Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1873-12-11
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.


In his report, the Secretary Of the Navy says
there are now in the navy lh5 vessels, carrying,
exclusive OF huWttEcrS, 1859 guns, reduction
since his last annual report by sale and otherwise
of thirteen vessels.
A general enumeration Of these vessels presents
h3 steamers other than irou-clads and tugs carry
ing S26 guns; 30 sailing vessels with 322 guns; Is
irunclad vessels, with l2l guns and - tugs used
for navy yard aud freight purposes OF this mum
her there are AT present in commission, for sea
service, distributed on the several foreign stations
and ON our own coast forly-siX vessels, carrying
"a guns. The cruising or active force of the navy,
rs they may be called, and which is controlled by
the appropriations made and the seameu author
lied by law is about the same as last year.
Six of our liye-oak cruising ships are now In va
rious stages Of forwardness at the several navy
yards, These are all of moderate size, and none of
them sufficiently advanced to be Of present use,
but they are adapted to the wants OF our cruising
navy, and viii IN few weeks add materially to IT.
strength md efficiency. The eight slOops of war
authorized by the last Congress are all in process
of binding, The valuable work thus begun
shor, d not be discontinued, but the Department
should be provided with moderate amount of
funds and authorized TO commence each year to
build certain number Of tons To supply regularly
the regular yearly expenditure of the naval force,
which viii Of necessity occur The work of put
ting our iron clad force in efficient condition, re-
ferrod to in the Secretary's last report, has been
proceeded with as fast NJ 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 time. without 1t we would have
been left not only powercss TO assert our own
rights hut almost dcfCnseless against arrogance or
aggression.
The Secretary says the naval force on the North
Atlantic Station was reduced in the spring and
summer by ordering north ns n necessity some of
the vessels which were much in need of repairs,
and whose crews needed change, having been
long in the tropics
The expedition for the survey Of the Darion and
nter- Oceanic Canal has completed lis duties and
submitted its reports.
The Secretary in speaking Of the POars, says
her cruise has been decidedly the most successful
Of Arctic cXpcditons The geographical knowledge
Of The Arctic regions has been largely advanced hy
it, 4 very particular questioning of every one Of
the officers and crew Of the P0aris and of the
scientific corps except the three persons vet un-
exar,ined has completely satisfied his associates
and himself that CAPT Halls death occurred from
purely natural causes: that his medical treatment
was iudiciously adapted to his case and that he
was rcnderly nursrd and cared for TO The last
The evidence has also made IL manifest that
Captain Hall was always faithful 10 the trust re-
posed in him in assigning him to the command OF
the expedition: that he was kind firm and humane
in the exercise of his authority: that be was earn
eSt in his desire and in his attempts to reach
high northern latitude and if practicable the
Pole itself; and TINT his nnmely death was an
irreparablc loss 10 the expedition. II II also ap.
parent that Captain Buddingtou, who succeeded
10 the chief command on the death Of Captain
Hall proved himself TO be a good seaman and
that in all dangerous position, IN which the Pol
aris was placed his conduct as the commander was
sklllfuI and ullCluttE the natural result or long
experience at sea aud in command in Northern
Iatitndcs
The Secretary renews the recommendation that
the forces in our navy yards be increased and dc
vcluped so that we may be prepared for all emerg-
encies that the old navy ward AT Phiadelphia be
abandoned and new buildings erected at Lcague
Island that the New York YARD be preserved in
II present ste and that the Pensacola yard be, IN
a measure rebuilt
The Secretary earnestly recommends that ample
provision be made for the support Of the Ordnance
bureau in order that nothing may interfere with
the efforts to supply our ships with the most pow
erful guns.
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