The Bolivar bulletin. [volume] (Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tenn.) 1865-1888, 1873-12-12
TIE AMERICAN NAVY.
Secretary RObesOn's Report Of its Pre-
ene Condition and Prospects.

AE AMhElGAN NAV 4
Secretary ROBesOn's Report OF its Pres
emit Condition and Prospects.
The secretary of the navy, in his re
port TO the president, says that there arr
nov In the navy 165 vessels, carrying
exclusive of howitzers, 1,269 guns, {
reduction since his last annual report
by sale or otherwise, of thirteen vessels
| A general enumeration of these vessels
presents sixty-three steamers, Cothe1
than iron-clads and tugs, carrying 82e
guns % sailing vessels, 322 guns 2e
iron-clad vessels, 121- guns, and 25 tugs
used for navy-yard and freight pur-
poses. Of this number there are at
present in commission for sea service,
distributed on the several foreign sta
tions and on-our own coast, 46 vessels,
carrying 407 guns the cruising or ac-
tive force of the navy, as these may be
called, and is controlled by the appro-
priations made and the seamen author
lied by law, is about the same as last
year. Six of our live-oak cruising
/ ships are now in various stages of for
wardness 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 will in
few months add materially to its
strength and efficiency. The eight
sIoops-of- war authorized by the last
congress are all in the process of build
ing.
The valuable work thus begun should
not be discontinued, but the depart
ment should be provided with mod
crate amount of funds and authorized
to commence each year to build GER
tain number of tons to supply regularly
the regular yearly expenditures of ma
val force which will of necessity occur.
THE IRoN-CLADs.
The work of putting our iron-clad
force in efficient condition, referred to
in the secretary's last report, has been
proceeded with as fast as the means
necessary for the extraordinary work
could be spared from the current appro-
priations for the support of the navy.
! Fhe wisdom of this action needs no
illustration from him at this time.
| Without it we would have been left not
only powerless to assert our own rights,
but almost defenceless against AFRO
gance or aggression.
THE CUBAN SQUADRON.
The secretary says the naval force on
the north Atlantic station was reduced
in the spring and summer by ordering
north, as q necessity, some of the ves-
sells which were much in need of re-
pairs, and whose crews needed a change,
having been long IN the tropics.
SHIP CANAL SURVEYS.
The expedition for the survey of the
Darien and Nicaragua Inter-oceanic
canal has completed its duties and sub
mitted it's reports.
THE PoLARIs.
The secretary, in speaking of the Po-
laris, says her cruise has been decidedly
the most successful of Arctic expedi-
tions. The geographical knowledge OF
the Arctic regions has been largely ad-
vanced. A very particular questioning
of every one of the officers and crew of
the Polaris, and of the scientific corps,
| except the three persons as yet unex-
amined, has completely satisfied his
associates and himself that Capt Halls
death occurred from purely natural
causes that his medisal treatment was
! iudiciously adapted to his case, and
that he was tenderly nursed and cared
for to the last. The evidence has also
made it manifest that Capt. Hall was
always faithful to the trust reposed 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 he was earnest in his
| desire and in his attempts to reach a
! high northern latitude, and if practical
/ BILE the Pole itself; and that his IN
timely death was an irreparable loss to
the expedition. It is also apparent that
Capt. Buddington, who succeeded to
| the chief command on the death of
! Capt Hall, proved himself to be a good
seaman, and that in all the dangerous
positions in which the PoIaris was
placed, his conduct, as her commander,
was skiIlful aud judicious, the natural
result of long experience at sea, and in
command in the northern latitudes.
THE NAvY-YARDs.
The secretary renews the recommen-
dation that the resources of our navy
Yards be increased and developed, so as
to be prepared for all emergencies; that
the old navy-yard at Philadelphia be
abandoned, and new buildings be cree
ted at League island; that the New
York yard be preserved on its present
site, and that the Pensacola yard be in
a measure rebuilt.
THE ORDNANCE BUREAU.
The secretary earnestly recommends
that ample provision be made for the
support of the ordnance bureau, in
order that nothing interfere with its
efforts to supply our ships with the
most powerful guns.
THE ESTIMATES.
The estimates for the next fiscal year
are S19, ,252, ,235, and to this is added
some 1854, $50 for current repairs, build
ings, docks and incidental expenses IN
navy-yards, etc. These estimates are
less than those of last year by rather
more than g, 900, 600, but they do not
include any extraordinary expenditure
for the permanent improvement of the
navy, nor the aFnaments necessary either