Eaton weekly Democrat. [volume] (Eaton, Ohio) 1866-1875, 1872-12-05
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Annual Report of Secretary Robeson-Im-
portant Recommen ndariOns Concerning the
Efficiency of the Navy.


Annual Report of Secretary Robeson-Im-
portant tRecomme dariOns Csncerni the
Efficiency of the Navy.
Important recommendations concerning the
efficiency of the navy are made in the report
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
appurGenances. AS an instance of this, the
Pensacola cost $325, 200, and the repairs more
than twice az much, namely, $3.50, 900. As to
the other vessels of the navy, including the
Guerriere, 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
unsound white oak. The necessities of the
situation, however, have required expendI-
lures upon them to meet emergencies with
session authorized the Secretary of the Navy
to sell the woRn-out vessels and useless mate
rial at the several navy-yards. 1t is known
that there are such accumulations there which
originally cost millions of dollars, and which
were for the most part never applied to prac-
tical purposes. Several of thu worn-out ves-
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 a year ago, when there was such an
excitement at Havana induced the Consul
General at that city to telegraph our Govern
ment to send vessels thither for the protec-
ton of American citizens, it was difficult to
Immediately find vessels suitable for such an
emergency, and the Secretary was therefore
obliged to dispatch an iron-cIad from Key
West, together with four other vessels not of
formidable proportions, to that locality
Spain, at the time to which reference is made,
had twenty-three vessels in the Gulf and in
the vicinity of the Island of Cuba. Our ves-
sells, owing to this disparity of force, would
have been unable 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 in all our
vessels, both as to economy of fuel and in
| crease of speed, and that he will support his
| views by careful argument. 1t has been as
| certained from naval officers that not more
| than ten of the fifty ron-clad vessels can be
rendered useful for naval purposes. There
| fore the Government will dispose of the re-
mainder of them. The twenty ight-draft
| monitors, built during the war at cost OF
| been called into active service. bill is now
pending before the House of Representatives
appropriating S3,000,000 for building ten
| sloops of war.
In view of the facts concerning the ineffi-
cheney of the navy, efforts will be made at the
approaching session of Congress to complete
ly reorganIze it. A part of Secretary Robe
sons report is devoted to this subject, and he
repeats the Recommendation in his last annua
| report to supply the places of vessels which
have become useless with those of good anG
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 a nation of our ranl
and responsibilities, will soon almost wholly
| pass out of existence an arm of the ma
| tIonal power.
NINE States which in 1860 stood abov,
Iowa in population now rank below her
to-wit: Georgia. North Carolina, Ala
bama, Mississippi, Wisconsin, Michigan
Louisiana, South Carolina, and Mary
land.