New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1869-12-07
THE NAVY REPORT.

When my immediate predecessor came ihIo
office On tho 9th day OF March last the navy OF the
United States consisted OF 2O3 vessels OF all Glasses anu
in every condition.
These measured 1s3.42 tuns. and were Calculated 70
carry when in commission. 1866 guns. exclusive OF now
itzers.
or those ships l51 were wooden and 81 we're ironcad
or monitors.
OF the wooden ships 81 were sailing vessels % "ero
steamers with some auxiliary saipower "A were steam
ers without any efficient saipower and % were Without
apower OF any kind
The ironclads arc all steamers relying Wildly oH e
under all circumstances.
or all these classes only ~ vessels. including store
sbps mounting $50 guns of every caliber were attached
10 fleets or returning thegerom Six more, mounting 20
GUNS were In commission for special SERVICE anu sA
others at the various stations recevingshps lhese
together with IA tugs and small vessels attached 10 inc
various navy-yards and stations constituted the whole
force Of the Navy at that time effective for immediate
service IL has since been found necessary 20 oeI J
Sole on foreign stations of these vessels which
we're condemned as unfit for service and unsafe TO send
home and % more OF them have been ordered hOuo
he yarous navyyards repair and alteration, or SAFE
INT one shin the Juniaa, at Philadelphia, was under
repair at the time OF the coming IN OF the present
istrauon The remainder oil the Navy not Ia
FgSt Foriy.six ron.cads and monitors OF every class
laid mn al various stations, none OF which could DO sOV
readv for service without thorough Overhaung and ex
pensive repairs to bus, turrets. ana machneryS %
Which had been condemned and ordered to be sold as
not adapted TO our 20 OF them never having Doon
Seo1. Tyentytyo vessels Of every class yet on the
stoc,s and on which work had been suspended =.
Thrd: Sixty.sx vessels laid up in ordinary or unht
for active service in the future. -
CRUISING STATIONS AND DUTIES, AND FORCE OF EACH
IN MARCH, 1862
For the better distribution Of our fOrce the neiu OF our
naval operations Is divided into five cruising stations
known respectively the North and South Atlantic, the
Pacific. tho European, and the Asiatc ,,, :.
The extent and limits these stations carefully de-
fined and may be readily traced and TO each are as
signed such proportions Of the available force AS the ex
tent and circumstances OF each may from time 10 ho
require. - - .,ns 90, or,rtoNs
OF the 80 vessels which composed these several meets
not more in condition for real service some
have been condemned as unseawOEthy, ana mosu a
required considerable repairs to bring them TO lhe most
Wp elective force was st further reduced by tho
fact that our monitors and roncads ald up since Tue
war had received ia the mean Time niue care tnoy
were found when the attention OF the Department. was
directed TO them, in a state Of rapid deterioration HUNS
turrets and machinery tho most costly ana powerful
fst losing their vaue and Of the whole fleet Of monitors
relied upon by the country iSr sndsn nTS
Board for the .nspecon of steam macHineiy' Oh
which Rear-Admiral Goldsborough was President, was
constituted by Mr. Borie and irom thelr IePolr' @
attached IL will be seen that mauy Othef Oh our e9Se
6es s,telnents may be permitted TO say without
imputlng blame 70 any one, exhibit our navy AT 10"
rbb-a condition the cause OF which may doubtless DO
found III the vast expenditure OF 9aenai HunGG g.,
great war m the exhaustion which followed IL, anu III
sense OF the burdens had imposed affecting aiAe THO
Department, Congress- aud the people, - ,,.,, ,
no restore our small fOrco 10 an effective condoh ana
70 III
yning field OF operations In the shortest possible Ge
with tho material at hand, and Without aautIOn 10 wy
itself and to its accomplishment all The energies OF the
Department have been bent .,. ,,
1t viii appear from the FOREGOING ,,t w '
there ships IN the yards at home redy or sS
or which could be made effective WITHOUT @
eXpcuditure OF both money and time, large proportion
of those on foreign stations needed extensive repair III"
Fa meet these difficulties work renewed vigorously
at AIN the NayyYad and as fast as possible our shps III
ordinary were put IN condition Tor service. ,.o,.
ff.4l.tF
as fast as they could be spared from ihelr sat1H7
More than Onc-hal Of the whole Iacinc 'et nave Deeh
ar are being repaired at Mare Island. Nearly az the
vessels of the North Atlantic feet have been sent home
from tine TO time for the same purpose. ,o,,
The Department IS convinced tudt, by TINS sySlem com
Jiued win iudcious and practical seetuoh oI sHiitr
aud more eilcc,ly ehslu', and ~ Inc same
tns have already bccn discontinued, and orders have
csnispcd IN the cOmmaudauts OF the squadrOus, direct
iu t,n not to permit the consumption 81 coal Tor pu
,se ~,lh c1nId be as well performed under sai and
p V,I, a Trrort 10 the Department Of any deviation
from the general rule, with The reasons loF II ID ea0H
Our monitors and Ironcads were also placed IN the
hands OF tho mechanics and put IN thoiough repair
Tour o the rrcs; have gone into commission a. part o
onr available cruising force aud the rest ar. kept ut
small EXPENSE in complete order, 30 Hat tue Nhoo 'c
can be ready Tor service IN weeks time; q,
Since the Ist March, 1902 no less than 50 vessels o.
every have been repaired or altered or put IN pro-
cess Of repair az tho various YET lho D9oa OF
the Treasury will show decrease IN tue expenditures
OF the department for that time as compared Win tho
corresponding period Of 1853, % t3 .22 ~ Tho state
inent hereto annexed. entitled EKhiD Of expenditure
will show The ships repaired aud Tie monthly eAVeha'
TnE PRESENT ToEeh AND ms EMPLOYMENT on TIE
The North Atlantic Squadron now consists OF the Pow
hatau TuscarurG. Severn Albany Ndutasket, Np,lc,
seminole Svaara. aud the tug, speedwcl and standsh
together with the Two heavy roncads' the sangus ana
Dictator 70 vessels, me uding tugs ahd mounting ID az
70 guns II IL commanded by Rrar-Admral Charles H.
Poor who relieved RearA1mral Hon on tho 18TH day OF
September last .-,.,,.., .. ,,o no,,r,
nent WAS not able first 20 show the force III the West
Indian waters which the protection OF our Interests there
seemed 10 demand. some ontragos on American cLens
Inv the Spanish authorities OF the ISLAND reported, In
consequence of which EearAdmiral Hon. then IN com
maud directed TO proceed To Santiago do CUBA 70 III
yesticate the matter and take measures for the better
protection American citizens and Interests He exc
ports have been made basis OF negotiation for redress
and this timely show Of power no further aggressons
The south Atlantic Squadron now consists Of the Ian
caster (hag-ship Quinnebhng wasp, aId portsmouth,
four vessels mounting - guns, ana under the command
OF Rear.Admrl Joseph Lannan III IL hlghy important
that this fleet should be increased as mere Is not a. tns
and commerce the coast 0I Brazil ana IN the regions OF
In consequence OF the war existing between Brazil
and Paraguay. the navy has been frequently called
upop 10 nI'I iRUG and the departmrnt desires 70
send there as soon as practicable vessels oil ght draft
which viii be- able 20 ascend the rivers OF the Argentine
Confederation and Paraguay. ,
Turner with Commodore VIM Rodgers Taylor. and Com
modore d. McDougal, commanding the respective
squadrons. consists now OF u vessels, the
Kearsarge, Lackawanna, Osspee, Mohlcan, Resaca'
Cyane Jamestown Saginaw, DacOtah. baranac Nyack,
Onward aud the Gucrriero (rehiu), with tho Pensa-
cola as flagship mounting in all l29 guns. OF these,
The ten last named have been being thoroughly
pared aud altered In the manner hereinDefore mem
Toned and the feet though smaller IN number, Is
already much effective for the duties OF that
| station.
The Rear. Admral.cOmmandln the station has visited
tho Sandwich Islands during tho last summer, for the
purpose Of communication with our Minister and look
ing after American interests In that locality lie has been
charged with the superintendent and completion OF
the surveys Of the Midway Islands, for which, and for
the purpose OF removing distractions Congress made an
appropriation It's last session. Tho department. has
entered contract for the execution OF this work with
Mr.. George W. Townsend or Boston
The naval OperatOns Tho PacIo for the last year