The New York herald., 1875-12-02

following named vessels has been repaired and rented
for actual service: Franklin Pensacola, Plymouth,
Tconderoga Osspee, Tuscarora, Canoncus, Saugus,
Gettysburg, Tallapooss, Jason, Montauk, Nantucket
and Palos the four last named having
ceved new boilers Repairs to the following
named vessels arc now being executed
Monocacy, Comanche Snowdrop, Benicia, Amph
rite Monadnock Terror Ashueot, lroquois, Cohasset
Leyden Maynowcr, Phlox and Rose All but the three
first named will receive boilers The machinery
Of the Colorado Wabash, BROOKLYN, Canandagua
Congress Dictator Lancaster Shenandoah, Worcester
Junata Narragansett, Saco, Wauchusett, Wyoming,
Pinta and Standsh need repairs He says
Since my last reporI compound engines for the
Alert Alliance, Ranger, Adams Essex aud Huron have
been completed and successfully tried Compound en-
gines for the Trenton Enterprise and the
double turreted monitor MIantonomoh are in process
OF construction and arc being erected on
board the two former vessels Engines tor the
from simple to compound. The Swatara, the nrst or
the compound engine ships has made successfully
voyage around the world service connected with
the transit OF Venus expedition The vessel encoun-
tered empesuous weather and continuous succession
OF gales of Cape Horn and in the high southern latL
tudes visited Before sailing she had not been SUD
jeced Tor want Of time, the usual trip a sea, but
Notwithstanding this the fact established on the
voyage that type OF engine yet used In the navy
had produced such economical results the compound
engine with which the Swatara was fitted
In regard TO boilers he says vessels fitted with
the old type OF jet condensers were able TO use their
boilers much longer time than those furnished with
the modern type of tubular surface rerigerat
ing condensers, but the economy in fuel effected by
the use of the latter improved condenser more
than compensated for the increased cost of
the boilers In each case, The decay
of boilers incident to the use OF
the surface condenser has arrested to great
extent by the OF the hltcring apparatus which
promises the future extended period of endurance
Of the boilers, in connection with which 1t may be
applied. He refers to his recommendations last year in
regard to the discontnuance of the bladed pro-
pellers and says from carefully conducted expert
ments the failacy of their vessels was made
apparent The four bladed have been restored
to several of naval steamers, and these changes
will be continued as opportunities afforded
Owing to the great number OF vacancies tho
Naval Engineer corps much of the duty formerly de-
volving upon engineer officers ia performed by
class OF enlisted rated machnsts In the effort
to procure the reliable class of men for
this duty the pay of the grade increased in
ducement for accepting the positions, but lit
tie Improvement in this direction has
in consequence OF the ignorance neglect of the rre
sponsible men in charge of the regular steamng
watches, has become frequent occurrence, attended
with great danger and disabling the machinery for the
time being and until repairs effected in many
OF the most expensive character On comparison Of
the actual cost of vessels In commission with full com
plements OF machnists, and again With engineer of
hcers 1t is found TO be cheaper when the latter
poyed in view increased cost tor repairs to ma
chnery without reference TO the proper and efficient
maintenance Of the Engineer Department to the
danger resulting from accidents avodable by the
ployment of responsible engineer officers. largo
number Of still exist in the list of
engineers and but few qualified candidates applying
for the positions The engineer graduates Of the Naval
Academy filling OF these vacancies very sat-
isfaetory, but they insufficient number at the
present time. The system of educating officers for
the Engineer Corps at Annapolis enc that cannot be
TOO strongly commended 1t s already bearing
good fruit in the service as the graduates highly
commended for usefulness and zeal by their superior
officer At Annapolis have q scientific school OF
mechanical and marine engineering second TO none in
the world and would respectfully recommend that its
usefulness be extended by increasing the number of
cadet engineers TO such extent to h In short
time the vacancies now existing in the corps and rem
der unnecessary further appointments direct from
civil life Officers trained at the Academy necessarily
enter the service at earlier age than direct ap-
pointees, and for that reason will be much more likely
than they to remain permanently in the navy and not
resign when, from experience their services have at
tanned their highest value to the government
There s in the steam engineering plant OF tho sew
eral navy yards large amount Of valuable machinery
affordng means adequate to maintaining in proper
and efficient condition the machinery of the vessels
of the navy At present constituted, and for
the construction of such marine engines and
boilers may probably be required for the naval pur
poses of strictly peace organization Should, how
ever any emergency arise rendering necessary any
considerable increase Of the naval force the
or private establishments would necessarily be called
into requiston
The limited amount appropriated for the purposes OF
this Bureau renders II necessary TO enconomze and
duce its expenditures the lowest possible limit The
hours OF labor the navy yards have been reduced
of Congress by two enths from those previously
required a days work. This has had the effect Of
increasing the expenditures for labor practically
fourth the amount of work. and hence 1t has
become cheaper to procure much of the work formerly
executed at the yards from private establishments
One third of the whole amount appropriated by Con-
gress for the purpose Of this bureau is absorbed by Ia
Dor done navy yards, and under the changed cond
tons alone referred to the amount expended for labor
will need to be increased oneourtn in order 70 obtain
the same result in work as formerly.
The of conducting experiments and OF obtaining
thererom reliable data, tending to secure increased
efficiency and economy in all matters pertaining to
the science OF marine propulsion precludes
private individuals corporate companies from at
tempting them, except upon very limited SCALE The
engineering skill OF this and other maritime nations
look to their governments TO conduct these expert
ments and publish tor She general good, the data
and deductions obtained from them Since the close of
the late rebellion Congress has ceased to grant appro
priations for experimental purposes under cognizance
OF tins bureau and in order to obtain data for the de-
ductions which lead to improved designs for machinery
the bureau has been compelled TO seek such reliable
formation could be procured from private sources
In conclusion, he recommends that sum OF money be
appropriated yearly for the prosecution OF such expert
ments be deemed proper by the Secretary OF the
Navy.
REPORT OF THE COMMISSIONER OF THE LAND
oFFIcE-DEcREAsE IN THE DISPOSAL OF LANDS
FOR SETTLEMENT AND THE REASONS THERE
FOR.
In his annual report, says
The dsposas or public lands under various heads for
the fiscal year amount to OIL 27l 20 acres show
ing compared with the area disposed of
in 1874 of 400 col O. acres The falling of compared
with the dsposas of the year Immediately preceding in
entries made for actual settlement as evidenced by the
appropriations Of the public lands under the Homestead
and Timber Culture laws is found TO be 500 500 "a
acres THIS result may be attributed In large degree
70 the devastation by grasshoppers, accompanied in
places by season OF unusual drought in the To-
cates most inviting TO homestead and timber culture
settlement to which is 70 be added tho falling OF Of
emigration and tho general business depression which
has reached the agricultural we'll the other indus
trial classes OF the country AS may be gathered from
the general views submitted further In this paper,
it will be that in my Judgment not only the pres
falling on but steady diminuton for the future in
thus class OF entries may be looked for from
the fact in the localities most desirable for homo
stead settlement on account Of the gen
eral fertility Of the soil and the presence
of conditions necessary to the honest observance Of
the requirements OF the law the lands, great
tent, have passed 10 private ownership IL is also 10
be borne mind that the rapid extension Of railroads
toward and beyond the borders of the then existing
apto hnr IN ad n trdu