The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1873-12-19
Report of the Secretary of the Navy.

/ Inc NffffllTN OF the NAVY. IN Ms report 10
/ the President SAYS there are now i'm the navy
l15 vessels, carry ing. exclusive Of howitzcrs.
1 .9bJ guns-a reduction since his last annual
report, by sail and otherwise. Of l3 vessels.
y general enumeration of these vessels pre-
SCENTS d3 steamers other than iron-clads and
tugs. carrying $50 guns; - sailing vessels.
b. guns ~ irOn-clad vessels. III guns: and
- tugs. used for naN-yard and freight pur-
poses. one of this number there are al pres
ent in commission for sea service. distributed
ON several foreign stations and on our own
coast, Ii vessels carrying 401 guns The
cruising or active force Of the navy, - these
may be called, AMI which j. controlled hv the
appropriation, made and scamen authorized
by law, il about the same n last year six Of
our lNc-Oak cruising ships are now in yariou,
stages Of fOrwardncss al 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 it, strength and
efficiency. The eight >loops Of war author
lied by the last Congress are nll in process Of
building. The valuable work thu. begun
should not be discontinued. but the Department
should De provided with moderate amount
OF funds, and authorized 10 commence each
year 10 build q certain number Of tons 10 sup
ply regularly the regular yearly expenditures
of naval force which will of necessity occur.
The work Of putting our irOn-clad force In
an efficient condition, referred 10 i'm the >ccrc-
tary's last report. has been proceeded with a.
fast a. the means necessary for extraordinary
work could be- spared from the current appr0-
priations for the support Of the navy. The
wisdom Of this needs no Illustration from
him M thi. time. Without il we should have
been left. not only pOwcrle>- 10 assert our
own rights but almost defcncclcss against ar
rogancc and aggression.
The Secretary says the naval force on
in
spring and summer by ordering north. a.
necessity, some Of the vessels which were
much in need Of repairs. and whose crews
needed change, having been long in the
tropics.
The expeditions for the survey ofthe Darien
aud Nicaragua lntcr-oceanic Canal have
completed the work and submitted reports.
The Secretary rcnews hi, recommendation
that the resources Of our nayy-yards bc in
creased and developed 80 a. Ia be prepared
for all emergencies; that the old nayy-yarl az
Philadelphia be abandoned and new buildings
erected al League Island; that the New York
ward be preserved in the present lite and the
Pensacola yard he in measure rebuilt.
The Secretary ecommend> that ample pro-
vision be made for the support OF an ordnance
bureau in order that nothing may interfere
with IL efforts 10 supply our ships with tie
most powerful guns.
The estimates for the next fiscal year are
4 49, -
Ss'4.jS9 for current repairs TO buildings.
docks and Incidental expenses To navy-yarts.
etc. These estimates are less than those Of
last year by rather more than S2.000.0O0; but
/ they do not include any extraordinary cNpen-
diture for the permanent Improvement Of the
navy. nor the amounts necessary either for
the repair Of our ron-clad fleet. nor for the
continued prosecution Of some Of The great
works necessary 10 the proper condition of
our naval establishment.
Since the commencement Of the present
month events have taken place which made il
proper that the navy should be put az once
upon footing for active service. II j. by no
means the province Of this department. ~
/ such. 10 take part in the conduct or discussion
4 of any diplomatic question. Nor should its
attitude al time when serious International
difficulties are possible be- held 10 indicate
anything more than determination on the
part of military department OF the Govern
ment 10 be prepared for action. should ne
cesstv for action arise. 4 respectable force
Of war vessels and monitors j. already on the
sea and concentrating ut the station nearest
the scene Of our possible difficulties. our
whole available iron-clad fleet i in hand. and
every wooden war vessel that Will noat IN ac-
tive preparation at the various naval stations.
These viii be ready for sea fully fitted %. fast
as proper crews ccn be provided for them.
and If the necessity for action should come
before the time for IL arrives, all there J. Of
the American navy which can be put anoai
on the Atlantic Ocean viii bc IN condition
and position 10 take it, proper part.
=" Inadequate" SAYS the Secretary. "aS this
force may be- deemed to the responsibilities
and pretcnsions Of Government like ours.
and greatly at disadvantage. n we certainly
will be in respect 10 the number and charac-
ter Of our vessels in contest with the fleet Of
any respectable naval power. | believe that
the activity. skill science and experience Of
our navy will be found equal 10 any difficulty
which courage dare TO meet, or energies will
avail To conquer
The Secretary adds I'm taking the action
above referred 10. the Navy Department has
already incurred considerable expense, and
has been forced to assume some responsible
ties unusual i'm time of peace. but convinced
Of the wisdom Of prompt and decided action.
| have not shrIlnk from those responsibilities.
nor hcsitatcd, with the approval Of the Presi-
dent. TO make warike preparations In the In
terest Of peace and Of humanity. confidently
rely for support in this attitude upon the pa
triOtism and good sense Of the American peo-
pie and their representatives. who cannot fail
10 remember that orr naval condition j. the
result Of causes which have been constantly
pressed upon their consideration. bat which
have failed to receive full attention. doubtless
on account gilmore pressing requirements and
obligations. and who will clearly realize that
duties constantly postponed are certain 10 DC
more difficult and much more expensive
when performed in haste under the pressure
Of iInpcri0u~ necessity. The Department ha>
had no necessity 10 oycrstep H. appropria-
tons. even IL il were lawful 10 do So but the
pressing demands Of the present viii consume
now what was provided for the service Of the
year In several Of the working bureaus.
These must be- promptly relieved II their
work Is TO 20 on The occasion has clearly