The New York herald., 1873-12-01
Il HE NAVY.
Report of Secretary Robson to
the President.
Condition Of the Department and the Work
Performed During The Year.
The Preparations Made for Spain in
Case Of War.

Case Of War.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 80 1873.
The Secretary OF the Navy. In his report TO the
President says there are now in the navy 1856 ves-
sels carrying, exclusive Of howitzers, 1909 guns,
which is = reduction since his last annual report,
by sale and otherwise, OF Is vessels. general
enumeration OF these vessels presents 63 steamers,
other than ironclads and tugs, carrying 1928 guns;
% sailing vessels. 500 guns 4s roncad vessels 12l
guns, and 25 tugs, used for navy yard and freight
purposes or this number there are at present IN
commission for sea SERVICE distributed on the
several foreign stations and on our own coast, 40
vessels carrying 4O7 guns
THE CRUISING OR ACTIVE FORCE
Of the navy, as these may be called, and which Is
contI oiled by the appropriations made and the
seamen authorized by law, is about the same as
last year, the places OF those vessels which have
been put out OF commission within the past twelve
months from the expiration Of the cruises or for
other causes having been supplied by commission
ing and sending to sea Q corresponding number OF
Others The list will show force slightly de-
creased In numbers by the sale Of some useless
vessels, which were while we retained them only
q source OF expense. and 1t Is somewhat weakened
also in strength by the condemnation ana laying
up Of several OF our white oak cruisers which have
reached the limit OF their cruising life
and can no longer be used with safety on the
Many OF the ships now on the navy list, and
which serve to swell the number to the figures
above given, are far from being such as really
needed, and their true condition, which has been
often officially represented to Congress, can be
fully understood and appreciated by reference to
the reports OF the bureaus.
LIVE OAK CRUISING SHIPS.
In the meanwhile, however, we have been en-
gagged in completely repairing six OF live-0ak
cruising ships, which are now In various stages Of
forwardedness at the several navy yards These
cienty advanced to be Of present use but they are
adapted TO the wants OF our cruising navy, ana will
In few months add materially to Its strength ana
efficiency.
THE EIGHT sLoOPs
of war authorized by the last Congress are all in
yards, three under contract in private yards, and
the remaining one under private contract in the
navy yard at kttery. The building OF these ships,
with their engines and machinery, is progressing
rapidly and the work. widely distributed at more
than dozen naval stations and private establish
ment OF several thousands OF w0rkmen and to the
maintenance Of the very large number Of persons
ton. it is not without gratidcatlon the Secre-
tary is able to report that, besides the great
value and importance or TINS work to the service,
we have also been able 80 to utilize the hberalty
OF Congress as to contribute materially TO the bus
ness interests OF the country and to the support
people, The valuable work thus begun should not
be discontinued, but the department. should be
authorized to commence each year to build GER
tain number or tons TO supply regularly the regu-
lar yearly expenditure Of naval force which VIII Of
necessity occur.
The work Of putting
efficient condition, referred to in the Secretary'S
last report, has been proceeded with fast as
the means necessary for the extraordinary work
could be spared from the current appropriations
for the support Of the navy. The wisdom OF this
action needs no Illustration from him at this tlme
Without it we would have been left not only
npW M
defenceless against arrogance or aggression But
the expenditure required has crippled our work
ing bureaus In their general work, and 1t is neces
sary that this should be reimbursed them II they
are to proceed steadily and efficiently.
have been unchanged during the year. As now
established, they are designated as:-The Euro
Atlantic the North Pacific and the South Pacific.
Over these, embracing the irequented waters OF
the globe, are scattered cruising force OF less
lied on to encourage our citizens and, II required,
to protect them and their property IN all lands to
which, BY their inclination or interest, they are
The Secretary then gives an account Of these
several stations, saying Of
THE NORTH ATLANTIC STATION:
command, relieved Rear Admiral joseph Green en-
| at Key West May 15 and the latter returned to
Boston on the Powhatan, arriving May "a, and
! hauled down hts nag. The iorce on this station
| ing North, as o necessity, some OF the vessels
| which were much In need OF repairs ana whose
s tmo wong = the e
smaller but more active class Of vessels
came North in June, and the Richmond was
Pacific station. The Kansas was until July CO.
| operating with the Nicaragua surveying expedi-
| Aspinwan enabled her to give fun protection to
our interests In that quarter. Notwithstanding
been @ made, and our Dag has, has been ''s Shown Sn
| at almost all the commercial ports, or
where there were American interests. In
fha In ihnan Coo and
other places, assistance has been offered and ex.
tended when required to our commerce and citi-
stant communication with our Ministers and con-
sular representatives. Our interests the
constantly stationed, on either side, has been in
readiness to protect the railroad II occasion should
demand Convoy has been offered to the mer.
chant service when menaced and threatened with
unlawful seizure and violence"
The secretary says that within the limits Of
THE SOUTH PACIFIC STATION
only two occasions have arisen where it has been
necessary to land force from our vessels for the
protection OF American citizens and property, and
on each OF those occasions the landings were made
on the same territory at the request or with the
o. tine ,ss,t authorities under
prosssson due ro@ them ssSSt'' Tno Landing nne
gencies. while quieting the fears Of foreign resi-
dents, secured the safe transit OF the passengers
ineas % ana q ,e and specie %
our nationality. depending on this road Tor prompt
transportation. The officers and men who CON-
posed these landing parties received the cCmmen-
datons OF their respective chieffor
the creditable and admirable manner In which they
discharged their duty.
THE DARIEN AND NICARAGUA ROUTES.
Inc expeditions organized under the authority
OF Congress Tor the survey OF the Darien and Near
aqua routes, with the view to the construction
| OF an interoccanic canal have completed the
duties entrusted TO them, and the reports OF Com
| mander Thomas o. Selfrldge and Commander r.. p.
Lull who, respectively, conducted the surveys
are submitted. Briefly stated the route Sc
lected by Commander Selfridge includes 100
| miles or river navigation OF the Atrato
| to be fully capable OF being navigated by the
| largest class Of ocean steamers Between the
Atrat0 and the Pacific canal or artificial cut is
made but 2S miles In length. The canal for ~
miles OF tins distance passes through plain with
| gradual rise oil 90 eef. There will then remain
| six miles TO the Pacific OF which there are n mod
4 crate omen cuf and thren Ynlloo ~ tnnr.iit,r.