The Toledo chronicle. [volume] (Toledo, Tama County, Iowa) 1873-1924, 1874-12-10
The Navy.

The annual report Of the Secretary of the Navy
shows the navy To be in remarkably efficient
condition, both as regards the number of vessels
and their armament and ses-going qualities. The
navy at present consists of 63 vessels, with 1,35t
guns. OF iron clad armored vessels, sixteen
are of class and in condition for actual and eff
cent service. -Four others, of the class of pow
erful double-turreted monitors. are actually
on hand undergoing repairs, and u fifth is
well worth the same attention, but the
remainder may he counted really useless for
any active and efficient purpose. one-haf
of the steam navy adapted to cruising is in COM
mission and in actual service. This number of
vessels cannot be prudently diminished; but If
ii is to be maintained there must be II gradual
and constant addition TO the navy To supply the
places Of those which are each year found To be
worn out and uutit for further service, and for
this purpose a fixed amount for tonnage should
be built every year. Ihc tonnage may he small,
but it should be constant aud untaiiing. 10
this end the department has accumulated Il
large amount Of liveoak timber in various navy
Yards. where il Will yearly improve in condition
and be available the very best material for the
frames of any ships it may at any time be neccs-
sary or desirable TO build. The rapid and almost
complete disappearance of this most valuable
ship-lumber from our shores, larec quantities
being sent abroad should arrest the attention
Congress, and measures should be taken 10 reenrc
what remains.
The Secretary recies the facts in the Virginius
affair. and refers to the yellow fever epidcmic at
Pensacola and the great naval trial of the coast
of Florida He recommends that if the lcclahdlc
committee sent ont in Il Government vessel 10
examine several points on the Alaska eoast VIII
a view to settlement by their coun!rymcn shall
find Mt any point on the Pacific coast ~nt-
isiaetory location, whatever assistance the
Government is competent to extend toward
establishing an Icelandc colony there be
promptly offered. the lceiandefr Wonid
be a valuable and fruitful source of supply 10 the
naval serve, of trained Americana amen IN tine
of need. The Secretary calls attention 10 the I'M
portancc of the Hydro.ra phic office. lie thinks
special attention should he given t. surveys of
the Norm Pacific Ocean and ur4es the propriety
o increasing and developing The resources 0 the
navy yards. The appropria, ions appiita-
BILE to the i.cal year ending June %,
1874, including the uncxp nded balance
of appropriations for the building OF new
sloops, and special appropriations to reimburse
the bureaus for their great expenditures during
the threatened complications with spain, amount.
ed in the aggregate to S27.1i.,s z and the actual
expenditures for the same period from these al-
propriatons amounted to Sh,25il ), or about
5000. u less than the whole amount. The APP
preparations made available for the current year,
commencing July |, 1871, amount IN
the aggregate To Si9 2,3,i3i. The amount
of these appropriations for the cur
rent year drawn for the five months since July
up to Dec. l, 1874, Is Si1Sji, "a, which Il tt.
duccd by the amount refunded during the pell'l
and that remaining in the hands ol phymaster- and
agents Of the Government, which wlll lta'ea nttic
less than $50 U.0o0 a. the sum actually expended
from the current appropriation during the hNe
working summer months of this year.