Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1876-12-09
The United States Navy.

Tho report OF the secretary OF tn
navy of the United States shows thu
there are belonging to the navy lag yes
sels OF $50, lat tons measurement. Ex
elusive OF howitzers aud Gatling guns
they carry 1,142 guns. OF these, 123
carrying 9l3 guns, with o measurement
OF 100, 1893 tons, have steam power, anc
twenty three, carrying nominally ~.
guns, are sailing vessels. Iu 1869 there
were 2O3 vessels. OF these, there have
been sold, forty-six; brokenup, eighteen
lost at sea, five making sixty-nine yes,
sells, thus reducing the number to LA
vessels. To which add new vessels, ten
purchased vessels, two. Thus making
the whole number on the register at the
present time LAG vessels. or our pres
ont force of every class, forty are built
Of iron, namely: Five double -turreted
ironolads fifteen single-turreted inoni.
tors /; two torpedo boats, aud eighteen
steamers of various classes. OF the re-
mainder, sixty-fve are Of live oak,
namely: one ironclad. five steamers OF
the first rate, twenty 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 tive
are in actual service and four are pre-
pairing for sea; sixteen may be coIsid-
ereG rs entirely unfit for future service,
and the remainder 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. Seven.
teen Of our steamers have been furnished
with compound engines and boilers OF
the best class, and with tho latest i'm
provements. and nearly all our other
steamers have, during the last eight
years, been supplied with new boilers,
and their machinery extensively re-
paired. There is also on haud, stored
at the various navy yards, live oak tim
Der sufficient for thirty-iive new ships
OF war, besides large quantity of other
valuable timber and naval material of
every kind.
AS remedy for the reduction of the
force of our fleet from $500 to 1900
men, and for the purpose of maintain
ing trained class OF men, skilled in
their dnties and devoted to their flag,
the secretary repeats his rccommenda-
tion of last year, that Congress shall
give necessary authority to enlist nunu-
ally 750 boys ior the navy, under exist
ing laws but i'll addition TO the number
Of men now allowed. .lhe system of
thus training boys has been successful.
The secretary also urges that enlisted
nen of the navy may be allowed an out
it OF clothing and a banking sysiem for
;he navy such as now rreyAil5 i'll the
army.
The secretary renews the recommen-
lation made in his successive annual re-
oolts in reference to our navy yards aud
stations, and to urge that their resources
nay be increased, and that sufficient ap
,ropriations may be made to keep them
n thorough repair and ready for any
which may arise.
On the first of July, 1875, the amount
# the appropriations applicable to the
iscal year ending jun 80, 1876, was
Us, 30l, 1927. The actual expcndi-
ures of these appropriations during |
hat period, namely: from July /, 1875,
o June 30, 1876, was sl7, 1887, 1854. ",
II about 1864, 1916. IS less than the whole
mount. The appropriations available
OF the present year, beginning July l,
876, are, in the aggregate, $12, ,96l, 79o.
Nhe whole amount of these appropria-
ions, drawn up to the first of the cur
ent month, was $7,879, ,758. 49, From
his may be deducted the amount in
ho hands of paymastera and agents OF
he government, and the amounts re,
unded during the period above nlen-
ioned, which will reduce the amount
i these appropriations actually ex-
ended since the commencement Of the
seal year and during tho working
,onths to less than $1,000, 900. The
stimates for the'gencral maintenance Of
he navy for tho next year are $1S, &c.
12. The amount estimated for new
uildings and tho repairs and improve
lents necessary at the various navy
ards, sFations aud hospitals is -, ,90S,-
36. There is also sumbitteu by the
ureau OF ordnance au estimate for the
I'm of $775 800, which is deemed neces-
Try to provide the proper amount for
III large ironclads and other ships now
eing fitted for sea This shows an ag-
regate. sum of,2about $500, 600 less than
le amount which was asked for last
,ar for like purposes.
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