The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1873-12-18
THE AMERICAN NAVY.
Secretary RsbesOn's Report OF its Prel
ent Condition ana Prosneets.

Inc secretary OF the navy; IN his re-
port to the president, says that there are
now in the navy 165 vessels, carrying,
exclusive of howitzers, 1,269 guns, a
reduction since his last annual report,
by sale or otherwise, of thirteen vessels.
A general enumeration of these vessels
presents sixty three steamers, (other
than iron-clads and tugs, carrying 826
guns % sailing vessels, 800 guns 2S
iron-clad vessels, 121 guns, and % 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
| ized 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 AMI efficiency. The eight
sloops-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 a 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 RoN-oLADs.
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.
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 defeneeless 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 a necessity, some of the YES
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 its 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
judiciously 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 |
high northern latitude, and if practical
BILE the Pole itself; and that his un-
timely death was an irFeparable loss to |
the expedition. 1t is also apparent that |
Capt. Buddington, who succeeded to |
the chief command on the death of |
Capt Hall, proved himself to be good |
seaman, and that in all the dangerous |
positions in which the Polaris was
placed, his conduct, as her commander,
was skillful aud iudicious, 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 ereo-
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 SIS, ,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 1000, 600. but they do not
include any extraordinary expenditure
for the permanent Improvement of the
navy, nor the ornaments necessary either
for the repair of our iron-clad feet,
nor for the continued prosecution of
some of the great works necessary to a
proper condition of our naval estab-
lishment
THE PRESENT EMERGENCY.
Since the commencement of the pres
ent month, events have taken place
which made it proper that the navy
should be put at once upon a footing
for active service. It is by no means
the province of this department as such
to take part in the conduct or discus
sion of any diplomatic question, nor