The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1876-12-15
Report OF the Secretary OF the Navy.

WAsHINGroN. Dec. 3. The report OF the Sec
rotary OF the Navy viii show that there are be-
longing TO the navy lti vessels. of 49,, 10 tons
measurement. Exclusive OF howitzers and Cat
hngs they carry 4 ,lt2 guns. OF these l23 carry
sl3 guns, with measurement OF 10, Oss tons +,
AMI have steam power, % are in actual service,
and i've are preparing Tor sea; a. may be con-
sitered entirely unit for future service, and the
remainder are az the various navy yards some
tquirng slight and others extensive repairs
but most OF them could be made reaoy for
any special service In a short time. There
IL also on hand stored nj the various navy
yards live oak timber sufficient Tor s. new ships
of war, besides large quantity Of naval mate
rial u every kind. The Secretary says our
Navy De- now far more powerful for Warlike pur-
poses than 10 ever has been before In time Of
peace. 10 dyes not compare either In number or
character Of vessels with the expensive estah-
lshments Of those OF the European nations
whose mutual relations keep them always IN
armed array, and whose contiguous coasts and
deep hArbors az home and scattered colonies an
over the world seem % require that they should
constautly rival each other az whatever expense
In the size and power Of their naval yes
sells and armaments, but for the defensive
purposes Of peac ful people without colonies
with dangerous coast and shallow harbors
separated bv a vast ocean from war-LSe naval
powers, our navy H. Mt without strength and
when IL iron. clad nect shall be completely re-
palre- work requiring now but little time and
expense, ana itr force supplemented by the
comparatively cheap ADDITION recommended, u
viii be- found sufficient % resist any force which
could Dee brought across the ocean To attack us q,
and powerful also for offensive operations upon
the seas and among the islands which lie con-
uguOus q our own shores.
In view ~ the fact that the appropriation for
the two principal working bureaus IT the Depart
mcnt average bat little over q . 60, Ool annually
and considering the cost OF merely maintaining
a navy consisting largely Of ships hurriedly built
of pcrishab e. material which, after requiring for
a few years con slant repair, finally drop out 81
the service from utter wOrthlessness, the SeCrc-
tarY recommends the construction Of fast wooden
cruisers, q serve a. schools of instruction In
times Of peace and capable ~ destroying an en-
cmy's commerce IN time OF war, also, of the use
OF monitors ana marine rams for war purposes.
The Secretary repeats the recommendation Of
last year that Congress give the necessary au-
thorlty ~ enlist annually 80 boys for the Navy
under existing laws. nut, la addition 90 the
number Of men now allowed, he also urges that
the enlisted men of the Navy may be- allowed an
outnt Of clothing, and banking system
for the Navy such as IL now In the Army
The estimates Tor the general maintenance Of the
Navy for tho next year are Ell 80 .ull, togeth
or with an additional amount ~ 81 So, ~ To
supply an inevitable deficiency In the pay ap-
preparation. and u enable the department o.
resctnd IT, order placing all unemployed officers
on furlOugh pay. aud 90 make up % those who
have been or may be 20 reduced, without fault
on their part, the amount u pay which they
would have received.