-clads were also placed in
the hands OF the mechanics, and put in thorough
repair -Four OF the largest have gone into commits
sion as part OF our available cruising force and the
rest are kept, at small expense, in complete order
so that the whole fleet can be ready for service in
weeks time.
or course so much work could not be done without
considerable expenditure of money, but by close
economy and q system of strict accountability, the
sum OF this expenditure has, up to the present time
been kept considerably below the amount OF the eX-
penses of the department for the period OF the
last year,
Since the 1st OF March, 1869, no less than eighty
S0) vessels of every class have been repaired or
navy yards yet the books Of the Treasury will show
decrease in the expenditures of the department
for that time, as compared with the corresponding
period OF 1865 OF three million Ave hundred and
twenty-one thousand eight hundred and twenty-five
dollars and ninety-tWO cents ($3, ,S2292). The
statement hereto annexed, entitled Exhibit Of eX-
pendture" viii show the ships repaired, and the
monthly expenditure OF the department
The Present Force and It's Employment on the
= 77TH Various stations.
The North Atlantic Squadron now consists Of the
Powhatan, Tuscarora, Severn, Albany, Nantasket,
Nipsic Seminole, Swatara, and the tugs SpeedWeli
and Standish, together with two heavy iron-clads,
ths Sangus and Dictator, twelve C2) vessels inclu-
ding tues and mounting in all seventy-sX I6) guns
u il commanded by ReaI-Admiral Charles II. Poor,