Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1876-12-08
The Navy.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 3.

The report Of the Secretary Of the Navy
shows that there are belonging to the navy
146 vessels OF $50, 157 tons measurement. Ex.
elusive OF howitzers and Gatlings they carry
1,142 guns or these 1874, carrying 9l3 guns,
with q measurement of 120,S9S tons, have
steam power; seveuty-Ave are in actnal
service. and four are preparing for sea; six
teen may be considered entirely unfit for
future service and the remainder are at
various navy-yards, some requiring sliGAt
and others extensive repairs, but mc,ttt Of
them could be made ready for any speSr6i
service in a short time. There is also on
hand, stored at the various navy-yards, live
oak timber sufficient for thirty-fve ships-of-
war, besides q large quantity Of other vaua-
Bile timber and naval material of every kind.
Our navy is now far more powerful for
warlike purposes than 1t has ever before
been in time of peace II does not compare
either in number or character OF vessels with
the expensive establishments Of those of
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 constantly
rival each other, at whatever expense, in the
size and power of their naval vessels and
armaments. But for the defensive purposes
of peaceful people without colonies, with
dangerous coast and shallow harbors,
separated by a vast ocean from the warlike
naval powers, our navy is not without
strength, and when the iron. clad fleet shall
be completely repaired, work requiring
now but little time and expense, and its
force supplemented by the comparatively
cheap addition recommended, it will be found
sufficient to resist any force which could he
brought across the ocean to attack us, and
powerful also for offensive operations upon
the seas and among the islands which lie
contiguous to our own shores.
In ,,ia of ha fon fh Of thp CONGRATULATIONS
for the two principal working bureaus of
the department average but little over
S5,0O0,000 annually, and considering the
cost Of merely maintaining o navy consist
ing largely Of ships hurriedly built OF
perishable material, which, after requiring a
few years constant repair, finally drop out
of the service from utter worthlessness, the
question constantly recurs, brought up by
conflicting interests and opinions, Shall we
enter upon the expensive and unsatisfactory
construction of armor-plated, gun-bearing
vessels, involving millions of dollars in the
cost of each one, or shall we be content with
providing ourselves, at minimum cost
with the means of destroying such vessels
should they appear in hostile attitude on
our coasts, OF in cur bays or harbors? Fast
well.built wooden cruisers, proper for the
police of the seas, serving rs schools OF In
struction in time Of peace, and capable OF
destroying an eIemy's commerce in time OF
war, are under all conditions serviceable.
The monitor class of vessels has for Us
special and valuable use in conjunction will
other forces. The torpedo schools give oul
officers the instruction necessary to utilize
whatever there is in this most efficient arm
of attack and defense, and | would add tC
the force a new element, the marine ram
which promises, when constructed upor
strength for it's particular and appropriate
service, to be n weapon of most destructive
warfare. The construction OF this class o.
vessels has been carefully considered Tor seV
eral years past by naval officer OF hlgh rank
assisted bg able experts, and detailed plan
are put at the service OF the department Wild
out cost or charge of any kind. The eonstruc
ton of such vessel of the best materia
and of special strength would involve an ex
pense of about $350,000, and II successful
as it promises to be, it would add new ele
ment tending to make our force complete II
itself, and at once economical and efficient
The department has lately adopted TIT
plan of retaining all ships, on going int
commission, upon this coast and attached Il
the North Atlantic squadron for few
months previous TO ordering them abroad
1t is believed that the effect has been bene
fetal, as any defects in ships or their ma
chinery can be remedied at home, and th
discipline OF the personnel can be perfected
in our own waters. The department he
at the different naval stations the Wa
bash and the Colorado at Boston anC
New York, and proposes to place the Frank
lin at Norfolk instead of the hulks formerl.
used for this purpose. These ships VII
form a reserve ready to be used in any emer
gency. AS remedy for the reduction OF Ou
fleet from $500 to 1850 men and for the pur
pose of maintaining a trained class OF men
skilled in their duties and devoted to thei
flag, the Secretary repeats the recommends
tion of last year that Congress give the nee
essary authority to enlist annually $50 boy
for the navy under the existing laws, but II
addition to the number Of men now allowed
He also urges that the enlisted men of tn
navy may be allowed an outfit OF clothing
and banking system for the navy such a
now prevails in the army.
The Naval Academy has kept pace will
the changes which have taken place, ant
the branches there taught are those adaptet
to the naval profession of to-day.
The Secretary refers to the report OF tn
bureaus in astronomical observations, ord
nance, the naval signal service, the torpedo
station, the nautical almanac, surveys Of tn
inter oceanic canal, and other subjects con
nected with the navy, and speaks in com
mendation of those who have obtained I'm
portant results in these branches.
The Secretary renews the recommends
tions in his successive annual reports II
| reference 10 our navy 1dIuS anu bldJlOus
| aud to urge that their resources may be In
creased, and that sufficient appropriation
be made to keep them in thorough repai
! and ready for any emergency. The report o
| the five commissioned officers ordered b.
! Congress 10 examine fully and deteE,nin
whether any of the navy-yards can be dis
pensed with, etc, will be forwarded whe
received.
On the LIST of July, 1875, the amount of az
| 10 ha
ending June 81, 1915, was $lS,3O1, ,73l .2I
The actual expenditure of these appropril
tions during that period, namely, from Jul
l, 1875, TO July 80, 1879, was $l7, ,937 1854 Z.
The appropriations available for the preser
year, commencing July l, 1875, are in tn
aggregate $l2,96l, 1880. The whole amour
OF these appropriations drawn up TO the lst {
the current month was 81 $40, 1919. FroI
this may be deducted the amount in Ii
hands of the paymasters and agents of II
Government and the amount refunded du
ing the period above mentioned, which wi
reduce the amount of these appropriation
actually expended since the commencement
of this fiscal year to less than 81, ,000, 600.
The estimates for the general maintenanC
Of the navy for the next year are SIS, ,646, ,0l
The amount estimated for new building
repairs and improvements necessary at II
various navy yards, stations and hospitals
300, ,596. There Is also submitted by Il
Bureau of Ordnance an estimate for S77I
500, deemed necessary TO provide the prop
armament for our large iron-clads and 9th
ships now being fitted for the sea, Tn
shows an aggregate sum of about 5000
less than the amount asked for last year 4
like purpose.
In regard to the pay of officers Of the nav
the Secretary says after a careful consider
ton OF the subject he has, besides the orc
nary estimates for the next fiscal year, su
mitted an additional one for 81 $50, 900 tO su
ply the inevitable deficiency In the pay a
preparation, and 10 enable the department
rescind Its order placing all unemployed OF
GERS on furlough pay and TO make up
those who have been or may be so reduce
without fault on their part, the amount Of pl
which they would otherwise have receive
Congress win be earnestly pressed to nal
the appropriation.