The New York herald., 1876-12-04
IMPORTANCE OF THE MONITOR SYSTEM
Detailed Statement Of Appropriations
and Expenditures.
ESTIMATES FOR THE COMING YEAR.

scls OF these, there have been sold 46; broken up
Isl lost at making 60 vessels, thus reducing the
number to l34 vessels To which add new vessels 10;
purchased vessels, ., thus making the whole number
Of the register at the present time LAG vessels
MATERIAL CONSTRUCTION
OF our present force every class 40 arc built OF
iron-namely, doube-turreted ironclads, l5 single
urreted monitors, torpedo boats and Is steamers OF
various classes or the remainder 65 live oak
namely, ironciad, steamers OF tho first rate. 20
steamers OF the second rate 10 steamers OF the third
rate, and 20 sailing vessels. The remaining Al aro
white oak ships of almost every class
CONDITION VESSELS
or the whole number IS are in actual service and
are preparing for sea; 10 may be considered
tirey unfit future service tho remain der are at
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 furnished with
compound engines and boilers OF The best class and
With the latest improvements, and nearly all other
steamers have during the last eight years been sup
piled with boilers and their machinery extensively
repaired
There is also hand stored at the various navy
yaros, live oak timber sufficient Tor thirty i've new
ships oil war; besides large quantity OF valuable
hmbcr aud naval material of every kind. This state
ncn shows That alter eight years of active service OF
itlon OF its ships and matcria-in condition su-
lcrior to that which 1t in 1862 indeed far
more powerful lor warlike purposes than it has ever
before been in times Of peace 1t does not compare
fther In tho number character of Its vessels with
ihe expensive establishments OF those European nations
whose mutual relations keep them always In armed
array. whose contiguous coasts and deep harbors
Rt homo and scattered colonies all over
the world TO require that they should
constantly rival each other at whatever
expense in the size and power OF their vessels
and ornaments; but for the defensive purposes OF a
peaceful people without colonies with dangerous
coast and shallow harbors separated by vast ocean
from warlko naval Powers, our navy is not without
strength, and when its clad fleet shall be CON-
pletcly repaircd-a work requiring but little timo
and cxpcnse-and its force supplemented by the CON-
paratvcy cheap addition recommended. 1t will be
found sufficient to resist any iorce which could be
brought across the ocean TO attack us and powerful
also for offensive operations upon tho among
sho islands WHICH lie contg ious our own shores
In view Of the fact that the appropriations for tho
two principle working bureaus OF the department aver
age but little S. COO annually and considering
The cost OF merely maintaining a navy consisting
arrcly OF ships hurrcdy built OF pershable material
Which, alter requiring Tor a few years constant repair
inay drop out OF the service from utter worthless
hess the Secretary thinks this state of things reflects
,reat credit upon those officers through whose prac
.al knowledge and ability the department has been
able to utilize all there valuable in the navy, and
TO bring It to It's present state OF efficiency.
NAVY is REQUIRED
The question OF what should compose a sound and
economical but efficient naval force, has presented
turing the past few years many different aspects
that may perhaps congratulate ourselves that we
followed step by step IN the practical but cx
pcnsive development Of the problem which other
maritime nations have bcen engaged. The question
constantly recurs, however, brought up by con-
ficting interests and opinions. shall we enter
upon tho expensive and unsatisfactory construction of
armor-pated, gun-bearing vessels involving millions
Of dollars III the cost OF each one, shall con-
rent with providing ourselves, at minimum cost
with the OF destroying such vessels should they
appear IN hostile attitude on coasts or in our
larger harborss Fast well built wooden cruisers
roper Tor the police o serving schools vi
obstruction IN lime OF peace ana capable OF destroying
sn enemys commerce. in time OF war, are, under all
conditions, scrviceable The monitor class OF vessels
has ior us special and valuable uses in conjunction
with other forces The torpedo schools givo
officers tho instruction necessary utzo whatever
there IS IN this most efficient arm OF attack and de-
fence
THE MARINE RAN.
And would add 10 the iorcc a new element, the
marine ram. which promises. when constructed upon
scientific principles in forms OF special strength for
iis particular anu appropriate service 10 be weapon
OF most destructive warfare The OF this
class has been carefully considered Tor several
years past by naval officer oil high rank assisted by
able experts, and detailed plans put the
oi the department. without cost Or charge oi any kind
The construction oil such vessel OF best material
aud of special strength, would involve expense OF
kbout $3.50, 900, ana II successful, as 1t promises
70 be- IL would add a new element tend
ing TO make force complete In
self at once economical and efficient.
With such force and with no colonies to defend
may well dispense, tor the present al least, with the
heavy armored and unwiedy ironclads OF European
nations, also with The monster cannon necessary
to penetrate them ANY vessel which can safely
the to enter hnrbor or lie upon shores
will be found vulnerable 10 OF moderate weight
and cabcr, while the heaviest arnor will not protect
ship from attacks OF orpcdocs managed by brave aud
we'll instructed oiiccrs Thus our monitor system,
supported by the marine ram, commanded ny enter
prising officers and reinforced by the deadly torpedo
In skilfu ana scientific hands, VIII, think, supply
all that is absolutely necessary Tor tho naval
share OF our coast dcieacc, aud VIII be found cnccnt
Tor our purpose sgainst any foreign r"nciads which
:An reach our narbors. With these
We may rest content for The present but IL must be
understood that The nasy ia all is ccest elements
In constant state of transition aud progress,oL and
can only be Kept efcielt by seizne, experimenting
upon and developing - the quict times OF peace each
new principle Of wariiSc progress as Il arises
The department aa- .aieiy adopted The plan OF
tanning all ships going INTO commission upon this
coast and attached 10 the North Atlantic squadron for
few months previous to ordering them abroad II IS
believed the elcci has been beneficial. any detects
In the ships heir machinery can then be remoiied
t home ard the discipline Of personnel be per-
cctcd in our cwn waters With ihis prellrn mary dr.
and inspection the sbips reach foreign stations in
e.fcicnt and crediabie condition.
kfcLIvtNG SHIPS
The department: mas also commissioned as receiving
ships The different naval stations tue irsates Wa
bash aud Colorado sy Boston and New York. aod pro-
pc.cs 10 place The Franklin at Norfolk instead OF the
haiks forrnery for this purpose. These ships
viih Those used Tor framing and school ships, Term
reserve maintained without additional expense and
ready to be used IN any emergency.
Al remedy Tor the reduction OF the force Of our
eect from $500 70 800 men, and Tor the purpose Of
uainiaining trained class OF men. skilled IN their
tuties ana devoted the Tag the Secretary vcpcats
his recommendation al last ycar-:hat Congress shall
give necessary authority to enlist annually $50 boys
or the navy under existing iawR, but In addition 10
tbe nunbcr oi mon allowed The ~ stefa Of thus
saping boys has been successful The Secretary also
urges that enlisted mcn OF the navy may be allowed
AZ OUTFIT VI clothing aud sanking systcm FOR tho
navy sucn prevails ip tie army
EAyAL AcADkMY.
rho system Of the Naval Academy hos kept pace