The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1872-11-26
WASHINGTON.
a REPORT coNTRAprcrED.

WAAHIHoroH. Nov 95-TNhe TrnitaI
statea vessels have noi hesn n-5.sa5 "a 'tS =
Zsnzibar Ia cooperats with the psit,Ss
exnedition a0SInSt the dave +rsSs a. s ave-,
al in n SneciSl 10 a Nav YorS @ rsr rSr a. s'S'
=" - - ~" NO1A PNPS''
a.. MI1..n NJ; AsADES SUoCEssoA
uSisn Ssni GaSa5, SDyMsL A. naS peen aPpolntea
o.3p.S sloL Ssns sa - ~ Place o. Sen. Meaae ano
suetSH SSv @ W sne UIePatstment OF me south.
,s, usS, uaC1 ~ ~ .i - vtueteu !" INC Oepart
ll'ent " ING AuAnuo'
A GREAT THrET PARDoNRp.
Paymaster Hoge, sentenced to ten
years Imprisonment on charge Of enbe2.
Element, has been pardoned BY the Presi.
dent. ~
Gen. Terry Will take command Of The
department OF DAkotA, vacated by Gen.
Hancock. 500 ! '1aI' p I
Important recommendations concern
ing the efficiency Of the navy will he
made In the forthcoming report. Secre-
tary Robson has predicted on part oi
the reports Of Chiefs Of Bureaus Of that
dep artment that 1t has been found that
more money has been spent In the repair.
ing OF old vessels. as authorized by Con-
gresS, than would serve In consequence OF
new and greater strength, and improved
models and appurtenances. For instance
the Pensacola cost S995, 900, and the re-.
pairs more than twice as much, VIZ |:
$1bU0OO. AS TO other vessels Of the
navy, including tho Guerriere, Nevada,
Iowa and Vanderbilt, 10 put them into
thoroughly good condition it would re-.
qulre an amount Of money 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 er !.
penditures TO meet the emergencies with.
out any permanent benefit. Congress, at
the late session, authorized the Secretary
oI the Navy to sell wornout vessels and
useless material, at the several Navy
yards. 1t is known that there are such
sccumulationS there, which originally
cost millions ol dollars and which were
for the most part never applied to pracli.
cal purposes. Several Of the wornout
vessels are soon TO be sold at auction and
others OF like character will be afterwards
ohered TO the highest bidders. The opln
ION OF the naval officers is, that there
should be at least twenty good
active steam vessels always In con.
dition to be Immediately used.
About year ago when there was
such excitement ct Havana as induced
the Consul General at that city to tele-
graph our government TO send vessels
thtthet Tor the protection Of American
citizens, II was difficult to Immediately
find vessels suitable for such an emef.
gency, and the Secretary was therefore
obliged to despatch an iron clad from
Key West, together with four other YES
sels, not OF formidable proportions, to
that locality. Spain, to which reference
Is made, has twenty-three vessels In the
Cult and vicinity and Island OF Cuba.
Our vessels, owing to this disparity of
iorce, would have been unable to con.
tend with those Of Spain In the event
Of hostile movements on her part.
The Chief OF the Bureau Of Construction
and Repairs will, il Is understood, rec.
ommsnd compound engines In all our
vessels as 10 economy, and that heswill
support Ills Views by careful arguments.
It has been ascertained from naval Off.
cers that not more than 10 Of the 80 iron.
clad vessels can be rendered useful lor
naval purposes. therefore the gov
ernment will dispose OF the remain.
der: The two light drafl monitors built
during the war at . cost Of $160000OO
never fired q gun, not having been called
into active service, A bill Is now pend.
Ing before the House Of Representatives
appropriately $500, 900 for the building Of
ten sloops OF war. In view of the facts
concerning the insuficlsncy Of our navy,
efforts will be made In Congress TO com.
pletey Io1rganize It, and part Of s. @.
Ietary Robeson's report will be
devoted 10 this subject, and be
will repeat the Recommendation ID his
last annual report TO supply the places Of
the vessels which have become useless
with those Of good and sound construc-
ton, and urge that unless something Il
done In this direction, our cruising navy.
now by no means powerful, indeed scarce.
ly respectable for q nation OF our rank
and sponsibihty vii! soon almost wholly
pass out Of existence as an arm Of nation.
al power. ,.... r-r5-.. ... 90. .,....r.g n