National Republican., 1875-12-07
ration of tn. pr.vieu,ly existing friendly rsla.

ration of the previously existing friendly rsla-
me steam vessels Of the nsyy, % Distinguished
from iron clads and torpsdo-ships, number In the
whole ninety. i've, Of which, however, twenty-five
are tugs,
EMPLOYED AS TOWING.
ferry or torpedo boats at the various navy yards
or stations, or in use IS surveying vessels or IN
the service OF the fish commission, In accordance
with tho law directing the sams.
Trenton. on Adams Adams Essex, s Enterprise, Alliance,
Alert Huron and Ranger being the eight new
s9il SISss sR1ss MOScsn
Swstars, yandalla, Marion, QuinneoauSs,
Gsiens, NIpsic and TallapeOsa being rebuilt " dh
ehinery during The two or three years last past.
Besides such Of these new ships as are In Commits.
sps c hs n ctss
vice as cruisers or training ships, and twelve Of
the remainder, though requiring more or less re-
needed, be put in good condition for service as
soon Ss sailors ceuld be enlisted to man them.
The report gives q detail Of the work Of the
the European stations, mentions
TIE force on the Asiatic station, probably the
consists of the Tennessss, dag ship KearsarTe,
Yantie, Ashuelot, Monocacy, Saco and Palos,
and is under the command Of Rear Admiral Wm.
Reynolds. Rear Admiral Alex. NJ. Pennock,
whom he succeeded, relinquished the command
at Yokohama, June "a on account Of Ill health
cisco Commander 4. +. r. Lewis, the senior
Officer on the station, was left In command until
the arrival out Of Rear Admiral Reynolds. The
latter sailed In the Tennessee from New York,
June %, and proceeded to his station BY way Of
the Mediterranean and the Suez canal. The
passed safely through the canal, thercs on to
Adm, Bombay, Colombo and Penang, at which
latter place Rear Admiral Reynolds reported his
arrival Oh the 10Th Of September. He has prob
ably reached Yokohama, the
HEADQUARTERS OF THE STATION
A plan is given Of the services on the North
Pacific station, commanded by Roar Admiral
Almy, and which consists ct present OF the flag
made to the unfortunate loss Of the Saranac in
Seymour Narrows on the 18th Of June last, the
Sislai reports Of which have been PTsyiOgsiy
important service Of the Tuscarora, and to her
important service in conducting, at the instance
Of the Department OF State, an inquiry into the
claims, or complaints, Of American citizens
against the natives Of that group. This duty
was performed In highly satisfactory and pru-
dent manner, and the course Of her commanding
officer and those associated with him was such as
to inspire feeling OF friendship and good will
between the rulers Of Samoa and the citizens Of
Rear Admiral Almy has given much Of his
time to the Hawaiian group, probably the most
mind. He sailed from there on the 25th OF Sep
tember last for Lower California and the west
coast Of Mexico, and Is looked for at San Fran
The South Atlantic station is commanded by
Rear Admiral VIM. E. Le Roy, and consists Of
and FrOiic. TSe Brooklyn Joined the station
May 20, taking the place Of the Lancaster, and
the Frolic has probably reachedit. The latter is
TO SUCCEED THE WASP,
which is about worn out, and not being in a con-
ditisn to make the passage home, has been or
The North Atlantic station, which comprises
the Hartford, Worcester, Powhatan, Plymouth,
Swatars, ossipee, Alert, Huron, shswmut Rio
and storeshp Pawnee, alluded to at considerable
length In the report 1t comprises within its lin.
its All me West Indian and adjacent Islands, the
leo, and those that wash the shores Of the great
istbmus, Central America and the Spanish main.
irsos fores %.ssrs and in Sss.s
with foreign authority. Here are centred the
arise the most dificuIt responsibilities which rsst
upon us in our relations to other governments.
The feet which oecuples this station is some
for rgeneraIpuTpOs.s s. Of the ships above mentioned,
but all our tron-clads, except two which are at
taehed to the Pacific feet, really belong 70 II
service In the Atlantic can also be readily at
tached to this feet, well as our reserved force
for seTvieo at The varcus Atlsptid ssasiops ~ IL
could also be rapidly reinforced at any time by
all the chips in ordinary at the several Atlantic
of the European and South AtlsntIc stations are
also within call, and could reach our shores in
less than a month, should their presence be
needed. BY utilizing all the means, We should
be able, If required, TO bring into actual service
on our own shores, in q very short time, feet OF
aSd oSsr @
ably moIe than one half Of this
FORCE is ALREADY IN COMMISSION,
and the remainder might be put into service as
RAPIDLY as their crews could be enlisted and organ
veys, and, in transmitting the report OF the com
mission appointed BY the President TO consider
the whole subject Of Communication by canal be-
Isthmus, says: This report is very concise, stat.
ing only results, and Is made in advance Of their
more elaborate and final report, giving the data
upon which these are founded.
Alter careful examination Of all the routes
proposed their unanimous conclusion Is that the
one known as ,'the Nicaragusn route, y beginning
ending north Of the Rio del Brito on the Pacific
affords the most advantages and presents the
feWest ditieulties OF any route yet found across
Upon the subject Of the hydrogrsphic office the
Secretary refers to the report Of the hydro
pertinent is fully alive to the subject OF conduct
ocean, Of employing our navy sfncers during
geographical science, and Of adding our mite to
the explorations constantly carried on by other
great I maritime at nations. IN the surveying and
stitutes about one half Of the coasts and waters
Of the globe. lettering to navy yards, the See
priations for new buildings or other works of In
pIovement have been made for several Of our
navy yards, and the email. amount Appropriated
cient to keep the buildings, stocks and whsrves In
that thorough state Of repair and efficiency which
should characterize all public works.
the current repairs. The appropriations asked
for the protection Of that part OF the yard border
pToyement and enlargement Of the ordnance
dock, are very much needed. Quite
LARGE AREA OF NEW GROUND
has been filled in during the past year without
cost TO the Government. and Is now valuable
ground for all purposes OF the navy yard. The
Secretary renews the Recommendation made in
his last annual report, as to the conservation Of
this valuable navy yard in its site and territory.
Nc APPROPRIATED for repairs was made BY the
expenditure or money TO place them in thorough
ously carried on. This yard contains 8 quantity
Of excellent machinery, and as o manufacturing
yard has no superior in this country.
The excellent location OF the Norfolk navy yard
commends IL to the favorable consideration OF
Congress. II has been partially rebuilt, but much
yet remains TO be done before Il Will be restored
TO It's former state Of sclency Appropriations are
asked for an additional timber-shsd and for n
shell-bouse at Craney island.
the enlistment Of boys, to serve till reaching
twenty.one years Of age, under the existing laws
enacted for that purpose. Tho great want Of in |
telligent native-born seamen to man our vessels |
has been seriously felt OF late years, and 1t be-
comes q measure OF national Importance TO rene
dy this evil. Other nations have felt the growing
scarcity Of good seamen to man their navies, and
are attempting by establishing schools and train
tngshps IN their ports, TO provide for the educa-
tion and training OF boys to become sailors.
The recommendations OF last years report IS to |
the wisdom, indeed almost absolute necessity, of
securing, before it passes entirely away as great
quantity as possible Of our sea-shore live oak,
the best ship timber Of the world, are reported,
and 1t is remarked that the rapid deterioration Of
all cur vessels built Of other wood constantly |
warns US how invaluable in this timber, now so |
rapidly passing away. As have before said, It |
is the growth Of centuries. and when once gone |
will never bo replaced. The supply, which was |
never large, is being rapidly exhausted, and It !
becomes yearly more difficult to procure. as what |
is left 10 being eagerly bought up for shipment |
abroad. All that we had Of 1t, laid up by the old
navy commissioners,
WAS CONSUMED DURING THE WAR,
and the Department has been endeavoring for the |
last few years, whenever It had the opportunity |
and the meens, TO secure what could be had for |
present use, or to be laid mp to season for the |
tuturo use fthe navy. All our new wooden ships |
have been built OF IL, and Whatever building or |
repairs ara done should be, as far as possible, Of
this lastiTI material which 10 as useful for the
backing q armored ships as for the frames OF |
The eon,mnndant of ,he MarIne corns nakes n