Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1870-12-05
EVENING STAR.
DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF
NAVY

these, - are of the irOn-clad OF monitor class.
Of the remainder 20 are sailing vessels without
any steam power, and the balance steamers or
sailing vessels with auxiliary steam power. of
these. - vessels, including store and hospital
sliIs. mounting i65 guns, are attached TO the
several fleets, and four others, mounting guns
are n commission for special service These
with six receiving ships at the various stations
and tie tugs and small vessels on duty a. the
navy-yards and stations. make the naval force
nov in commission. Ten Others. mounting IL
SuIs, are ready Tor sea, and will JON the seve-
Ia -tels A. >OVn a. they receive their compile
mem q men heSe. however, cannot be en-
llsleC I'LL the ships which are returning to this
county shall have dIs chaI ged their crews. OF
The remainder whose names are borne on the
register, j. are on the stocks in various stages
OF fcrwaTdness, Is are under repair at the va
Tous yards, and the balance laid up in
ordinary. or a unit for service or repair.
The United States at peace with all ma
tons, and the duties Of the navy have been
where those Of active hostility. But the atti-
tuce OF this branch of the public service must
always be IN some degree warlke, since it
represents abroad the military power of the
government, and, displaying everywhere the
rag OF the country, Is expected to protect the
rights which that represents from the attacks
CT baTbaric ignorance and the encroachments
OF civilized power.
Almost every foreign mail during the past
year has brought, through the appropriate
channels, to the Navy Department from our
citizens and representatives in every quarter
Va TIC giooC requests, which are sometimes
peals, Tor that assurance OF safety and protec-
ton abroad which is only afforded by the pres
ence OF an armed vessel OF the government.
On our own continent, war in the West Indies
and complications on the fishing -banks have
called simultaneously tor the presence of our
cruisers at both extremities of the North Allan
TIC Station From the isolated groups Of the
Paclhc and from every struggling government
OF the south, We are called upon 10 protect the
persons and property OF our citizens. Every
where on the shores OF civilized Europe, from
the Baltic to the BosphOrOus the security of
American interests and the rights of American
citizenship demand at this juncture the pres
ence OF our flag; and insthe half civilized East
our commerce Is constantly startled by out
breaks which defy the power OF even friendly
governments
At our last advices Christian missionaries
frightened from their chapels and school
houses, were being returned on board man-of-
wal, ana on any day We may hear that some
representative OF our government, more than
ten thousand miles from our capital, has found
his only safety under cover OF our naval guns
In addition TO the duties which these circum.
stances entail, the Navy is at this time prose-
cutting, under the authority OF Congress- two
surveys across the isthmuS which connects the
northern and southern portions OF our CONT
nent, and making, under like authority sound
1ngs and surveys for lines of telegraph, and for
dredging and Improvement OF harbors OF refuge
and resort, on our coasts and in midOcean: We
are also about TO contribute, under special legis
lative direction, vessel and its appliances !, a
scientific expedition toward the North Pole.
10 answer. as far possible, the REQUIRE
nents imposed by these conditions i the apprO-
pirate duty OF cur Navy, but the fulfIiment OF
LIE July must. OF course, depend upon the pro-
IOiuoh winch me means ar its command bear
TO the Character and frequency of the circum-
stances calling for attention, and the vast dis
danets which must be trayersed TO apply them.
HE naV1gaoe waters OF the globe. embracing
an area OF over 100000 square miles are
divided, for tine purpose of our naval opera
tons, into five distinct cruising atoms 10 zach
OF which = assigned such of our naval force a.
the circumstances OF each may require and the
means at the command OF the Department per-
These stations have not been cbargad sinca
the last report
THE MIDWAY ISLANDS
The appropriation Of SO, 900 Tor deeuanjng
The entrance 10 the harbor of the N;dxaS
Islands. in the Pacific Ocean, has been eyrend
e. and the Work suspended. The estimated
cost OF the work i S2l4 600.
INTEROCEASIC CANAL.
faeh OF the three routes surveyed for a ship
cana across the lsthmus of Darien has been
ascertalEed to be impractcable.
IN the CALIFORNIAN Bay route an elevation of
- rect IN the Sarsardi route OF PSI feet and in
the San Bias route of ,li2 feet must be over
come hy tunnels varying in length from six to
ten miles, and involving expense too mon
strous for any hope OF profit or advantage. The
scveht OF the rainy season rendered the further
survey oil other routes impossible. and the ex-
further orders.
The report OF Commander Selfridge seems Z,
furnish abundant proof that the expedition was
conducted with great industry, zeal, and skill:
and although NO feasible route has yet been dis
materially diminished The Importance of tni,
work cannot be overestimated and il is thu
PURPOSE or the department TO prosecute the
Plan of exploration and complete the surrey
during the present season in such a manner A. In
settle definitely the question OF q ship canal bv
any of the DaTien routes.
The expedition organized under the provisions
OF act OF Congress, for the survey OF the lehman
tepec route Tor ship canal, consisting OF the
kansas and Mayfower, (tug,) sailed from
Hampton Roads, undcr command OF Canaan
X. W. Shuieidt, on the 18th of October ar
irving at Key West on the 9th of that nnonth.
when last hesrd from they had left Key West
IN gcOG CONDITION, for the place of their rendeZ-
voUs. IL l. expected that the survey will he CON
Ieted during the present season, and a favor
able result l. hoped for.
The CONDITION OF THE NAVY.
With all the De sartmeIt has been able To do
curlng the last year, il has not been possible to
increase material Our cruising force on foreign
great eiheie ncy than formerly, and there are
IN addition, several ships ready tor sea
which can sail to strengthen our squadrons as
soon a. crews can be enlisted 20 man chem.
The past wear shows also a marked improve
meDt in the character and the conduct of the
men tnlisting in The service, and the general
discipline and efficiency OF the crews OF our
men-oi war Many regulations have been made
and orders issued during the last year boxing
10 their comfort and health, and a system OF re-
WARDS and pToI1ot!ons Tor good con +uct est Alb
lishec. This has already produced a notice.bje
erect ior COOL, and Il needs only TO be pursued
and enlarged TO make the NAVY attra.tiye 70
the best sailors IN the country. The offi ,ers ~
charge oi this subject unite in recommendipg
a. al IinprOVeme nt n0w most urgent. the allow
ance OF an outfit Of clothing to each sailor on
enlistment, after the N inner vi the allowances
OF similar character made in the Army: and
lac department cOncurs in this recommends
.ion' AZ an act OF Justice, and a means of re-
neNiNg the men from the necessity OF entering
the service IN iebJ To the Government and re-
moving this lndueement TO discomfort and de-
selIon- 1te Secretary repeats the recon mem
datiOn made in his last report upon the snh;s.t
OF improving the character of our seamen AMI
OF their training, registry and organization a.
part OF the available force of the country
NAVY YARDS
Ihe CONDITION OF our navy wards in yarious
parts OF the country demands attention Very
little has been done toward their Improvement,
AZ any time since the commencement OF the VA
and last year nothing was Appropriated for ~.
purpose, except small amount for the Mare
Island yard Each year that they are postponed
the necessity for improvements grows more i'm,
Peratiye, and the cost OF making them larger
while the want OF them Is each wear more and
more severely felt i'm the increased cost TO the
government OF tie work which we are Obliged
10 do, entailed b. the want OF the ordinary an
pliznces for rapid and economical n nor