Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1873-12-13
United States Navy.

ThelSecretary OF the Navy. in his report to
the President, saws there are now in the navy
165 vessels, carrying, exclusive of nOwilZ RS,
1869 guns, which is a reduction since his last
annual report, by sale and otherwise, of 10
vessels. A general enumeration of these yes.
sells presents SO steamers, other than IRON
clads and tugs, carrying S26 guns; 20 sailing
vessels. 322 guns 4S IrOn-Glad vessels, 12l guns,
and 25 tugs, used Tor navy yard and freight
purposes OF this number there are at present
in commission for sea service, distributed on
the several foreign stations and on our own
coast, 46 vessels. carrying 407 guns
THE CRUISING OR ACTIVE FORCE
OF the navy, rs they may be called, and which
is controlled by the appropriation made aud
the seaman 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 commissioning and sending TO sea
corresponding number of others. The list
Will show force slightly decreased IN number
by the sale of some useless vessels, which
we're, while we retained them, only source
of expense, and it is somewhat weakened also
in strength by the condemnation and laying
up of several of onr white oak cruisers which
have reached the limit or their cruising life
and can be no longer used with safety on the
seas. Many of the ships now on the navy list,
aud which serve to swell the number to the
| figures above gwen, are far from being such
as are really needed, and their true condition,
which has been often officially represented TO
Congress, can be fully understood and appre
ciated by reference to the reports of the
bureaus.
LIVE OAK CRUISING SHIPS.
In the meanwhile, however, we have been
| engaged in completely repairing six of our
| live oak cruising ships, which are now in yari.
Gus 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 a few
months add materially to its strength and
! efficiency.
THE EIGHT sLooPS
of war authorized by the last Congress are all
| in process of buldlng-one-half at the various
| navy yards, three under contract in private
| yards, and the remaining one under private
| contract in the navy yard at Kittery. 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 establishments, is
| contributing to the remunerative employment
| Of several thousands OF WOrkmen and to the
maintenance of the very large number of per-
| sons dependent upon their labor for support
| and education. It is not without qualification
the Secretary is able to report that. besides the
| great value and Importance of this work to the
service, we have also been able SO co utilize the
| lberality of Congress as to contribute mater
| ally to the business interests of the country
| ana to the support and comforts Of many pro-
| ducng and dependent people. The valuab e
| work thus begun should not be discontinued,
| DuU LHG utpdI lu1tHL SlOulu U5 pEONluGu WlUl
| a moderate amount of FUNDS and authorized
| to commence each year to build certain num-
| Der of tons to supply regularly the regular
| yearly expenditure of naval force which Will
| OF necessity occur.
| The work of putting
OUR IRoN.CLAD FORCE
III efficient condition. referred to in the Secre-
| tary's last report, has been proceeded with as
| fast as the means necessary for the extraOrdt-
| nary work could be spared from the current
| tisKN fntt tIn
| The 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 defenceess against ar
| rogance or aggression. But the expenditure
| required has crippled our working bureaus in
| their general work, and it is necessary that
| this should be reimbursed to them If they are
| to proceed steadily and efficiently.
THE STATIONS
have been un changed during the year. AS now
| established, they are designated as The
| European, the Aslatic, the North Atlantic, the
| South Atlantic, the North Pacific and the South
Pacific. Over these, embracing the frequented
| waters OF the globe. are scattered a cruising
| force of less than forty vessels which, by their
| presence, are relied on to encourage our citl-
zens and, II required,t to protect them and their
| property in all lands to which, by their lncli-
! nation or interest," they are drawn.
| The Secretary gives an account Of the sever
oil stations.
| THE NAVY YARDS.
| The Secretary says of the Navy Yards Il
| beg to renew the Tecommendatlo1s made in
my annual reports Of former years in refer
| ence to our navy yards, and to urge that their
| resources may be increased and developed to
meet the emergencies of these wars to which
| even the most peace-lOviDg nations are liable,
| and which are best averted by readiness for
| action should they be thrust upon us. At the
| most of our navy yards little could be do ne
| during the past year beyond making the re.
| pairs to keep them from falling to decay.
AT MARE ISLAND,
| our only naval establishment on the Pacific,
| the new dry dock and the iron working shop
| tor construction are well in hand and will add
| largely to its resources. We have great naval
interests on the Pacific, and 1 cannot too
strongly express the hope that Congress may
| strengthen them by liberal appropriations to
| develop this admirably placed arsenal.
ESTIMATES FOR THE YEAR.
The estimates for the next fiscal year are
| s9252,235 and to this Is added the sum of
1864, $50 for current repairs of buildings, docks,
| aud incidental expenses III the navy yards.
| &c. These estimates are less than those OF
| last year by rather moro than 50, ,000, 900, but
they do not include any extraordinary expendi-
| ture for the permanent impr vement OF the
| navy nor the amounts necessary either for the
| repair of our lrOn-clad fleet nor for the coL-
| tinued prosecution of some OF the great works
necessary to the proper condition of our naval
| establishments.
THE VIRGINIUS DIFFICULTY.
| have felt 1t to be my duty, under the exist.
ing circumstances, to take promptly every
| means in my power to put our available torce
| In the best possible condition for immediate
| and active service. All the power and means
of the department are nov devoted to this end,
| greatly aided atteverY poi by the enthusIas-
tic activity of the officers Il every grade of the
service. Difficult of accomplishment as our
purpose at flr5t seemed, difficulties, and even
| apparent impossibities are found to fade
| aWAV before 0ntp prmina n.
| tlVlLy, and the navy is already in such q con-
| dltl0n that those TO whom our interests and
| honor are entrusted may be relieved from the
| ambaTrassments OF a situation where lust de-
termination might be disregarded because
| thought to be powerless, or decent cOnsidera.
| ton be mistaken for fear. IL is neither neces-
sary nor proper that should enter here into
| details OF our preparations. Suffice 1t to say
that respectable force of war vessels ana
| DonltoIs Is already on the sea and concen-
trating az the station nearest the scene of our
| possible dlthcultles; that our whole available
ron,clad fleet Is III hand, and every war yes.
sci that Will float in active preparation at the
| various naval stations. These Will be ready
Ior sea, lully hGted, as fast as proper crews can
De provided for them, and If the necessity for
| lctlOn should come before the time for it ar
| rlves, all there is of the American Navy which
can be put atloat on the Atlantic Ocean VIII be
| III condition and position to take Its proper
| pact Inadequate as this force may be deemed
to the responsi 0iitles and pretentiOns of a
| government like ours, and greatly at dlsad.
vantage, as we certainly Will be- IN respect to
the number and character of our vessels in q
contest with the fleets of any respectable naval
| power, Ibeleve that the activity, skill, science
and experience of our navy Will be found
equal to any difficulty which courage dare TO
| meet or energy VIII avail to conquer. They
are thoroughly mbued with the spirit educa-
ted III the details, and experienced In the war
like duties OF their profession, skilled IN the
use of all The terrible weapons which science
has provided for modern warfare. and
a mind to meet any crisis without
shrinking from danger. Thus pre-
Jared and in this eplrit, thev are
READY TO MEET ANY OF THEIR coUNTRY's AID.
| EERsARIEs
with the means with which their country pro-
| YIdes them, In taking the action above re.