The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1876-12-27
The United States NAVY.

there are belonging TO III navy l4b YES
sells of $50, 157 tons measurement. E1-
elusive of howitzers and Calling guns,
they carry 1,142 guns. OF these, 1923,
carrying 913 guns, with q measurement
Of l20, 1898 tons, have steam power, and
twenty-three, carrying nominally 229
guns, are sailing vessels. In 1869 there
we're 203 vessels. OF these, there have
been sold forty-si1; broken up, eighteen;
lost at sea, five ; maxim si1ty-nine YES
sells, thus reducing the number to 134
vessels. To which add new vessels, ten;
purchased vessels, two. Thus making
the whole number on the register at the
present time LAG vessels. OF our pres
ent force Of every class, forty are built
of iron, namely: Five double.turreted
ironclads, fifteen single-turreted mont
tors !; two torpedo boats, and eighteen
steamers OF various classes. OF the re-
mainder, si1ty-fve are Of live oak,
namely {: one ironclad, five steamers of
the first rate, twNnty steamers Of the
second rate, nineteen steamers OF the
third rate, and twenty sailing vessels.
The remaining forty-one are white oak
ships of almost every class.
OF the whole. number, seventy-fve
are in actual service and four are pre-
pairing for ses; sixteen may be consid-
cred as entirely unfit for future service,
and the remainder are OF the various
navy yards, some requiring slight, and
others extensive repairs, but most OF
them could be made ready for any
special service in O short time. Seven
teen of our steamers have been furnished
with compound engines and boilers Of
the best class, and with the latest i'm:
provements, and nearly all Dur other
steamers have, during the last eight
years, been supplied with new boilers,
and their machinery extensively re-
paired. There is also on hand, stored
at the various navy yards, live oak tim
Der sufficient for thirty-fve new ships
ot-war, besides q large quantity of other
valuable timber and naval material Of
every kind.
As a remedy for the reduction Of the
force of our feet from $500 to $500
men, and for the purpose Of maintaining
q trained class OF men, skilled in their
duties and devoted to their flag, the
secretary repeats his recommendation of
last year, that Congress shall give neces-
sary authority to enlist annually $50
boys for the navy, under existing laws
but in addition to the number of men
now allowed. The system of thus train
ing boys hes been successful. The
secretary also urges that enlisted men of
the navy may be allowed an outfit Of
clothing and o banking system for the
navy such as now prevails in the army.
The secretary n the recommen-
dalton made in his successive annual re-
ports in reference to u navy yards and
stations, and to urge that their resources
may be increased and that sufficient ap-
preparations may be made to keep them
in thorough repair and ready for any
emergency which may arise.
On the first of July, 1875, the amount
of the appropriations applicable to- the
fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, was
S18, 3O1, 731, q. The actual expendi-
lures Of these appropriations during
that period, namely, from July l, 1875,
to June 80, 1876, was ST., 1897, 1854. r.,
or about 1864, 376. IS less than the whole
amount. The appropriations available
for the present year, beginning July l,
1876, are. in the aggregate, $12, 961, $50.
The whole amount Of these appropria-
tions, drawn up to the first Of the cur
rent month, was 1879. 75s. 10. From
this may be deducted the amount in the
hands Of ~paymasters and agents OF the
government, and the amount refunded
during the period above mentioned.
which will reduce the amount Of
these appropriations actually expended
since the commencement of the fiscal
year and during the working months to
less than 81, 1000, 900. The estimates for
the general maintenance OF the navy for
the ne1tyear are $751; GAG, OLE. Theamount
estimated for new buildings and the re-
pairs and improvements necessary at
the various navy yards, stations and
hospitals is 80, 908, 596. There is also
submitted by the bureau Of ordnance
an estimate for the sum Of SITS, 500,
which is deemed necessary to provide
the proper amount for our large iron
clads and other ships now being fitted
for sea. This shows an aggregate sum
Of about $500, 600 less than the amount
which was asked for last year for like
purposes.
In regard to the pay of officers Of the
navy, the secretary says that after care
ful consideration Of this subject he is
Convinced Congress, when they fully
understand it, will. have no desire to
withhold from any branch OF the service
the pay which would accrue to it under
the ordinary operation Of the laws and
customs governing the action of the de-
partment, and will not wish to deprive
we'll deserving officers whose lives are
consecrated to their country's service,
and to whom no personal fault is i'm
puted, of the means for the proper sup
port and education OF their families. He
has, besides the ordinary estimates for
the next fiscal year, submitted an addi-
tional one for the sum of 81, $500 600 to
supply the inevitable deficiency in the
"pay appropriation, and to enable the
department to rescind it's order placing
all unemployed officers on furlough pay,
and to make up to those who have been
or may be so reduced without fault on
their part the amount of pay which they
would otherwise have received. Con-
gress will be earnestly pressed to make
this provision, and if it do go, the de.
partment will have great qualification in
carrying it out, otherwise the service
and the department will have no alterna-
I. - L L. ~ N~I