Bradford opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1874-1881, 1877-12-08
The Navy Department.

The secretary Of the navy, in his annual re-
port, gives the number OF vessels in the navy
as follows: Sixty-seven steam and twenty
three sailing vessels, twenty-three ircn
csds, two torpedo one ferry ferry. and .,.t twenty aa.
tains a statement Of the different squad
rons, by whom they are commanded. and
o full statement Of the condition and strength
of the navy, which is considered necessary to
enable Congress to adjust appropriations to the
necessities of the service and the condition OF
the treasury. There are twelve irOn-c.ads at con-
venient places in fresh water, in readiness for
active employment when needed.
The active list OF. the navy is composed of
829 officers Of the line, 594 officers of the stan,
and 249 warrant officers. The retired list COM
prses 1876 officers Of the line, 1O3 officers OF the
staff. twenty-seven warrant officers, and four
service ON the Oath day Of November, 1877,
1912 enlisted mon and boys.
NECESSITY FOR AN EFFICIENT NAVY.
An effective navy, the report states, is posi-
tive necessity, but the main difficulty lies in
deciding upon the point Of efficiency to which
it is expedient and proper to carry 1t. The
leading nations of Europe have such close
political relations that the fear Of disturbing the
existing balance of power is constantly COM
municatinG itself from ono to the other, and,
thereby, each influenced to keep itself in readi-
ness for any military or naval exigency that
might arise Hence the necessity Of large
standing armies and extensive navies. But
what they may do or not as regards their in
tercourse with each other, whether in peace or
in war. does not directly concern us as nation.
Yet it has such indirect relation to the United
States as one of the great powers Of the earth
that our own policy must in some degree he in
fuenced by theirs. Our situation, about mid
way between Europe and Asia, forbids any inn
mediate or direct interference by the United
States with the affairs Of the nations possess
ing either Of those continents nor is it reason-
able to expect that, occupied as the European
nations are, and are likely to be for many years
to come. Nth questions that seem inseparable
from their Nelations with each other, they will
find it to their interests to adopt an aggressive
policy toward the United States. We may
safely adopt such course, therefore, with
reference to our navy as is dictated by our own
domestic relations alone, separated as they are.
except BY commercial intercourse, from those
Of other nations.
In the mechanic arts We are unexcelled. Our
mineral wealth ia inexhanstibie, and already is
its vast importance recognized in ths fact that
we are supplying American iron to British
workshops. The coal fields of. England are
rapidly failing on account Of their immense
depth, while ours are not only Of incaiculable
extent, but near the surface. Everything, in
fact, combines to show That We possess rapid
ly growing internal commerce which only needs
the fostering care Of the government to secure
to it an ultimate development which cannot be
surpassed by that OF any other nation. Dur
ing the last year the value of this commerce,
on the various lines Of railroads |
was estimated 1t els, 900, ,O09, 900, and during |
the present year. in consequence OF the in |
creased product and value OF grain, it will |
greatly exceed that. As our internal commerce \
increases beyond our own power Of consump-
tion, the excess must either find a foreign |
market, or the loes falls upon the producer.
All commercial nations understand this. and
therefore their efforts to secure foreign markets
for their exports. The greatness OF Great
Britain Ia, in considerable MEASURE owing to
The steadiness and consistency of her poliey ia
this regard. There Il no inlet ia an- ,,isce
where the vessels of her mercantile msrine do
not penetrate. Even at the present tim 4, when