Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 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 165 vessels, carrying
elusive OF howitzers, 26s guns, reduction since
his last annual report, by sale and otherwise, OF
thirteen vessels.
A general enumeration Of these vessels presents
6s steamers other than iron-clads and tugs, carry
ing S2o guns; % sailing vessels, with 81 guns; ~
ironclad vessels, with 121 guns; and IS tugs used
for navy yard and freight purposes. or this num-
ber there are at present in commission for sea
service, distributed on the several foreign stations
and on our own coast, forty-six vessels, carrying
4C7 guns. The cruising active forcc Of the navy
az they may be called, and which Is controlled by
the appropriations made and the seamen author
lied by law, IL about the same as last year
Six OF our live-oak cruising ships are now In the
various stages OF forwardness at the several navy
yards. These are all Of moderate size, and none
OF them sufficiently advanced 10 be Of present
use, but they are adapted 80 the wants of our
cruising navy, and WILL In few weeks add ma
terially to Its strength and efficiency The eight
sloops OF war authorized by the last Congress are
oil In process Of building. The valuable work
thus begun should not be discontinued but the
Department should be provided with a moderate
amount OF funds aud authorized TO commence
each year TO build a certain number OF tons, TO
supply regularly the regular yearly expenditure of
the naval force, which will OF necessity occur.
The work OF putting our ironclad force In eff
cent condition. referred TO In the Secretary's last
report been proceeded with as fast az the means
necessary for the extraordinary work could be
support Of the navy. The Wisdom Of this acton
needs no illustration from him at this time With
out 1t we would have been left not only powerless
TO assert our own rights, but almost defenseles
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 AZ necessity some OF
the vessels which were much In need Of repairs,
and whose crews needed a change having been
long In the tropics.
The expedition for the survey Of the Darien and
lnter.Oceanic Canal had completed iis duties and
submitted its reports.
The Secretary, in speaking Of the Polaris says
her cruiss has been decidedly the most successful
| Of Arctic expeditions. The geographical knowl-
edge Of the Arctic regions has been largely advanc-
ed by IL. very particular questioning OF every
one Of the officers and crew OF the Polaris and OF
the scientihc corps, except the three persons yet
uDexamined, has completely satisfied his associ-
ates aud himself that Capt. Halls death occurred
from purely natural causes; that his medical treat
ment was judiciousy adapted TO his case, and that
he was tenderly nurred and cared for 10 the last
The evidence has also made IL 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 earn
eat In his desire and In his attempts 10 reach
high northern latitude, and, II practicable the
Pole itself and that his untimely deeth was an
irreparabe loss to the expedition II IL also APP
parent that Capt. Buddington, who succeeded TO
the chief command the death OF Capt. Hail.
proved himself TO be good seaman, and that In
all dangerous positions In which the Polaris was
placed, his conduct as the commander skillful
and judicious-the natural result OF long expe-
rience at sea and In command In northern lati-
tudes.
The Secretary renews the recommendation that
the forces In our navy yards be increased and de-
veloped so that we may be prepared for all emer-
Be abandoned -. and nd new BSiIdine4 erected at
League leland that the New York Yard be pre-.
served In its present site, and that the Pensacola
yard be, In a measure rebuilt.
The Secretary earnestly recommends that am
pie provision be made for the support OF the
Ordnance Bureau, In order that nothing may in
terfere with the efforts TO supply our ships with the
The estimates for the next fiscal year are $i9,-
l5 35, and 10 this Ia added the Of 1894 $50 for
the current repairs Of buildings docks, and incl
dental expenses In the navy yards, etc. These es-
Inmates are less than those OF last year by rather
more than 100000, but they do not include any
extraordinary expenditure for the permanent i'm
provement OF the navy, nor amounts necessary for
The repairs OF our iron clad feet nor for the conin
ued prosecution Of some OF the great works nee
essary 10 proper condition Of our naval estab-
lishment.
In reference TO the vhgnus matter, the secre-
tary says that since the commencement Of the
present month tNoyember) events have taken
place which make u proper that the navy should
be put at once upon footing for active service A
| respectable force Of war-vessels and monitors IL
already on the ses and concentrating at the stations
nearest the scene OF our possible difficulties. Our
whole available iron-clad feet u on hand, and
every wooden vessel that Will float II In active
preparation at the various naval stations. These
will be ready for sea, fully fitted as fast as proper
siy for action come before the time for Il arrives,
ali there Is Of the American navy which can be
put snoat on the Atlantic Ocean will be In condi-
ton and position to take Its proper part. 49,.
may be deemed TO the responsibilities and preten-
sions Of q Government like ours, and greatly at .
disadvantage, a. we certainly shall be n respect to
the number and character OF our vessels In con-
test with the fleets Of any respectable naval power
believe that the activity, SKILL science and expe-
Renee Of our navy will be found equal TO any din,