Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1875-12-07
Re port OF the Secretary of the Navy.

The number OF vessels OF every G. ass and
description now borne Oh the navy register
is 1H. These carry, ali told, 1,l9j guns, ana
are OF 10, 1872 tons measurement. or these %,
carrying nominally 26G guns, are sailing YES
sells without steam power. No appropriation
for repairs was made by the last Congress for
the Washington navy yard, and the build
ings will necessarily require larger expen-
diture OF money 10 place them in thorough
tinuously carried on. This yard contains a
quantity of excellent machinery, and as a
manufacturing yard has no superior in this
country. The department has deemed IL ai-
visable to resume the enlistment OF boys, TO
serve till reaching p years of age, under the
existing laws enacted for that purpose. The
great want OF intelligent native born sea-
men to man our vessels has been seriously
felt OF late years, and IL becomes a measure
OF national Importance 10 remedy this evil.
The chief OF the bureau of equipment, &c,
reports very favorably of the progress OF the
experiment OF q law authorizing the enlist
ment OF 500 boys, with an outfit of $50 10
each, which recommendation l earnestly re-
commend for the favorable consideration OF
The Secretary thinks IL Congress would
provide that the officers OF the marine corps
should be appointed from the Naval Acad-
envy, and subjected TO regular examinations
for promotion the standing and efficiency OF
the corps would be largely improved. and the
government would at the same time util-
ize TO larger extent the educational opportu-
mites afforded to its benefciaries at the
dCduetny.
The appropriations applicable to the fiscal
year ending June 80, 1876, amounted, in the
aggregate, TO $l9, Z3,I 3l.2l and the actual ex-
penditures for the same periot from these
appropriations, amounted 10 Is SIS, 526.y6, or
about $500 less than the whole amount.
Estimates FOR the next year foot up
sic, so, lG6.i0 The cost OF the new buildings
asked for, and the current expenses for re-
pairs OF all kinds 10 the docks, buildings. and
public works at the various navy yards and
stations Of the country is estimated TO re-
quire, in addition, the sum OF Sill 5000.
This ma kes the whole amount OF these esti-
mates about s22c, 900 less than the amount
asked for last year for like purposes. There
is also an additional sum OF 81 ,957 ,0o0, aske y,
for by the various bureaus and submitted =
the department, for various objects OF pr
ing importance, but which are not ne,, -
rily included in the estimates for the ~ 80
maintenance OF the navy proper. 0i ~
1t is gratifying TO be able 10 report ho, a. y.
navy is now in a stronger and more sast Ius
condition than IL has ever been at any si,.,as
at least since the commencement oS ny u.,ne e !,
ministration. II is not very So ~ yo -, a.
number nor In the classes OF 4 AZ INC
what there are OF them are in os Ell II, oat
tion as IL is practicable to K .sa So So coai-
rails OF war under the va .so,ips SUI 5 nass
conditions TO which they ara =, ~ tr,.ne
OF their services, consta- ,fjv arnossS " :
larger proportion than usns, - 80 a .t ,@a
ships are ready FOR ser vtce III our a,
emGenii our 'store-houses are fairly