New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1878-11-29
THE REPORT.

Tbompsou Secretary Of the Navy, In MS amman I0PO
10 the President, says that since the date Oh HIS
renort the condition Of the Navy has been conslo
~, imnroved There are now in commission 20 |
cruising SHIPS 1 steamboat and . sailing vessels
making 81 in ALL These are IN conolton lor acu'e
service except the Gettysburg now I'D inc Meu-
errapean squadron The deterioration in the Gettys-
burg iron plating and the recent breaking OF SHAFT
Ill Drobabv require more repairs than it would be |
GOOD econo,ny TO make This Will reduce the number OF
vessels needing 10 immediate repairs now in commits
sion az cruisers 49, There are vessels, lncud-
ing / MONITOR recently put out OF commission
for repairs which be made ready for again in the
course of few months. The work will be
one with all possible dispatch Besides these there are
"a vessels needing repairs which it will require more
time 10 make But all these 10 vessels can be repaired
and mt in thorough condition with the present appro-
pratons and those asked FOR the next fiscal year When
This ia Accomplished the effective cruising force OF the
Navy will be AZ steam and sailing ships making the
total number So The number of monitors now ready
for service is 13 but the one recently put out OF
commission repaired soon, and the Miantonomoh
can be completed OF existing appropriations, the
number may be properly fixed at To- Two torpedo
boats also are ready for service II VIII be seen
therefore that without any increase OF appropriations
beyond what asked for the total fgtng force OF the
Navy will be 81 cruising ships, Is monitors and tor
pedo boats making In all 6S vessels. But this does not
show the whole naval force that could be put in service
in case OF necessity The doubeturreted monitors
and one snRIe-turreted monitor now buidiDg-the
Puritan Amphitrite, MOnadnOck, Dictator and
Terror-could be completed without much de-
lay with the necessary appropriations Tor
that purpose. Six cruising ships, upon which
repairs present contemplated-the Colorado,
Wabash Franklin, Florida, Minnesota and New-Hork-
could be soon put condition fighting ships II neccs
sty required This being DONE the fighting force OF
the Navy would be 81 cruising ships, 20 mont
tors and torpedo boats. to which could be
added in case Of imminent necessity, other steam
ola tl,,,ay obs no fnfa
So. This number might still be increased how
ever, by utilizing large iron tugs of over goo
tons each. at the navy yards and other stations,
which could be converted into gun torpedo boats,
and thus make the whole number OF war vessels OF all
classes 81.
There are 80 steam and sailing vessels I'M
fit for use for warlike purposes although OF these
might II necessity demanded be put In condition Tor
temporary service at sea- or these, have been In
nearly sixty years (havng been built before the
year 1920. and Is were built before the war; leav-
ing ii only that have been built, and that
were purchased since the beginning the OF those
built during the 10 constructed with great
rapdty and under the OF tie most urgent ne
eessy and consequently ont OF timber not sufficiently
sessoned to insure their durability. the
life of other vessels Their decay. therefore has been
unavodaby rapid ana a. IT would not be good economy
greater of these now are. IL would be better that
they should be sold broken up, and authority con-
pairs OF such other vessels NAV need them. 10
keep the NSy x%es G pon s
purposes may be added irOn-cads, which should |
also be disposed OF in the same way.
SPECIAL AID IMPORTANT COMMISSIONS.
The Secretary devOes some space TO the condition Of
the several squadrons, and then adds:
The Ticouderoca has been detailed, under the com
nand OF Commodore Il. W shueldt for special service
on the coast OF Africa and IN the East Indian Islands
This service regarded as especially important III l
relations not merely international matters cOntded
TO it. but TO commercial interests The Of1er as
duty conded to him. and the most satisfactory re-
suits are exeSted IRON f ~ act as MI
10 adjust controversy in reerenc' TO the boundary
line between the British possessions in Africa and |
Liberia An expedition OF character somewhat kindred
TO this fitted out during last Summer, with the En-
terorise under the command of Commander Thomas o.
selftldge. Realizing the obligation of emitting nothing
in its power to open up between
ali parts OF South America and the United states ths
Department directed a survey OF the Amazon ana
country be Overestimated They connect Bolivia
beginning to realize benefits they will derive from
an encouragement OF their navigation a company
organized in tue United States engaged In con-
etructng railroad around the fails OF the Madeira,
which when COMPLETED, WI enable our grcHa9S 10
II deemed important that before this trade should
be developed the people OF Bolivia should be convinced
that 1t would be mutual advantage OF both cOun
tries II commercial Intercourse was established between
ditOn q success in eminent degree. aud reflects
tue highest credit upon all the officers who had II in
The results are both interesting and instruc, |
provide Tor the publication Of the report OF Commander
Sefridge The City OF Para has population OF about
Amazon River that New Orleans does the Mississippi
Its trade Will continue increase the interior OF the
country developed winch, under the liberal policy OF
the Emperor OF Brazil Is now assured; ING mouth OF
the MADEIRA River is $50 miles above the City OF Para
and from there TO the falls this river navgaOle for
steamers Of ten feet draucnt distance OF 1000 miles
The falls about 300 miles IN length, ana when the
railroad is completed and the difficulty OF passing them
removed. easy TO the large rivers which How
through Bolivia will be had The Amazon Is a river OF
easily ascend II for 800 miles from the AT dis
lance miles from its mouth has depth OF Nifty
fathons As there is no difficulty about navigation
this great the survey VIII serve to show its d.
mensions, and tue maps OF the Madeira will enable
steamers TO ascend t at the periods OF safe navigation
without relying upon local pilots IL Is confidently ex-
pected that the most beneficial results Will follow this
expedition and report
The Michigan the Secretary says, has been employed
for a number OF years upon the Northern Lakes. The
question whether the arrangement Of April 2S,
1917, in reference to the naval forces or
Great Britain and the United States on the
tEnated by the Joint resolution Of Congress approved
February 1863 must rest upon the decision OF Con
Governments since the passage Joint resolution
have been considered directory 10 the Department and
sion aud continued In the service to which she was
designed The vessel is now very much out OF re9air
order 10 keen her In condition for service, II the oDga
cation Of 1917 remains IN force TINS would require
large expenditure OF money and II would probably be
economical TO sell her and apply the proceeds as
lar as they wouia 60 10 DuiuE new sn iTy snt
mitted to Congress by the Secretary.
THE ESTIMATES AND EXPENDITURES
The appropriations for the present year having been
thus far like those of the applied to the ordinary
expenses Of service and to such repairs Of vessels
are absolutely necessary, and it having been found
that they sufficient for this the Department
has felt itself justified in gong beyond them In the
estimates the next fiscal year. These estimates are
shown by the following table:
Pay Of C sVS sstsbI:imcai Navy Yards isSSsS
(lrdno ~ do