The Andrew County Republican. [volume] (Savannah, Mo.) 1871-1876, 1872-12-06
THE NAVY DEPARTMENT.
Annual Report of Secretary Robessn-Im-
Pertant Recommendations Csnce erning the
Enicteucy of the Navy.

Annual Report Of Secretary R0beson-Im. X
Pertant Recommendations Csncerniug the
Enicieucy OF the Navy.
important recommendations concerning
the efficiency of the navy are made in tie re-
port ef searetary Robeson, predicated in
part upon the reports of the chief. Of bureau,
Of that department. II has been found tbs
more money has often been spent in the re-
pair OF old ssels, as authorized by Congress,
than would serve in the construction ,f new
oneskof greater strength md improved model
and appurt nances. As an instance of this,
the Pensacola cost s325 .oo0, and the repairs
more than twice rs much, namely, $3.50 600.
As to the other vessels of the navy, including
the Gurfriere, Nevada, lows, aud Vanderbilt,
70 put them into thoroughly good condition
would require an amount Of money far ex-
ceeding their original cost. Their tims sers
are much decaycd, the ships having been
built Of unsound white oak. The neces,itis,
f,he situatiop, however, have require ex-
penditurcs upon them to meet emergencies
without permanent benefit. Congress at the
late session authorized the Secretary OF the
Navy TO sell the worn out vessels and useless
material 1T the several navy-y irds. 1t is
known that there are such accumulation, |,
there which originally cost millions Of dol
lars, and which were for the most part never
applied TO practical purposes. Several Of
knc WOIu-sut Ncecc4s Sle bOOu 10 DC 30 u ab
auction, and others of like character will
be afterward offered to the highest bidders.
The opinion of the naval officers is that there
should Re a: least ta snty good active steam
vessels always in conoition TO be immediate
ly used.
About q year ago, when there was such an
excitement at Hayans as induced the Consul
General at that city to te' esrsph our Govern
men TO send vessels thither for the protec-
tion OF American citizens, it was diff .ult 10
Immediately find vessels suitable for such an
emergency, and the Secretary was therefore
obliged TO dispatch an iron-clad from Key
Wes,, together with four other vessels not
Of formidable proportions, TO that iocslity.
Spain, at the time to which reference Is made,
had twenty-thrce vessels in the Gu and in
the vicinity of the Island of Cuba. Our YES
sells, owing to this disparity Of force, would
have been unable to contend with those OF
Spain in case OF hostile movement 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 ha, been as
certained from naval officers that not more
than ten of the fifty iron clad vessels can be
uuCsSu 10 lui iti nav al Pui poocs.
fore the Government will dispose Of the re.
mainder Of them. The twenty light draft
monitors, built during the war at cost ol
$l5,0Uo,0O never fred q gun, not having
| been called into active service. A bill is now
| nending before the House of Representatives
approprlatiDg $3,OO0,eO0 for building teR
| sioops of war.
| In view of the facts concerning the ineffi
cheney of the navy, efforts will be ma lie al
| the approaching session Of Congress to COM
pletely reorSaniz, it. A part of Secretary
Robsson's report is devoted to this subject
and he repeats the Recommendation in hi.
| last annual report 10 supply the places o.
vessels whica have become useless with
those Of good and sound construction, auG
urge that unless something is done in thi!
direction our cruising navy, now and by nt
means powerful iDdeed scarcely respectable
for nation of our rank and responsibilities
! will soon almost wholly pass out of exist
ence as an arm of tho national power.