The democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1868-1874, 1872-12-09
The American Navy.

Important recommendations concern.
ing the efficiency OF the navy are made
in the report Of Secretary Robson, pre-,
dictated in part upon the reports Of the
chiefs OF bureaus OF that department.
It has been found that more money has
often been spent in the repair Of old
vessels, rs authorized by Congress, than
woull serve in the construction Of new
ones OF greater strength and Of improved
model and appurtenRnces, As m In.
stance of this, the Pensacola cost $685.
900 and the repairs more than twice as
much-nAmely, S760, 900. As to other
vessels OF the navy, including tho Guer-
riers, Nevada, Iowa anil Vanderbilt, 10
put them into thoroughly goou condi.
ton would require IN amount Of money
far exceeding their original cost. Their
timbers are much decayed, the ships
having been built of unSound white
oak. The necessities OF the situation,
however, have required expenditures
upon them 10 meet emergencies, with
out permanent benefit.
Congress at the late session authorized
tue Secretary OF the Navy to sell worn
out vessels, and also useless material at
tue several Navy Yards. 1t is known
that there arc such accumulations there
which originally cost millions Of dollars
and which were for the most part never
applied 10 practical purposes. Several
OF the worn out vessels are soon to be
sold at auction, and Others OF like char.
Rcter will be afterwards offered to tue
highest bidders. Tho opinion Of naval
officers is that there should be ut least
twenty good, active steam vessels always
III condition to be Immediately used.
About year ago, when there was
such an excitement In Havana rs in.
duced the Consul General ut that city 10
telegraph our government TO send YES
sells thither for the protection Of Ameri-
can citizens, it was difficult to immedi-
ately find the vessels suitable for such
an emergency, and the Secretary was
therefore obliged to despatch IN iron
clad from Key West, together with four
other vessels, mot OF formidable pro.
portions, TO that locality. Spain, at the
time to which reference is made, had
twenty-threo vessels in the Gulf and the
vicinity OF the Island OF Cuba. Our
vessels, owing to this disparity Of force,
would have been unable 10 contend with
those OF Spain in case OF hostile move.
ments on her part.
Tho Chief OF tic Bureau OF Construc
ton and Repairs, recommend that com
pound engines be placed in all our vGs-
sells, both as to economy OF fuel and In.
crease Of speed, andShat he will support
his views by careful arguments. II has
been nscertaine1 from naval officers That
not moro than ten OF the fifty iron.clad
vessels can be rendered useful for naval
purposes. Therefore the government
will dispose OF tho remainder Of them,
md MS they will be sold for nothing
better than old iron il will be for the
general benefit. Tho twenty light
drauglt monitors built during tho war
Mt n cost of $lG,0O0,0OO never fired n
gan, not having been called into active
service. A bill 10 now pending before
the House OF Representatives appropri-
ating 80, 100000 for building ten sloops
OF war.
In view Of the facts concerning the
incfilciency Of the naval efforts will be
made ut the approaching session OF Con
gress to completely reorganize it. A
part OF Secretary Robeson's report is
devoted to this subject, and he repeated
the recommendations in his last annual
report TO supply tho places Of vessels
which have become useless with those
OF good mud sound construction, and
urge that usless something is done In
thus direction our cruising navy, now by
no means powerful-indeei scarcely
respectable for n nation Of our rank aud
responsibilities-will soon almost wholly
pass out Of existence rs an arm Of our
nationalpowe