The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1876-12-07
Report of Secretary of the Navy.

The report of the Secretary of the Navy
shows that there are belonging to the navy
LAG vessels of 150,157 tons measurement, ex-
elusive of howitzers and Gatlings. They
carry 1,142 guns of these 123, carrying 913
guns, with a measurement of 120,89S tons,
have steam power; rs are in actual service
and 4 are preparing for sea; 16 may he con-
sidered entirely unfit for future service, and
the remainder at various Nayy-yards. Some
require slight and others extensive repairs,
but most of them could be mad ready for
any special service in a short time. There
is also on hand stored at the various Navy
yards live-oak timber sufficient for thirty
FIVE new ships of war, besides large guam
titles of other valuable timber and naval
material of every kind.
Our navy is now far more powerful for
warlike purposes than it has ever before
been in time of peace. 1t does not compare,
either in number or the character of the
vessels, with the expensive establishments
of those European nations whose mutual
relations keep them always in armed array,
whose contiguous coasts and deep harbors
at home and scattered colonies all over the
world seem to require that they should con-
stantly rival each other, at whatever ex-
pense, in size and power of their naval
vessels and ornaments; but for the defensive
purposes of a peaceful people without col
onies, with a dangerous coast and shallow
harbors, separated by a vast ocean from
warlike naval powers, our navy is not with
out strength; and when its iron-clad fleet
shall be completely Repaired work re-
quiring now but little time and expense
and its force, supplemented by the
comparativelycheap addition recommended,
will be found sufficient to resist any force
which could be brought across the ocean to
attack us, and powerful also for offensive
operations upon the seas and among the is
lands which are contiguous to our own
shores. In view of the fact that appropria.
tons for two of the principal working
Bureaus of the Department average but
little ever five million dollars annually, and
considering the cost of merely maintaining
a navy consisting largely of ships hurriedly
built OF p~erishable material, which, aftel
requiring for a few years constant repair
finally drop out of the service from ute
worthlessness, the question constantly re
ours, brought up by conflicting interests ant
opinions, shall we enter upon the %expensiv,
and unsatisfactory construction of armor
plated gun-bearing vessels, involving mill
ions of dollars in the cost of each one, o
shall we be content with providing ourselves
at a minimum cost, with the means of de
stroying such vessels should they appear il
a hostile attitude on our coasts or in GU
DdNb anu HbEDOTb! rdsb, WILL Uuu
wooden cruisers, proper for the police of tn
seas, serving as schools of instruction i
time of peace, capable of destroying the eI
| emy's in time of war, are unde
, all conditions serviceable. The monte
t class of vessels has for us special and valus
+ bic uses in conjunction with other force
> The torpedo schools give our officers the il
: struction necessary to utilize whatever ther
is in this most efficient arm of attack an
: defense, and would add to the force a ne
element, the marine ram, which promises
when constructed upon scientific principle
in forms of special strength for its particula
: and appropriate service, to be a weapon {
most destructive warfare. The constructio
of this class of vessels has been CAREFUL
considered for several years past by a navs
t officer of high rank, assisted by able expert
i. and detailed plans are put at the service G
the Department without cost or charge G
any kind.
The construction of such a vessel of til
| best material and of special strength, woul
r involve an expense of about $350, 1000, an
if successful as it promises to be, it woul
add a new element tending to make on
r force complete in itself, at once economics
and efficient. The Department has latel
e adopted the plan of retaining all ships o
going into commission upon this coast an
attached to the North Atlantic squadron fl
a few months previous to ordering the
f abroad. 1t believed that the effect has bee
r beneficial, as any defects in ships or the
machinery can be remedied at home, an
the discipline of the personnel can be pc
fected in our own waters.
h The Department has also commissioned
receiving ships at the different Naval st
tons the frigates Wabash and Colorado,
y Boston and New York, and proposes
place the Franklin at Norfolk, instead
l the hulks formerly used for this purpos
These ships will form a reserve ready to
used in any emergency, as a remedy for Il
/ reduction of the force of cur fleet fro
$500 to $500 men, and for the purpose
d maintaining a trained class of men, skill,
g in their duties and devoted to their flag.
n The Secretary repeats the recommend
Is ton of last year, that Congress give the n
E. cessary authority to enlist annually $50 DO
d. for the navy, under the existing laws, but
D. addition to the number of men now allow
Also urges that enlisted men of the ma
Of may be allowed an outfit of clothing, and
is banking system for the navy such as ne
eff prevails in the army.
pr The Naval Academy has kept pace wi
changes which have taken place, and t
10 branches there taught are those adapted
Is the naval profession of to-day. The Sec
a tary refers to the report of Bureaus in t
Is Astronomical Observations, Ordinance,
a Naval Signal Service, the Tornado Static
the Nautical Almanac Surveys of the Int
ID Oceanic Canal, and other subjects connect
with the navy, and speaks in comnendati
~ Of those who have obtained important
50 suits in these branches. The Secretary
or news the recommendations in successive
e. nual reports in reference to our navy-yal
I'd and stations, and urges that their resourt
Is may be increased, and that sufficient app
no priations be made to keep them in thorou
repair and ready for any emergency.
~ The report of the five commissioned ofic
~ ordered by Congress to examine fully a
II determine whether any of the navy.yal
Sc can be dispensed with, etc, will be forward
i'd when received.
oft On the LIST of July, 1875, the amount
10 appropriations applicable to the fiscal y
=, ending June 80, 1876, was SIS, 301, 73l.
ils The actual expenditure of these appropl
lions during that period-namely, from j
l, 1875, to June 80, 1S76--was SIT, 937, 1854
The appropriations for the present ye
j. an-n