The New York herald., 1869-12-08

present yard can be sold.
Tne survey Of the island and q plan for hs Inn
provement ID herewith transmitted.
NeaC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS scres OF land on the
Thames river, near New London. were some Tune
by the government with view W the establishments
OF naval station at that place.
ment mas placed proper naval officer In command
there: but II Ia able 70 do nothing towards actually
establishing the new station without An approprla-
the land referred to is well situated on the bank
Of the Thames river. 1t is favorable IN It's general
front OF $3.50 feet running back from the river 6oo
ieet and depth OF water In the channei OF over
1t Il situated IN the midst Of an industrious CON-
munty, whose labor Is sAillul. and cheap, and on
nne harbor easily accessible In all weathers ana from
This land was, as have said, given and received
for the purposes OF q new naval establishment and
slderation of Congress and such appropriation as
present circumstances may warrant
other Yards.-Tnere are two otner points which
REQUIRE consideration and action as soon as the con-
diti0n Of AFFAIRS VIII admit.
The first II the propriety Of increasing the size OF
the yard at Gosp0rL IN Virginia. This yard - in
most favorable location with q beautiful narbor
easily defended The ground adjacent To 1t, run
ming up the river, could be purchased on better
terms now than Is likely to be the case again and
woulu be very valuable, giving the government the
land on Doth sides or the channel
omy winch would ultimately result from the estao-
lisnment Of yard, for repair and rettng at least.
somewhere on our southern Atlantic coast. Al our
ships cruising In the West Indian and south Ameri-
can waLers are oDnged 10 resort at great dsadvan-
tage TO our northern yards Tor all needed renttlng
and repair. Though this subject does not at this
time press with strong necessity many others.
yet s OF great Importance, and may become much
more SO view Of possible ship canal through the
IsIhmus, ana the consequent great increase In the
trade aud impor tance OF the West India islands.
Many improvements, and some ultimate changes,
viii be found IN the report Of inc Cnlef Of the Bureau
OF Yards and Docks, herewith transmitted In con-
nection with the navy yarS, desire 70 call atten.
ton 10 matter which, though not OF great natjhai
importance affects seriously largo class Of deserv
ing persons. the act Of July "A, 1852, prohibits
IL effect the payment Of any wages 70 work.
they are lualiy engaged" This provision winch
does not interfere with salarled employees, seriously
81 n vino are feaas o 70 w9rk W I o1s as
recurring days OF national mourning or ceremony.
This. though apparently small matter, IL OF real
wages they receive each day for the daily support OF
their families, and who, by reason OF their engage
mens with Inc government are are deprived De q otnes
to permit the department to make the WOrkmen
some allowance on days OF accustomed and compui.
sorry leisure.
also call attention to the lands reserved BY
the government for the supply OF timber TO the
navy. From this source We drew our supplies OF
live oak IN former times. No adequate protection
has been given to 1t OF late years. Much OF It was
escaped large anantnes have been lndlscrlminateiy
cnt hy tresnassera and sold to the u0vernment
This timber Is OF the greatest value and It's loss can
nOG be again supplied. once destroyed, we have NO
other timber TO take Its place. The old "Constitu-
tion,n built Of this material more than seventy
years ago, 10 still In commission, with half her more
imDortant original timbers in her while Geets OF
White OAK yessss nave lona since zone to decSv Il
must not be supposed, that with The use or iron IN
shpDuidlng the necessity Tor indestructble timber
Wl no longer exist 1he fact rs thar II must stlll be-
used to great extent In the construction Of CRUISING
MADE tne frames which are bult 10 support
the iron and give bu0yancy to the ship.
Tna sunnles or aeasoned timn laid mn IN onr
Yards nave besn almost ent,rely Consumed. and we
should take every means to preserve ana secure that
which remains on the government lands
loOk after tnese lands huG nothing but arr n0ent
laws strictly onorced w,ii aecure the remainder Of
the Old tsmhar and nrotect the new Urowth
w =" ''' SAVAH xGAnEMY.
The standing of Tho Naval Academy continues Tn
be maintalned The system OF mental and ph yscal
trainnu there pursued 10 OF the hipbest order Cover
ing every bronc OF practical and
edre and rin9 the student for All the varied int,es
NJ me- nrafassin rhe aradua,es hrin1 tn ,Ss ssr
vice minds disclplined and enriched py regular and
well direcred atiidv md bodes strenutned nv many
exercise. IN mental and physical Accomplishment,
i'm tone ana sprt In character and capacity tney do
honor as class to the i0sttution anu to the coun.
try.
No change has been made In the system Of educar
at the close OF the last year was seyenly.aye: the
number OF those admitted during the pfesent year
Was eighty-sx; the total number OF midshipnen
now at the Academy Ii 248. The Vice Admiral for
the last tour years IN charge OF the Academy, and
who has inspired 1t with the energy OF his own char
acter, has been this day relieved by Commodore
John L. Worden, who takes charge as superinten-
dent
The report Of the superintendent for the last year
ls herewith transmitted.
sEAMEN AND PETTY OFFICERS.
But 10 10 not worth while to MAINTAIN expensive
navy yards, build nns ships and carefully educate
ofcers OF higher grades unless we pay closer atteu
non to the character and training OF our petty OIL
GERS ana seamen.
The naval service everywhere presents conditions
OF life, duty and discipline differing from those OF
every other pursuit
Tue nature OF naval operations and the crcum.
stances under which they performed require and
produce these conditions among every people and
under every form OF government. Tney combine to
establish distinct class, With strong features OF re-
aeublance all over the word, and every where differ
Ing from the body OF the country they represent.
Inc DeSt characterlstlcs oil TINS class. both officers
and men, are clearly the results OF the discipline,
training and traditions Of the service In which they
nave been reared ana wherever these traits are