Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1878-11-29
NAVY REPORT
BY the Secretary, In which He Cite s
the Condition, Expenses and Re
quirements OF that De-
partment.

WASHINGTON, November 28.-The secre-
tary of the navy, in his annual report says Since
been m There are now IN
commission % cruising ships, steamboat and
cept the Gettysburg. There are vessels, Including
l monitor, which can be made ready for sea In a
more extensive repairs, but all can be put In thor
Ough condition with the present appropriations and
cessity 81 war vessels of all classes. Including
monitors, can be put in the service. The secretary
submitted the following estimates with the remark
that the department has not felt itself justified In
going beyond the estimates of the last fiscal year:
Pay OF the navy S7,35OOO0; pay Of the civil estab-
and torpedo corps, S273 900, coal, hemp and equip
ment, 100000; navigation and navigation sup
plies, S104,500; photographic work, $4,000;
naval observatory nautical almanac, S43,890;
repairs and preservation of vessels. 81 800 600;
for the navy, 81 200 OOO repairs of hospitals and
laboratories, $4,000; surgeons necessaries and
of the department and bureaus, !S105,0O0; naval
academy, $1s8,694; support of marine corps.
maintenance of yards and docks. $40 900; repairs,
etc, of naval yards, 1878 900 Total, S14 562 381.
seen that the total estimates of the last fiscal year.
including the amount appropriated for deficiencies
Quoting deficiencies Of 1877 and 1878, which were
S4 16I,47S, the amount chaTgeable to eXpendi-
less seaf than The actual ~nsp
of the previous year and S4,92S,677
nan tn and I ss an Se
lures OF the year ending June 80, 1875 Secretary
Thompson discusses the relation of the navy to
commerce, aud says: "Our rapidly increasing eI-
ports have demons trated that this country has be-
come the greatest producing country In the world.
The area of our improved lands is annually enlarg
ing, keeping pace with our rapidly increasing pOpu
latOn, and giving assurance that the surplus Of
agriculture and manufacturing products will be-
come correspondingy greater every year in conse-
quence OF the skill of our manufacturers, artisans
and laborers, ana will, IL oue future history,
be called into still further requsition; and as
experience has shown that no nation can af-
ford to leave Its commerce unprotected
upon the seas, the duty of protecting
ours is now greater and more urgent than 1t has
ever been before. The secretary shows cur de-
tendency upon the foreign nations for tTansporta-
ton of our surplus productions to the markets of
the world and says: IF this condition of affairs is
to continue our Industrial Interests must be left to
will decrease In value; the enormous freghts
pay will continue to press upon the producers of
our surplus exports. and our merchant-vessels will
in the end be entirely driven from the sea. If,
ON the other hand; our government shall adopt such
measures shall put the country IN position to
reap TIE full peneltS OF It, COm1eClal ENTERPRISE,
and secure the profits on our own carrying trade,
which properly belong to us, by means of such fos
teIing care as the national government alone has
power to give, then cur navy should have such
strength and character given to II that II may be
able to furnish protection TO our commerce Whereso
ever itlbe needed" The remainder of the report is
devoted largely to account CT the condition of the
navy-yards in the country, the naval academy and
torpedo service and suggestions regarding training
schools for boys, etc.