The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1876-12-05
rae Navy Derartsncnt---Annuai Re.
mort Of the Secretary.

mort OF tssG SccrStarSs
THE following extracts are collected from
the annual report of The Secretary Of the
Navy for the present year:
There are now belonging TO the navy Of
the United States i46 vessels OF 100, 15T tons
measurement. Exclusive Of howitzcrs and
Cuttings they carry ,l4a guns. OF these I23,
carrying 9I3 guns, with q measurement Of
20,S94 tons, have steam power, and %, car
rving nominally 229 guns, with measure
ment OF 20,263 tons, arc sailing vessels. OF
the wholeGumber Of vessels Is are atpresent
in actual use, as follows: 81 are in commits
sion attached to fleets, In which number
are embraced IL iron-clad vessels on the
North Atlantic station. Two are IN use as
traiping-ships; on special service and as
boats; 3 are recelying-ships; are store
ships . more are used by States, under act
Of Congress, as scholarships, and 10 are in
use as quarters, gannery ships, tenders, &C.,
at tie navy-yards and shore stations. OF
the remainder, are preparing and almost
ready for sea, s are under repairs, and 90
are laid up st the various navy-yards.
The number OF vessels belonging to the
navy in 1869 was 203. Out Of this number
the available force was only los. Forty
seven Of these were being completed or re-
paired, or We're laid up at the several navy
wards, and OF these twenty-one ScreW-steam-
ers and four iron-clads were built Of white
oak and had all begun TO decay. Their USE
fumcss was therefore OF short duration, rs
their history, found in the appendix to this
report, shows. The other iron-clads which
possessed ..-..
THE PROPER FIGHTING QUALITIES,
and are included in the 10S vessels, were
also more er less rotten. and all required
extensive repairs. OF the 203 vessels Of
1869 there have been sold 40, broken up,
IS: lost at sea. SO yeSselS-thus reducing
the number TO 1874 vessels: to which add
the addition made to the navy since 1869 OF
new vessels, 10; purchased vessels, >
making the whole number on the register
at tic present time 1AG vessels. OF our
present force OH lG vessels OF every class,
40 are built OF iron-viz.: . doub'e-turreted
iron-claGS, Is single-turreted monitors,
torrcdo-boats, and Is steamers OF various
classes. OF the remainder, G5 are OF live
oak-viz: l iron-clad, steamers Of the
first rate, 20 steamers OF the second rate. IS
steamers of the third rate, and 90 sailing
vessels. The remaining IL are white-oak
ships OF almost every class. OF the
whole number, rs arc, as has been before
stated. in actual service. and are preparing
for sea: 1G NAV be considered rs entirely
used uD and unfit for future service; and
the balance are ut the various navy-yardS,
some requiring slight and others extensive
repairs but most of them could be made
ready for any special service IN short time.
Seventeen of our steamers have been fur
nished with compound engines and boilers
of the best class, and with the latest lm-
provements, and nearly all our other steam
crs have. during the last eight years, been
supplied with new boilers and their ma
chinerv extensively repaired.
There is also on hand. stored at the va
riouS naYy-yardS, liye-oak timber sufficient
for 35 new ships OF war. besides large
quantity OF other valuable timber and naval
material OF every kind. This shows our
navy far more powerful now than ever be-
for" in times OF peace.
ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES.
On the 1st CT July. 1915, the amount OF
the appropriations applicable to the 1lscal
wear ending June 80, 1876, was SlS,30l.-
1927. The actual expenditures OF these
appropriations during that perod-namely.
from July 1, 1875, to June 80, lSIG-Was
sI1,g37.354.72, or about 1861, $1,000 less
than the whole amount.
The appropriations available for the pre-
sent year, commencing July l, 1876, arc IN
the aggregate, s12,GGl, 5000. The whole
amount OF these appropriations drawn up
to the Isl OF the current month was I,Sl9,-
1j7.i9. From this may be deducted the
amount in the hands OF the paymasterS and
agents OF tie Government and the amounts
refunded during the period above-mcntion-
ed. which will reduce the amount OF these
appropriations actually expended since the
commencement Of this fiscal year and
during the working months to less than
100000.
The amount estimated for new buildings
and the repairs and improvements necessary
at the various nayy-yardS, stations, and hos
pitfalls. is &, 90S,5 $50. There is also submit
ted by the
BUREAU OF ORDINANCE
an estimate for the sum OF $4,000, deemed
necessary to provide the proper armament
for our large iron-cladS and other ships
now being fitted for sea. This shows an
aggregate sum of about 100000 less than
the amount which was asked for last year
for like purposes.