New-York tribune., 1872-12-03
viii no lonea by tho United stalcs stOamor Nauagan

yate parties who were about TO institute some expert
ments upon actual boilers nt Sandy Hook, appointed
board Of engineers 10 attend and witness the result
Their report TO indicate that much valuable nfor'
nation and perhaps n solution Of tho difficult problem
may attend further prosecution Of tho inquiry In
decd the Information already acquired IA deemod, by
those competent to Judge OF much Interest and import
ance.
NAvY-YARDs.
! must again renew my urgent recOmmenda-
ton that Navy Yards shall bo developed and adapted
the necessities OF naval warfare At Marc Island
bayo an admirable site. with every natural requisite
for great dock yard II Is only val station the
Pacific aud II needs dry-docks and workshops quay
walls and other appliances to mako It worthy OF our
great western coast and to enable to asserand main
ain II need be- our proper supremacy upon the Pacific
Ocean.
AZ various points on the Atlantic coast yards are
admirably placed TO utilize In time OF the vast naval
resources Of our great cities, with their drydocs ana
Hhipyards forges aud machineAhOps, their most OF
skilled workmcn and immense store OF material These
invaluable sites acquired from time 10 time WIN 80
much difficulty aha greatly need In any time OF
emergency and they cau never be reganed should ney
once pass from our possession AZ Phiadepnla' now
ever, have really two Navy Yards. Ihe Olu osaD
h,6ent is very small with waterfront ana IL
greatly needed by the city for other purposes while AT
League Island we shall soon' ana ohehpy, nave re-
reved Of firm ground larger than hat now 0cGu
pied by the old Navy Yard and raised FAR above the
CHEST watereve. We cannot Afford 70 MAINTAIN Two
NavyYards within three miles OF each other l Would
carefully valued ana that sum equal 10 he Va1e .n
determined should be appropriated to convert League
Island into efficient Yard. the 80
ated to he returned To- the Treasury as soon as o pm
works shall be sufficiently advanced To WARRANT the
disuse and sale OF the old yard Navy YARD OF tne
class upon fresh water perfectly secure from an
enemys feet the margin Of our great coal ana iron
region and having at hand the skilled labor OF great
manufacturing city, Will be great source oi naval
power.
its position aud climate enabling repairs ana cOhsttuc
tion TO be prosecuted in midwinter when the rigorous
climate OF the North sometimes forbds all outdoor
labor. This our chief Nayy-Yard and recon-
mend that liberal appropriations be made to reesta0ish
and multiply its resources
have heretofore spoken II the claims Of the New
London station on the ibesllty Of Congress some OF
from all directions aud conveniently situated between
two great commercial cities, an industrious ana ngen
people whose labor is sklfu and cheap and -ite
the station already acquired through the lberaity
Of the state 20 the improvement OF which the Govern
ment seems 10 be virtually pledged lt IL already
station OF convenience the service and With moderate
expenditure ITS use could be largely increased.
NAVAL PRISONS.
Corporal punishment having been happily
abolished In the Navy and punishment by fines being In
great degree inappllcabe, only imprisonment remains
be awarded by courtsmartal as the punishment OF
enlisted men convicted of onses not deserving
penalties. But the Navy has proper prison properly
to carry out such sentences.
recommend that moderate appropriation be made
20 bugd suitable prison OF marine stations
where the necessary guard and medical attendance may
be had without expense and where we may be able to
give thht cdfe to tue NeIehB dnd improvements Va Jul
mands.
Number and yearly amount Of pensions OF the navy on
the rolls Nov l. 1872 and the amount 'mch was paid
On t6s rolls Nov l82-avahas a95i .Bd Others I5s5
YssiiJ amount Of pensions on the roll Nov l. lss-Invad'
sif i so wido~s Ohsri se557ss; total ta4sp 80
IuTaHas sIas 90 81 widows and Oths sgsS 81 total si
AZ the last session OF Congress a special increase Of
pensions made by act OF June lS72 OF 20 per cent
to having lost limb, otherwise disabled in
a
not been included In the above table, but VIII De as FOL
There ar. on the rolls the grade 5 per year l5
There the rolls q Of the second grade increase 90 per
There AZ. on iis roll, gs Of the iir sra pfye,r %
Err addition rolls by act Jane g. lsa sst5
ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES.
The appropriations made by Congress for
the fiscal fear ended June 9O 1872 amounted in the az
eregate to sl2O7 25 the actual expenditures for the
same period wit fromJuy l. 1871 to June SO 1872
chargeable to that appropriation amounted to SHCsi
6s5 TO- The last amount WILL OF course. be increased by
the discharge OF existing contracts and liabilities in
cured in distant parts OF the world but 1t is believed
that when all demands upon the appropriation shall
have been satisfied the actual expenditures VIII stlu
remain than 5000 600 less than the amount apPro
prated The appropriations for the current nsea year
July Who'll L. S p snd siS ePgng The amount
OF this appropriation drawn, up TO the lst OF
the present month, Is ss275,57S o.; this, reduced
by the amount remaining In the hands OF the
various paymasters and agents OF the Government
will leave 100000 as about the amount actually ex-
pended from the current appropriations during inc
working months of the present fiscal year.
ESTIMATES - -
Pay OF officers and seamen Of the Navy 5o0Oo 90
Pay of civil establishments In navy ,,, 90
Ordnance ana Torpedo s2lSo7 %
Coal, hemp. and equipments .-.-----.- lSo0o W W
Navigation, avgation supplies, &c.-..... 1890 20
Naval Observatory. % Nautical Almanac, &c. 6iSOO 90
Repairs and preservation OF vessels &c.... S75O 70
steam machinery tools, &c c............ 4OOOOOsOO
Provisions .................... l,5S7600 90
Repairs of hospitals and labratories... 10000 90
surgeons necessares 10000 "
and bureaus $4,000 90
Naval Academy l9S45s Is
PrRarine and binding 10000 90
Naval Asylum Philadel pha. ........... $3.50 90
Total s2O,256747 so
To these il added the sum OF tl46slO for permanent
improvements current repairs OF buildings docks and
incidental expenses In Navy Yards, &C.
THE TORPEDO SYSTEM.
Torpedo warfare is still in its infancy but
ia the infancy OF most powerful development and il
especially the policy Of the United States to foster its
growth as a weapon adapted TO our situation.
The attention bestowed upon this subject by our serv
ice has not been without much fruit torpedoboat
for instance Just tested at Newport almost submerged
ia controlled by human will acting safe distance. IL
advances turns or stops the touching OF electric
KEY connected from the operators hand by wire un
rolled from the boat This boat carries 500 pounds OF
explosive material which be fired on contact with
enemy.
This subject is its nature not matter for much
public Illustration and Will at this time only point 10
the many Instances which torpedoes have played an
imporant part recent and add that the judg
ment OF the most careful and experienced officers III our
service is unanimous and strong In favor OF the use OF
every means OF enlargng and improving our knowledge
of torpedoes aud Of providing ber ally for their inyes
CATION and use.
EXPENDITURE CHARGEABLE TO NAVY APPROPRIATIONS.
ApproprldtiOns Jor ls7l-72
Drawn. Refunded Expended
| July'... s154o75O 90 ..... sl,5l9.75o 90