New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-03

WASHINGTON, Dec. 2.-Secretary Thompson
reports the number Of vessels in the Navy to be rs o
lows: steam vessels, CT; sailing vessels % ironcadS
%; torpedo boats . ferry and tug boa's' 20
There are - iron-clads IN readiness for active en-
poynent when needed In the list Of vessels in active
service In ordinary undergoing repairs etc, is men
toned the Colossos The stocks al Ne"-Iork so
decayed-hsyng been built Of white oak timher-as
NOT 10 b. worth completing The Massachusetts Is m tue
same condition 40 kittey and the OREGON alSo AK ,o
ton The active list OF the navy Is reported
g be COMPOSED o. ~ s, Oa and 2is we warrant
Officers Tie .etrcd list is stated 10 comprise $50 on
cers ami professors Of mathematics. There ere in
The service, tine 2ith day OF November Io'" 'VA-
enlisted ueu and boys.
AMERICAN NAVIGATION
With reference to an liner Of the navy tho Senator
saws that II is needed the protection of American
commerce. and makes the following remarks about tie
present state Of commerce and navigation:
Our constantly increasing capacity to become ono OF
pride Cur agricultural productions, tue basis oI our
oUniry ana sIe rapidiy increasing Inmauy ways cur
condition controlling ono; bolh as ittoIIis "I
example aud the OF other nations supplied by
our industry Not only have w gwen Iespeci'Mhl 10
labor but In various WAYS nave increased Is lIV
Ne are lncxccllcd. Our mineral wealth BE- mex
haustibe ana already Is its ST Importance Iec"szra
i.B workshops The coal fields OF England are rapidly
falling on account or theI @ , w ' " pri,cr
not only Of mcalcu"uc eAten'; n,it n al , y;
our internal commerce Increases beyond our power oI
Ect on the falls upon tc producer Al comMclclW
nations understand tins; and therefore ther cn"r 10
of Great BRIAN H. in considerable measure, owing 10
The stcadir and conssCney0f Der policy I'D tus regard
There f. 40 inlet in place where the vessels OF hrr
mcrc"A'ie ",'l,nt NoI' igi rcrnyr1s from its
par,iyss and demanding additional means OF sup
uNing of the thousands of mcIlt0uOus arzs
and workmcn who are out ol employment her mer-
ing our own foreign commerce tributary 10 thefs Nv
forcing us dependence npon British vessels Tor the
trausuoIatIou Of plus productions lheI sn ten
The trade considerable portion OF the American
land ANNUALLY over Sll2UOOOoO OF her pro
ducts. for which she receives m eAcHanSe ,nealS
the same amount OF imports. TINS trace is car
red on by dirtct lines OF communication ana IN
great measure by steamships u Wmch large OoNcih-
meLt subsidies are PAD VINE lo tAJ W''t "l Hl's 4"
steam communication between our Eastern cit's and
RIO Provinces our most eAlgu'UI> i"U0 ~ i a
Is by way or EhBiauu' anu '"'t 'un'tl i,"'
secured similar advantages TO hcf meiehHh,s
Win regard To tue trade all along tho Eastern aud
western coasts 0f South America, as Wen as tLd with
more i6ti tir,e times as much 20 Great Britain as
come to DE- United states, ana with the Imports the off
Co,cramcnt Induced by influences adverse TO our cou
ner,h interests. has secured 70 the hnssh ava rhch
lines ol steamers almost lie entire trade, NAe an Amerl
S SsN ,,n, % ,,,'iied IN withdraw hUstraIa exports
about S2iOO1O,OOO year and imports nearly a. much
aud aim this entire trade is carried on Will England
The superiority which bo;h England and France had
Obfarcd with reference % ths Ysst Trade may be
attributed l large dcr 30 tl fact thlt each of the
gtTenmelt~ pays annually g. lbs steam lines between
four aud MS million collars ~ subsidies, Whe lHe Gov
crnncut the United States has contributed TO the SUI
pclloriiy. Easia"d la tins acquired Y also ais,
paying subsidies to her steam hn-s GHt OF It's
revenues The result mas been 10 increase the Foreign
over orr domestic Tonnage 80 steadily, slice the
close the var, that our interest I'D ocean mercantile
NAVIGATION is annually dcDre.-us Before tn close OF
Tie war oar foreign export and import trade Was earned
on per cent more ID Ameic IN Inah ioicisn Vessels
Since he Wa- 10 a' been eafcu %" IvO per t'ht more III
foreign than American vessels tutl THIS condition
oi thing, changed, commercial independence can
MOI pc established upon such basis 40 1t deserve I" De-
Wl our navy d nor tnSag I'D cohieIc ~ D. Us IN
ready furnish it's protection in Whatsoever sea 70 may
De required. All Tue nations should understand 'hat We
are as ready 10 afford it iris protection We aIe 10
nycngo insult T. out N1t.'nti dag without foreign
commerce We must sink INTO iuienorty, ana with0u,
navy Inuly sufficient for this protection. all the profits
oil our surplus productions VIII he transferred from the
a., Gers oi our own 20 those o. foreign capitalists.
The Secretary calls attention 90 the fact that while the
sum required the pay Of the Navy for the present f
cal year S7,30oOOO the amount appropriated by Con
rcss was only S66OOOOO, 100000 less than the
tuate.
The Naya Academy IS spoken OF in very compliment
tary terms.
OF the necessity of providing for better naval
structors the secretary says:
one disadvantage under which the Government has
la6ored in building ships has been occasloncd by lis
neglect To educate it, shbuidrr Instead of preparing
is officers for this purpose, by proper professional
training which could have been done at comparatively
small cost, has had 60 rely mainly upon those who
could De Withdrawn from The merchant service. The
IL course Of tine, be entirely removed
subject OF tie greatest importance and has
received much attention nom the English Govern
nent that several of s eminent naval constructors have
been Anisnted for their services In France none are
uups I'm the first class of tie polytecmchal schools
realized Tire positive necessity OF educating these
officers at The plDhc expense. and thor eNperiencc
no less than or own hds proved War sLs 81 "ai can
10. be safely economically constructed DIV those who
have bon professionally educated for that purpose.
An improperly designed ship may compromsc Inc honor
of the country NJ shii or intftidy o' lAt oHtf- ana
men can remedy defect I'D construction, ana
tex zf- g II-a Dp uI
iii believed mai We would soon be supplied with
selecting them from thr yOuus men VINO enter inc Naval
Academy, and show an aptuess on prediction for
WHO enter there "hosc hit1idi taste lies lh TINS dec
tion and % whom such sudcs would be attractive
for life, ana have 10 DC provided Tor Dy the
Government. II. therefore, certlin number %
the corps Of naval constructors, aud most pr0
Icieut the studies before named, should
pursue 5C ySH SScvne1 IN f6 ciect io e
attained % mathe MATES and their application
mechanics descriptive geometry, drawing, with kim
bred subjects connected WIN th'f iutuic profession,
corps Of naval architects fully competent for planning
aud constIuc ing the best ships would IN few years
be- supplied. IAe unc now devoted 10 glhher3'
ASTRONOMY and other studies necessary 20 officers who
10 sea could br engaged u developing their mathemat
euatjcs 10 te stability OF floating bodies and The OtLor
general thc0fcuc'l ll cl4o5 edn u. 49, ,.tn ~
the professors 81 tue 4ctut!h!' duu t'is IoU"atiou
being laid the ntclheSnt stutSnt can Itadliy
before him. From the academy te taet stoiu pt sout
To- Nav Yard where an Ter the further uuh OF an e1-
pcrenced naval constructor hs prog css would be con
tnucd. AFTER becoming iailiaf WIN W. ~ 5
operations Of the yard, and win the use OF materials ana
tools ne would be prepared 10 Decoie a cois' 40
by means ~ sucn ~ siein oi Ioi'hsIuH"i udins as
this beleged that tie law when no" authorize INC
appointment oi asslstan, constr foI, , H."
thenayal academy would be attended wiz Piacuca.l
beneficial results. As n now L. such selections ace nee
e,sary made from among those VINO are odnc%Se el
specially Tor service ana steam eu2nee1us whereas
the plan suggested requires ne ihsinOd o. oni