Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1872-12-05
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Annual Report of Secretary Robeson-Im.
portnnt Recommendations Concernfns the
Efficiency of the Navy.

Important recommendations concerning the
efficiency of the navy are made in the reoort
OF Secretary Robson, predicated in part upon
the reports of the chiefs of bureaus OF that
department. 1t has been found that more
money has often been spent in the repair of
old vessels, As authorized by Congress, than
would serve in the construction of new ones
of greater strength and improved model and
appurtenances. AS an instance of this the
Pensacola cost 1926, 000 and the repairs more
than twice as much, namely, $3.50, 900. AS to
the other vessels of the navy, including the
Guerrero. Nevada, Iowa, and Vanderbilt, to
put them into thoroughly good condition
would require an amount Of money far ex-
ceeding their original cost. Their timbers are
much decdyed the ships having been built of
unsound white oak. The necessities of the
situation, however, have required expendi-
lures upon them to meet emergencies with
out permanent benefit Congress at the late
session authorized the Secretary of the NAVY
to sell the WORKOUT vessels and useless mate
nal at the several navY-yards. 1t Is known
that there are such accumulatons there which
originally cost millions of dollars. and which
were for the most part never applied to prac-
teal purposes. Several of the WORKOUT YES
sells are soon to be sold at auction, and others
of like character will be afterward offered to
the highest bidders. The opinion of naval
officers is that there should be at least twenty
good active steam vessels always in condition
to be Immediately used.
About year ago, when there was such an
excitement at Havana as to induce the Consul
General at that city to telegraph our Govern
ment to send vessels thither for the protection
of American citizens, it was difficult to i'm
mediately find vessels suitable for such an
emergency, and the Secretary was therefore
obliged to dispatch an ironclad from Kew
West, together with four other vessels, not of
formidable proportions, to that locality.
Spain, at the time to which reference is made,
had % vessels in the gulf and in the vicinity
of the Island Of Cuba. Our vessels, owing to
this disparity of force, would have been I'M
able to contend with those of Spain in case of
hostile movements on her part.
The Chief of the Bureau of Construction
and Repairs will, it is understood, recommend
that compound engines be placed ia all our
vessels, both.a to economy of fuel and increase
of speed, and that he will support his views
by careful argument. 1t has been ascertained
from naval officers that not more than 10 of
the 50 ironclad vessels can be rendered use
full for naval purposes. Therefore the Gov
eminent will dispose of the remainder of them.
The 20 light-draft monitors built during the
war at a cost of $15. 000 900 never fired a gun
not having been called into active service A
bill is now pending before the House of Repre-
sentatiyes appropriating $4,000, 900 for build
ing ten sloops of war.
In view of the facts concerning the in
emclency OF the navy, efforts will made at the
approaching session of Congress to completely
reorganize 1t. part of Secretary Robeson's
report is devoted TO this subject, and he re-
peats the recommendation IN his last annual
report to supply the places of vessels which
have become useless with those of good and
sound construction, and urge that unless
something is done in this direction our cruis-
ing navy. now by no means powerful, indeed
scarcely respectable for nation of our rank
and responsibilities, will soon almost wholly
pass out of existence as an arm of the national
power. s ~ s4
MISS EMILY FAITHFUL, who is now in
this country with the avowed purpose
of examining and studying our institu-
tons, organized, in 1860, the Victoric
Press, aprinting establishment in which
only women are employed as compos-
Itors. Queen Victoria has smiled ON