The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-01-16

Review of the Naval Regis
ter of 1873.
A Tour Of the United States Navy Yaras-Gen-
eral stagnation-No Building and but Few
Repairs Being Done-The Latest Ru-
mors, Orders and Promotions.

WASHINGTON, Jan. IL, 1873.
The FIRST issue OF the Navy Register for 1873 Is
rapidly preparing at the Navy Department, In the
hands OF the expert clerks, and your correspondent
culls a leaf in advance for the HERALD readers
The personnel OF the navy consists OF admiral,
vice admiral IA rear admirals, 25 commodores 30
captains 90 commanders. LAT lieutenant command
ers, 210 lieutenants. Here 1t may be as wen to
mention that the grade OF lieutenant commander
has been reduced sixteen the past year, while that
of lieutenant has been increased about seventy
all under the operation OF law which reduces the
first mentioned grade to eighty and increases
tho grade Of heutenants. There are 100
masters, so ensigns, $50 midshipmcn, ID
medical directors, IS medical Inspectors,
80 surgeons, 80 passed assistant surgeons,
IS assistant surgeons 13 pay directors, 1s pay In
spectors, SO paymasters, 80 passed assistant pay
masters, 80 assistant paymasters, 10 chief en-
gneers OF the first class, Is chief engineers OF the
second class 81 chief engineers OF the third class
90 nrst assistant engineers so second assistant en-
gineers, % chaplains Of the FIRST second and third
rates; professors OF mathematics OF the first,
second and third rates; secretaries % naval
constructors, frst second third and fourth rates;
civil engineers, 81 boatswains, 3s captains, 80
sailmakers, so mates, 81 cadet midshfpmen OF the
first class, 81 cadet midshipmen Of the second
cadet midshipmen of the fourth class, Is cadet
engineers. The retired list of all grades OF both
line and staff Offcers consists Of 219 officers.
THE MARINE CORPS
consists of brigadier general colonel lieuten-
ant colOnels majors, 20 captains, so first lieuten
ants 80 second lieutenants also IL retired marine
officers. The Navy Register makes no exhibit OF
the horses kept for the marines, although there
does appear in the estimates for this corps certain
horses required. 1t settles the fact that our navy
has horse marines. There are fifteen volunteer
officers still upon the Naval Register. Several Off,
GERS who were on the retired list OF the navy have
been restored within the past twelve months,
among whom may be named Captains Thompson
and Beaumont, also Ensign Morton. Several OIL
GERS who we're unJustv overslaughed in the pro-
motion OF 1866 have been restored to their original
place upon the Register, among whom may be
named Captains McCauley, Franklin. A. W. John
dergrast and Mccain; Lieutenant Commanders
Sands and Sigsbee have been advanced. Further
RESERVATIONS are to take place this session OF Con-
gress. 1t is said Captains Prebe and Cooper are
mentioned as petitioners before Congress. During
this year the following officers will be placed upon
RETIRED LIST
fOrtytve years service. viz. Rear Admiras $. r.
Lee, W. r. Taylor, b. +. Sands, Charles Steedman,
George +. EInmons John Rodgers, 4. A. jenkins;
Commodore G. H. Scott. This will promote Com
modOres Reynolds Parrott, Strong, Almy, Stanly,
SPOTS, Nicholson, Corbin, Thompson, sartori Rock.
endorn; also Commanders Russell, Stone, Davis
Semmes, Truxton, Young, Mayo, Jouett File
large number OF nominations tor prOmotionstn the
navy will be sent to the Senate in few days for
confirmation. The death on the active list OF com.
modores and one the captains list has increased
the promotions from commodores beyond eXpecta-
ton.
OF our war vessels will this year exhibit the follow
ing first rate steam lrgates of nearly five thousand
tons EACH, as follows;- MINNESOTA, Colorado,
called second rates are more numerous, and num-
Der thirty.nve in all, and are the Tennessee, Flor
5 Sas YGS
tan, Saranac, Beneca, omaha, Plymouth, Alaska,
!acKawannn IconderToSsa, M2n9 On ne Canaan
ing ones to be the reliable portion OF the list and
:s;ey are for time can be made efficient ships
Of war The Nevada, c9hnsctcgt H0wa, Antiistam
Congress, severn, Worcester, yanderbilt-these
upon their return from theft present cruises. Some
upon the stocks have been cut up, and others Will
be destroyed Ia the same way.
The third rates number twenty.four. Out OF
these the following are to be rebSiit-ane p SWa
delpha; the Galena at Norfolk. Three have been
condemned and will not be repaired, to wit:-The
Nantasket, Nyack and DacOtah.
OF the fourth rate steamers the Frolic is the nag
ship OF the Port Admiral OF New York, the only
seaport OF the great American nation that has TINS
luxury, and, believe, he also commands the Navy
Yard at New York, SO he has quarters ashore and
anoat; sea pay and allowances also for all |
crew Of this New York harbor cruiser receive sea
pay service. The Gettysburg is rebuilding at
Washington Navy Yard, and 1t Is supposed WIN
Palos are upon the Brazil and Asiatic stations.
The receiving ships are located as shown in the
previous Register The sabine is nov also are, fe
THE SAILING VESSELS, THIRD RATE,
first class consisting OF the Constitution, Inde-
pendence, Idaho, Macedonian, Potomac. Santee,
Savannah and Sc. Lawrence, are at the same
stations as last year. OF the third rates SECOND Sar
place there Is to be built steam slOop-of-war or
about 1900 tons. The Marion has been torn up and
will be reproduced as steamer OF about the same
size The Portsmouth sailed about month ago to
explore the Pacific Ocean. The Cyane Is In Or
binary; likewise the jamestown. The Saratoga
has been sent to Annapolis, Nd, as gunnery
vessel for the midshipmen there. The ST. Louis,
with officers and crew, is used at League Island as
a guard ship over that island and the many IRON
clads 10 see that island and iron-clads do not DRIFT
away during the freshets. The ST. Marys Is now
upon her return to the Eastern States via Cape
Horn. The Dale and Pawnee as noted in previous
Register. The Relief condemned as storeship. the
Supply and Guard getting ready Tor trip to the
The yacht America is at Annapolis, laid up, slowly
rotting, and of no use, apparently to any one.
THE IRON-CLADS
may be said to have been lat least few OF them
taken in hand. The Canonicus was ordered to
have new iron decks and beams SO she was placed
out OF commission ana ner Ouicers anu crew trans-
ferred to the Saugus which vessel 1t Is SAID, but
very lately attempted to go from Philadelphia to
| Hampton Roads, and was compelled to put back
owing to the inef1ciency OF her pumps and the
| mistake in placing her turret The Ajax, Mahopac,
| Manhattan and Canonicus, II is reported, are the
only ironclads Of their class worth repairing and
they are In hand. The Terror at Key West, will be
brought to Northern port this Spring. II possible
Nothing will be done to the other iron-clads unless
repairs. The prevailing opinion Ia that there are
not many worth repairing, perhaps few with
| iron hulls excepted. So much for the ships, ex
cept 1t may be mentioned that the Colorado ant
| Alaska are now upon their return from foreigr
stations; and during 1873 the Plymouth, Shenan
| doah, Worcester and Shawmut Will 10 out OF com
| mission, and the Monongahela. Juniata, Ossipee
also the storeships Guard and Supply, will be com
missoned, and perhaps the Minnesota
Business I'm the Several Navy Yards.
| PORTSMOUTH NAVY YARD.