Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1876-12-16
The United States Navy.

they carry 1,142 guns. OF these. 123,
carrying 9l3 guns, with measurement
OF 100, 1893 tons, have steam power, and
twenty-three, carrying nominally 229
guns, are sailing vessels. In 1869 thele
were 203 vessels. OF these, there have
been sold, forty six; broken no, eighteen;
lost at see, FIVE +; making sixty nine YES
sells, thus reducing the number to 194
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 moni-
tors two torpedo boats, and eighteen
steamers of varions classes. OF the re-
laainder, 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-five
are in actual service and four are pre-
pairing for sea; sixteen may be consid-
cred as entirely unfit for future service,
and the remainder are at the various
navy yards, some requiring slight, and
others extensive repairs, hut most OF
them could be made ready for any
special service in a 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 our 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 five 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 feet from s, 500 to 1900
men, and for the purpose of maintain
ing a trained class of men, skilled in
their duties and devoted TO their flag,
the secretary repeats his recommends
ton of last year, that Congress shall
give necessary authority to enlist annu-
ally $50 boys for the navy, under exist
ing laws but in addition to the number
of men now allowed. The system of
thus training boys has been successful.
The secretary also urges that enlisted
men of the navy may be allowed an out
fit Of clothing and banking system for
the navy such as now prevails in the
army.
The secretary renews the recommen-
dation made in his successive annual re-
ports in reference to our navy yards and
stations, end to urge that their resources
may be increased, and that sufficient ap-
propria5ions may be made to keep them
III thorough repair and ready for any
: emergency which may aIise.
On the first of July. 1875, the amount
tf the appropriations applicable to the
). fiscal year ending June 30, 1876, was
} $l8, ,301, ,731,27. The actual expendi-
lures OF these appropriations during that
period, namely: from Jnly l, 1875 to
,, June 80, 1876, was ST. 7937, 354 72, or
about 1854 37655 less than the whole
t amount. The appropriations available
for the present year, beginning July l.,
; 1876, are, il the aggregate, $12 96l, 100.
The whole amount OF these appropria-
I tions, drawn up to the first OF the cur
rent month, was $3.50, 1888. From
this may be deducted the amount in
the hands of paymasters and agents of
the government, and the amounts re-
funded during tho period above men
L toned, which will Teluce the amount
9 of these appropriations actually ex-
8 pended since the commencement Of the
+ fiscal year aud during the working
, months to less than $7,000,000. The
. estimates for the general maintenance Of
? the navy for the next year are $l9,64
0l2. The amount estimated for new
Q buildings and the repairs and improve
= ments necessary at the various navy
A yards, stations and hospitals is So 908,
8 500. There is also submitted by the
? bureau of ordnance an estimate for the
S sum of $775. 500, which isdeemed neces-
a sary to provide the proper amount for
I our large ironclads and other ships now
Q being fitted for sen. This shows an ag-
d gregate sum Of about 100000 less than
o the amount which was asked for last
. year for like purposes.
8 In regard to the pay Of officers of the
/ navy, the secretary says that after care
/ full consideration of this subject he is
J. convinced Congress, when they fully
- uuuerotduu u, VIII nave 10 uSSlr0 GO
u withhold frem any branch OF the service
y the pay which would accrue to it under
J the ordinary operation OF the laws and
's customs governing the action of the de-
y partment, and will not wish to deprive
g well deserving officers whose lives arc
% coneecrated to their country's service
1t aud to whom no personal fault is i'm
puted, of the means for the proper sup
y port and education of their families. He
sr has, besides the ordinary estimates fol
the next fiscal year, submitted an addi
tional one for the sum of 81, $4,000 tC
supply the inevitable deficiency in tht
"pay appropriation, and to enable tn,
y department to rescind it's order placing
!, all unemployed officers on furlough pay
u u and to make up to those who have beer
- or may be SO reduced without fault OF
o their part the amount of pay which the,
.: .: would otherwise have received. Con
II gress will be earnestly pressed to max
u ~ this provision, and if il do so, the de
u. partrent will have great qualification il
g carrying it out, otherwise the servic
+ and the department will have no alter
81 native but to submit to the deficienc
n- and the reduction which it entails.
ty
O. The figures of the Massachusetts Stat