Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1878-12-03
The Navy Report.

Inc secretary OF Tue navy IN MS annual report
says that since his last the condition of the navy
has been considerably improved. There are now
in commission twenty-eight cruising ships, one
steamboat and five sailing vessels, all in condition
for active service, except the Gettysburg, and
needing no immediate repairs There are six yes
sells which can be made ready for sea in the course
Of few months, and thirteen needing repairs
which it will require more time to make. but the
whole of these nineteen can be put in thorough
condition with the present appropriations and
those asked for the next fiscal year. The effective
cruising force will then be forty-seven steam and
tve sailing ships. Thirteen are monitors now
ready for service and two others can be repaired
out OF existing appropriations. Two torpedo
boats are now also ready for service. The four
double turreted monitors aud one single turfeted
now in progress-tbe Puritan, Amphtrite, Monad-
mock, Dictator and Terror--could be completed
with the necessary appropriations for tn at purpose
Six cruising ships, upon which repairs are not at
present contemplated-the Colorado, Wabash
Franklin, Florida, Minnesota and New York
could soon be put in condition if necessity re-
qured it, and to these could be added in case of
imminent necessity two other steam and two sail
ing vessels. The number might still be incre led
however, by utilizing eight large tugs OF over
three hundred tons each, which could be convert
ed into gun or torpedo boats. There are thirty
two steam and sailing vessels now unfit for use
for warlike purposes although -four Of them III ight
be put in condition for temporary service at sea
-Four have been in use nearly sixty wears fifteen
were built before the war and two were purchased
since. Ten Of those built during the war were
constructed out Of timber not sufficiently sea
soned and they should be sold or broken up.
-Four iron clads should be disposed Of in the same
way.
After giving an account Of the recent scientific
experiments OF the navy, the Secretary saws that
the appropriations Of the present year having been
applied 10 Ordinary expenses and such repairs az
were absolutely necessary and found sufficient the
department does not go beyond them in the esti-
mates for the next fiscal year. which are:
Pay Of The Davy, s7,35OOOO,OO
yards, lsg 800 50
Ordnance and torpedo corps, 273cO0 90
Coal. hemp and equipment 500 OO0 90
Navigation and navigation supplies, l0i. 800 on
photographic work, 10000 90
Naval Observatory Nautical Alma
nae, $500 90
Repairs and preservation of vessels, 100000 O0
steam machinery, tools. &c. SOOOOO on
Provisions for the navy 200 600 M
Repairs of hospitals and labora-
tories 100000
hospital fund, $4,000 O.
Contingent expenses Of the depart.
ment and bureaus, 10000. OC
Naval Academy, lS6 604 A.
support oil Marine Corps, $50 1913 81
Naval Asylum at Philadelphia. co 500 O(
Asinterance Of yards and docks, 40 600 0C
Repairs, &c, of navy-ysrds, s375 900 O.
Total. Sl4.5 1881 A.
This amount is s33 949 IS in excess of the a,
preparations for the present year. This is for th
benefit Of the Marine Corps and the Naval Acsde
my. The total estimates Of the last fiscal year
including the amooniIsprropriated for the defcien
cies Of the previous year, were Sl7fGS 1872 65
After deducting the deficiencies of 1877 and 1873
which were s4'iol %. the amount Of expe n H.
lures Of the year was Sl3 300 9i4 .09-767 1913 Il
less than the previous year.
The policy Of substituting four bladed screw
propelers for the various types Of wo-blaied and
patent screws has been initiated, with the best 10
sults 40 increased speed of from one to two and
half knots per hour having been obtained with.
olt increase Of engine-power In order to insure
more efficiency on the part of the Naval Academy
cadets in sesmsnsbip, navigation and gunnery It