The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1876-12-04
Renor, o, the Secretary of the Navy,

WAsHINGToN, December o.-lhe re-
port Of the Secretary of the Navy Will
show that there are belonging TO the
Navy l46 vessels Of $50, l51 tons measure
ment. exclusive of howitzers and gst-
tings. They carry l,l42 guns, OF these
1913 carving 9l3 gus with measure
ment of l2O,S98 tons have steam power
rs are in actual service and are prepar- !
ing tor service. Sixteen may be con-
sidered entirely unfit for future service /
and the remainder are at the various
navy Yards, some requiring slight and
others extensive repairs, but most them
could be made ready for any speciai
service in a short time. There Is also on
hand stored at the various navy yards,
live oak timber sufficient tor thlrty-nVe
ships of war, besides Large quantity
OF other valuable timber and naval
material OF every kind. Our navy Is
now far more powerful for wsrIlke pur-
poses than it ever was before IN time oil
peace. 1t does not compare either IN
the number or character OF the vessels
with expensive establishments OF these
European nations whose mutual rela-
tions keep them always IN armed array,
whose contiguous coasts and deep mar
bors at home and scattered colonies all
over the world seem TO require that they
should constantly rival each other at
whatever expense, in size and power OF
their naval vessels and ornaments, Out
for the defensive purposes OF n powerful
neople without colonies with danger
Gus coast and shallow hsrbors. separated
by vast ocean from warllke naval
pogers, our navy Is mol withonI
strength, and when It's lron-clad neet
shall be completed or repaired, work
recurring now but little time and ex'
pense, and It's force, supplemented by the
comparatively cheap addition recon-
mepded. will be round sufficient to resist
anv force which could b. brought across
the ocean 10 attack us, and powerful also
for offensive operations upon the seas ana
among the islands which lie contiguous
to our own shores.
La view of the fact that the approprl'
ations Tor the two principal working ou-
resus of the department average out
little over $5,OO0,000 annually, and con-
sidering the cost OF merely maintaining
a navy consisting largely Of ships hur-
riedly built of perishable material when
after requiring for few years constant
repair, hnally drop out OF service from
utter worthle:sness, the question con-
stantly recurs, brought up by conflicting
interests and opinions, shall We enter
upon the expensive and unssts ac-
nf
un-bearing vessels, and involving
millions of dollars in the cost OF each
one. or shall we be- content with provld-
inr ourselves at minimum cost with
the means OF destroying such vessels
should they appear in hostile attitude on
our coast or in our bays or harbors. FAST,
wcll-built wooden cruisers, proper Tor the
police of the seas, serving n schools OF
instruction IN time OF peace and capaOIr
of destroyin. An enemys commerce IN
time of war, ARE, under all conditions,
seryjcenble. The monitor class Of YES
sells has for US special and valuable uses
in conjunction with other forces
The torpedo schools give our officers
the instruction necessary 10 utilize what
ever there Is in this most efficient arm OF
attack and defense, and | would add to
the force new element, the marine ram,
which promises, when constructed upon
scientific principles IN tue iOrms oI Spe-
cIsl strength for It's particular and apgto-
pirate service, To be weapon Oi the
most destructive warfare. The con-
.truction of this class of vessels has been
carefully considered for several years
mast bv "A naval officer of high rank, as
sisted by able experts, and detailed
plans are put at the service
of the department, without cost
or charge o! any kind. TIE con-
struction OF such vessel OF the best ma
terinl and of sprc's! strength would III
volve an expense OF about ?3JOOJU, aud
if successful, a. il promises to be. 1t
would add new Gle uent. tending TO
make our force complete in Itself, and AT
once economical and effective. The
department has lately adopted the
plan Of retaining VI. ships Oh going INTO
commission on this co.'s. ana attached
t. t!a NOr.h Atlantic squadron
or a few months previous to
ordering them abroad. 1t is believed
the effect has been benetcal, rs any
detects in ships or their machinery can
be remeLicd at home and the discipline
of the personnel can be perfected in our
own waters. The department has also
commissioned ~ receiving ships Mt tho
different naval stations tue trigate
Wabash and Colorado at Boston and
N,u, N,ri- o,I ,,r,n,s. "a r,lpTa tho