The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1876-12-06

wards. some recurring slight and Others ex-
tensive repairs, but most of them could be
made ready for any special service in short
time. There is also on hand, stored at the
various navy yards live oak timber sufficient
for 35 new ships of war, besides large guam
tity of other valuable timber and naval ma
terial OF ever kind. Our navy is now far
more powerful for our warlike purposes
than 1T ever has been before in time of peace
1t does not compare, either in numbers or
character of the vessels with the expensive
establishments of those EurOpeon nations
whose mutual relations keep them always
In armed array; whose contiguous coasts
and deep harbors al home and scat
tered colonies all over the world seem
TO require that they should constantly
rival each other at whatever expense in the
size and power of their naval vessels and ar
maments, but for the defensive purpose of
peaceful people without colonies, with q
dangerous coast and shallow. haYbor,s sepa-
rated by vast ocean from the warlike ma
val powers, our navyi is not without strength,
and when its iron clad fleet shall be COM
pletely repaired, work requiring now but
little time and expense, and its force sup
plementea by the paratively cheap addi-
ton recommended, it will be found sufficient
TO resist any force which could be brought
across the ocean to attack u.s. and powerful
also for offensive operations upon the seas
and among the islands which lie contiguous
to our own shores. In view of the fact that
the appropriations for the principal working
bureaus average but little over So, 600 900
annually, and considering the cost OF merely
maintaining a navy consisting largely of
ships hurriedly built of perishable material
which, after requiring for few years con-
slant repairs, finally drop out of ser
vice from utter worthlessness the question
constantly recurs. brought up by conflicting
interests.and opinions, ''Shall we enter upon
the expensive and unsatisfactory construc-
ton of armor-p plated, gun-bearing vessels in
volving millions of dollars in the cost of each
one, or shall we be content with providing
ourselves at a minimum cost with the means
of destroying such vessels should they APP
pear in hostile attitude ON our coasts or in
our bays or harbors?" Fast. well built
wooden cruisers, proper for the police of the
seas, serving as schools OF instruction in
time of peace, and capable of destroy
ing an enemy's ship in time of
war, are under all conditions SER
viceable. The monitor class of vessels
has for us special and valuable uses in con-
| junction with other forces. The torpedo
| schools give our officers the instruction nee
essary to utilize whatever there is in this
most efficient aim of attack and defense. and
| would add to the force new element the
marine ram, which promises when con-
| structed upon scientific principles in forms
of special strength for its particular and APP
| propriate service to be a weapon OF most
destructive warfare. The construction of
| this class of vessels has been carefully con-
sidered for several years past by naval Off
Ger of high rank, assisted by able experts,
and detailed plans art put at the service of
| the department without cost or charge
| of any kind. The construction of such q
vessel of the best material and of special
strength would involve an expense of about
| 50, SOC, 900, and if successful as it promises
| 10 be, ii would add new element tending
to make our force complete in itself, at once
| economical and efficient. The department,
has lately adopted the plan of retaining all
ships on going into commission upon this
| coast and attached to the North Atlantic
squadron for a few months previous to or
dering them abroad. 1t is believed that the
effect has been beneficial, as any defects in
the ships or their machines can be remedied
at home and the discipline of the personnel
can be perfected in our ewn waters. The
department has also commissioned as re-
ceiving ships at the different naval stations
the frigates Wabash and Colorado at Boston.
and New York, and proposes to place the
Franklin at Norfolk instead of the hulks
formerly used for this purpose. These ships
| will form q reserve ready to be used in any
emergency. As a remedy for the reduction
| of the force of our fleet from $500 to 800
men, and for the purpose of maintaining a
trained class of men skilled in their duties
and devoted to their flag, the secretary
that congress give the necessary authority to
enlist annually 700 boys for the navy under
the existing laws. In addition to the num-
Der of men now allowed, it is also urged that
the enlisted men of the navy may be allowed
an outfit of clothing and banking system
for the navy such as is now in the army.
The naval academy has kept pace with the
changes which have taken place, and the
| branches there taught are those adapted to
the naval profession of to-day. The secre-
tary refers to the report of the bureaus in
the astronomical observations, the ordnance,
the naval signal service. the torpedo stations,
the nautical almanac, surveys OF the inter-
oceanic canab and other subjects connected
with the navy, and speaks in commentator
of those who have obtained important re-
suits in these branches. The secretary re-
| news his recommendations in the successive
annual reports in reference to our navy
yards and stations, and urges that their re-
| sources may be increased, and that sufficient
appropriations may be made 10 keep them
in thorough repair and ready for any emer-
gency. The report of the five commissioned
| officers ordered by congress TO examine fully
and determine whether any of the navy
yards can be dispensed with will be for
wardcd when receive d. On the list
of July. 1879 the amount of appropriations
applicable to the fiscal year ending June
30, 1876 was $1S,301, 1927. The
actual expenditure of these appropriations
during that period, namely. from July 1
to June 80. 1876, was $17, 1897 ,354.72. The APP
propriatioas available for the present year,
commencing July L, 1876, are in the aggre-
gate S12, 1880. The whole amount OF
these appropriations drawn up to the LIST
of the current month was $7,S79, 757. 10
From this may be deducted the amount in
the hands of the paymasters and agents OF
the government, and the amounts refunded
during the period above mentioned, which
will reduce the amount of these appropria-
tons actually expended since the COM
mencement of this fiscal year to less
than seven million. The estimates for
the general maintenance of the navy